Dazzling debut

Get used to this name: Ben Goodwin.

It may not be as familiar as the record-setting quarterback before him – Connor Halliday – but the Ferris junior should make a name for himself in time.

Goodwin had Halliday-like numbers, completing 16 of 20 passes for 254 yards and four touchdowns as the visiting Saxons pulled away from the University Titans 34-7 in a Greater Spokane League and season opener for both teams Friday.

“Well, what matters is we make a name for the Ferris Saxons,” said Goodwin, who is listed generously on the roster at 5-foot-9 but is more like 5-6. “We want to be able to keep that tradition going that we’ve had the last couple of years. It doesn’t matter if I have five touchdowns or zero as long as we get the (win). That’s all that matters.”

Goodwin found room to negotiate in the pocket and on roll-outs. His favorite target was Riley Stockton, who caught six passes for 141 yards and two TDs.

And the number Ferris coach Jim Sharkey will most likely be pleased with the most is zero – Goodwin threw no interceptions.

“It’s funny, because we’ll probably break it (the video) down and say, ‘He made mistakes here and there,’ but he’s such a composed kid for a first start,” Sharkey said. “That’s unbelievable for a first start. We’ll take that every week. He didn’t turn the ball over and he ran the team. He was everything we’d hoped. He didn’t try to do too much. He’ll keep getting better. He works hard. He will make a name for himself.”

The significant difference was Ferris made no turnovers and the Titans had two turnovers and some costly mental mistakes.

Ferris took advantage of an interception in the first quarter for its first TD – an 8-yard pass from Goodwin to Stockton.

Then in the second period, a low Ferris punt that was floating end over end hit a Titan, who had retreated to block for the returner, in the back, and the Saxons recovered at U-Hi’s 33-yard line.

Five plays later, running back Kole Heidinger scored from 9 yards out. Ferris took a 14-0 lead into halftime.

The Titans pulled within 14-7 early in the third quarter when they took advantage of the Saxons’ biggest mistake. A ball was snapped well over the head of Ferris punter Tanner Gerety. Instead of taking his time and trying to get some sort of kick off, Gerety stumbled and was tackled at the Saxons’ 4.

Jory Zettle pulled U-Hi within a TD on the next play.

Ferris made U-Hi pay for its next mistake. Titans punter Thomas Wasem was tackled 2 yards shy of a first down when U-Hi went for it on fourth down at its 34.

Three plays later, Goodwin hit Beau Bozett on a 22-yard fade in the end zone, extending the Saxons’ lead to 21-7.

Ferris added two more TDs.

“It’s a first game,” Sharkey said. “There’s stuff both teams will have to work on. I think they’re a quality team. We’ll both get better next week. I was really pleased with our ball security and I was especially pleased with our defense. They have a pretty good offensive line and I thought our front seven did a great job on defense.”

Gonzaga Prep 45, Shadle Park 21: Bishop Sankey needed just one game to break the Bullpups’ career rushing record.

With starting quarterback Shane Schmidlkofer out after suffering an injury in the first half, G-Prep snapped the ball to Sankey in shotgun formation and he did the rest. The senior rushed for 235 yards on 23 carries and scored four touchdowns in the game at G-Prep.

Sankey needed just 212 to break the school record held by Justin Strand (2,197). Sankey’s career mark is 2,221.

He scored on runs of 41, 3, 11 and 3. The Bullpups finished with 366 on 40 carries.

The Bullpups scored the game’s first four TDs before Shadle Park scored. G-Prep led 38-7 at halftime.

The game marked the debut of coach Alan Stanfield at Shadle.

Running back Danny Rowton led the Highlanders with 113 yards on 18 carries including a TD.

Mead 34, North Central 7: The Panthers cruised to a 24-0 lead by halftime and didn’t look back in the opener at Joe Albi Stadium.

Quarterback Andy Wetzel led Mead, completing 12 of 23 passes for 154 yards and two TDs.

The Indians scored their lone TD in the fourth quarter on a 12-yard run by quarterback Zac Hill. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 170 yards to account for most of NC’s offense.

Running back Forest Cuthbert added 70 yards on nine carries.

Lewis and Clark 37, Rogers 0: Tigers quarterback Jeff Livingston threw three TD passes and running back Trent Robinson rushed for all 78 of his yards in the first half as LC built a 30-0 lead by halftime.

Robinson had two TD runs totaling nearly 100 yards called back because of penalties in the first half.