Blocking Bears
Kicking woes cost LC in 1-point loss to CV
Central Valley football coaches were trying to signal timeout as Lewis and Clark lined up for a potential winning field goal with 38 seconds remaining and the Bears ahead 13-12.
“We were going to freeze the kicker,” Bears coach Rick Giampietri said.
It wasn’t needed. For the fourth time in the game, the Tigers’ kicking game betrayed them and the Bears escaped Friday night at Albi Stadium with the 13-12 victory.
On a wild Greater Spokane League night, CV’s one-point victory on the strength of a solid second quarter left it one-half game ahead of Mt. Spokane in first place and salved Giampietri’s second-half angst.
“I was disappointed with our line in the second half,” he said. “Thank God for Jeff Moe blocking a couple of extra points.”
LC (1-2 overall, 0-2 GSL) had missed a first-quarter field goal after having a successful kick nullified by penalty. After falling behind 13-0 at intermission and ineffective for 2½ quarters, the Tigers roared back, scoring with 1 minute, 8 seconds left in the third period, covered 97 yards in the fourth period to score again and had one more opportunity in the final 3:24.
The blocked extra points and an errant snap on a 39-yard try doomed the comeback.
“We work on special teams every day,” LC coach Dave Hughes said. “It was a tough loss.”
The Bears (3-0, 3-0) copied LC’s two-quarterback scheme when the two teams met in what has become a typical grinder with a taut ending.
CV sophomore Gaven Deyarmin made his varsity debut, alternating series with junior Brayden Crump, much as Tigers Jeff Livingston and David Yearout have done this year.
Deyarmin directed two second-quarter scores after Crump’s turn led to the first.
Senior kicker Jake Miller provided the Bears a lift. He kicked a 41-yard field goal for the first points. After Taylor Evans scored following an interception, Miller added a 38-yarder. Within 7 minutes, the Bears had a 13-0 lead. Miller later would add 56- and 58-yard punts to force long Tigers drives.
But LC’s major weapons, rusher Levi Taylor and receiver Austin Ehlo, fueled the comeback.
Taylor, who rushed 39 times for 204 yards, scored both touchdowns. He carried 11 times for 84 yards on their second scoring drive and had 154 yards in the second half.
Ehlo had five catches for 105 yards, including 30- and 33-yard grabs.
Mt. Spokane 51, North Central 6: Nathan Blackham caught a TD pass and ran for two others to lead the Wildcats (3-0, 2-0) to the romp.
The Indians (0-3, 0-3) had three costly turnovers in the first half, and Mt. Spokane turned each into a TD.
Blackham caught a 12-yard pass for the game’s opening score, then had TD runs of 22 and 19 yards. Teammate Colten Williams scored two TDs on runs of 13 and 1 yards.
Mt. Spokane gained 324 yards rushing on 41 attempts.
East Valley 42, Shadle Park 13: In a key battle between 3A foes, the Knights (2-1) pulled away in the final three quarters at EV.
Running back Chris Tripplet led a balanced attack with two TDs. He finished with 87 yards on 12 carries and teammate Aaron Awbery, who scored a TD, had 89 on 15 attempts.
The Highlanders (0-3) opened a 13-7 lead after the first quarter, but were held scoreless thereafter. EV quarterback Jackson Romney completed 6 of 9 passes for 125 yards and a TD.
Cheney 42, Rogers 13: The Blackhawks (1-2) scored the first six TDs on their way to the easy win over the Pirates (1-2) in a non-league game at Cheney.
Alex Adams scored four touchdowns on runs of 5, 2 and 90 yards and caught a TD pass from D’Angelo Jones. Adams finished with 145 yards rushing on 10 carries.