CV beats University in Greasy Pig

Gaven Deyarmin had the first-quarter blues – again. The Central Valley senior quarterback, who’s had a propensity for slow starts this season, fumbled without anybody around him on a potential scoring drive and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. But after Deyarmin’s early mistakes, he took over as the visiting Bears handled the University Titans 27-14 in the Battle for the Greasy Pig in a Greater Spokane League football game Friday. “I’m not a fan of it, the slow starts,” Deyarmin said. “In the end we are getting the wins, so I guess that’s the most important thing. I think the adrenaline is pumping a little bit and I’m having trouble making reads and not making the right reads at the beginning.” CV’s victory, coupled with Ferris’ 61-0 win over Rogers, sets up a showdown next week at CV for first place at the halfway point of the season. Ferris (4-0) is ranked No. 1 in the state and the Bears (4-0) are rated eighth. The Bears scored three TDs in the second quarter to take control. After a 1-yard TD plunge by Alex Jacot, Deyarmin threw two TD passes – a 56-yarder to Eli Wiecking, who sprinted past the Titans’ secondary, and a 34-yard connection with Dustin Dach, who also got behind U-Hi’s defensive backs. Things started promisingly for the Titans when Austin Flynn picked off Deyarmin and returned it 11 yards for the score. It was a pass Deyarmin shouldn’t have thrown, especially to a teammate who was double covered. “Coaches and players came up to me, came up to our offense, and said ‘hey you’re moving the ball on them’. They helped a lot,” Deyarmin said of settling his adrenaline. CV coach Rick Giampietri wasn’t alarmed. “He had that rocky start that he has,” Giampietri said. “It could be some (adrenalin). But he settled down.” The Titans couldn’t sustain any drives in the first half. The Bears took a 21-7 into halftime. “The second quarter was a big quarter for us, and Gaven made some great plays,” Giampietri said. “We just kept pounding it at them in the second quarter and got to them.” University (1-3) didn’t quit in the final two quarters, but the Titans still sputtered on offense. Their final possession was a good example of them not being able to finish. They started the possession at their 14-yard line, moving to the Bears’ 9. Back-to-back incompletions, though, stalled the series as the game concluded. “It’s the biggest game,” Deyarmin said of the rivalry game. “It doesn’t matter if they’re the best team and we’re the worst team or they’re the worst team and we’re the best team. Every year it’s going to be the same. Rivalries bring out the best in both teams.” Jacot led a balanced CV running attack with 68 yards on 15 carries. “The game was so intense,” said Jacot, who also starts at linebacker. “The offensive line did a great job. We didn’t want to think about all the hype coming into this game. We just wanted to come out with a victory against a good U-Hi team.” Deyarmin, who passed for 188 yards and rushed for 64, and Jacot are looking forward to the clash with Ferris. “We’ll be ready,” Deyarmin said. “The Saxons have a great team and we’ll see what happens next week.” “It’s going to be a game for the GSL championship,” Jacot said. “It’s going to be a great game. “Two great teams.” Giampietri expects a battle. “It’s a huge game for us,” he said. “It’s a chance to take the driver’s seat over. That’s what we’re looking for. A lot of Ferris/CV games have gone down to the wire. Hopefully, this one will too.”