’Cats offer no escape
Mt. Spokane’s one-two punch KO’s U-Hi
Stopping quarterback Stu Stiles is hard enough.
But stopping Stiles and running back Roy Hyatt is even more daunting.
The two formed a potent tandem running attack to lead Mt. Spokane to a 42-10 Greater Spokane League football win over University on Friday night at Joe Albi Stadium.
Stiles ran 10 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He was also 11 of 16 passing for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Hyatt finished with 85 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries.
“Tonight I thought they both played well,” said Mt. Spokane coach Mike McLaughlin. “It all starts with the guys up front. We were a little sloppy in the first half with some penalties and U-Hi came to play. I was proud of how we responded in the second half.”
The Wildcats are 5-2; U-Hi fell to 1-6.
On the first play of the Wildcats’ second possession, Stiles kept the ball and easily ran 63 yards to open the scoring. Hyatt extended his team’s lead to 14-0 after running in from 33 yards on Mt. Spokane’s next possession. Hyatt’s touchdown concluded an impressive nine-play drive for Mt. Spokane.
The Titans took advantage of a 12-yard Mt. Spokane punt to march 42 yards. Titans quarterback Jeff Beaty snuck in from one yard to cut the Wildcats’ lead in half.
It looked like University would threaten after hitting a 33-yard field goal on its first possession of the second half, but Mt. Spokane answered on its next drive with a 25-yard touchdown reception by Dillon Madlener.
The Titans executed a fake punt on fourth-and-10 and marched deep into Wildcats territory, needing a touchdown to stay close. The game turned, though, when Mt. Spokane stuffed a draw play on fourth down.
“Our defense has played well all year long for the most part,” McLaughlin said. “I’m encouraged about our effort tonight.”
From there, it was all Mt. Spokane.
Stiles followed up with another long touchdown run, this time from 55 yards. He threw a pretty 56-yard touchdown pass to Reed Siclair on the Wildcats’ next possession. Siclair capped the scoring for Mt. Spokane with a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown.
The Wildcats, who started the season 4-0, got back to their winning ways after losing the last two games.
“That secured a winning season for us in league, and for our seniors. They have yet to have a winning season,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a big moment and I’m proud of them.”