’Cats plow past Shadle

With a little more than 3 minutes remaining in the third quarter Friday, Shadle Park trailed Mt. Spokane by just two touchdowns and had hope.

But for the second time in the game, the Highlanders failed to secure a kickoff, leading to a Wildcats touchdown, and hope was short-lived.

The second score in the first 4 minutes of the final quarter gave Mt. Spokane a 42-21 Greater Spokane League football victory at Joe Albi Stadium and kept the Wildcats (3-0) unbeaten for a share of the league lead.

Shadle’s first fumbled kickoff came as the game began and Mt. Spokane scored in three plays beginning from the 15. The score was 14-0 just 3:33 into the game and 28-7 at intermission as the Wildcats moved the ball smartly when not stalled by penalties.

Mt. Spokane quarterback Carson Blumenthal rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another, compiling 246 yards of total offense. Chase Naccarato scored three times.

Danny Rowton rushed for 146 yards on 14 carries for Shadle.

Mead 24, Lewis and Clark 15: Andy Wetzel struggled passing last week. He was on target against the Tigers.

Wetzel connected three times with Wes Bailey for touchdowns, the last one late in the third quarter to break a 14-14 tie and improve the Panthers to 2-1 for the year.

The junior quarterback was 19 for 26, hitting seven receivers for 196 yards.

But his favorite target was the speedy Bailey who grabbed eight for 85 yards and the three scores.

The Panthers’ defense proved stingy as well. The Tigers (1-2) put together a solid first-quarter drive, but little else.

They tied the game in the third quarter following a Panthers fumble, one of three. But Mead drove right back to take the lead for good.