Mt. Spokane grabs top seed in 3A

Mt. Spokane wide receiver Trevor Kissinger made the most of his receiving opportunities and the Wildcats kept alive their hopes for a piece of a second straight Greater Spokane League football title Thursday.

The Wildcats put the game away early, then weathered a wild fourth quarter and finished the GSL season 8-1 and as the No. 1 3A playoff representative with the 48-28 victory over North Central at Albi Stadium. The Wildcats await the outcome of tonight’s Ferris-Gonzaga Prep game to determine their league finish.

The league’s top two passers, Mt. Spokane’s Carson Blumenthal and NC’s Zac Hill squared off. Although the aerial game wasn’t much of a factor in the first half, Kissinger had two catches for touchdowns of 16 and 26 yards as the Wildcats bolted to a 34-0 lead.

Special teams play factored. Chase Naccarato opened the scoring with a 71-yard punt return. After Kellen Clute’s 59-yard interception score gave Mt. Spokane a healthy lead, NC’s Jon Stratton sprinted 81 yards for a TD with the ensuing kickoff.

Hill, the GSL passing leader, went to work in the second half, completing 12 of 20 passes for 200 of his 257 yards, giving him 1,720 for the year. Included were two TD strikes to Jake Degon. NC (2-7) scored three times in the final quarter.

Blumenthal was 10 of 13 for 154 yards. Kissinger finished with three catches for 60 yards and the TDs and had an interception, one of three against Hill.

University 28, Mead 21 (OT): Jory Zettle rushed for 163 yards and two TDs, including a 17-yarder in overtime, as the Titans (5-4) beat the visiting Panthers (4-5) for their fourth consecutive win. The Titans overcame a 21-7 halftime deficit with Taylor Keeton’s 86-yard fumble return for a TD and Conner Johnson’s 2-yard TD run. Mead’s Andy Wetzel completed 18 of 29 passes for 182 yards and one TD.

Nonleague

Newport 33, Springdale 14: Keith Coulson had 11 carries for 222 yards and three TDs as the host Grizzlies (2-6) defeated the Chargers (3-6).