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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Brett Rypien throws for 470 yards as Shadle moves into 3A quarterfinals

Shadle Park wide receiver Sam Stratton races away from Auburn Mountainview defense to score a touchdown on Saturday. The Highlanders had five receiving TDs. (Tyler Tjomsland)

The Shadle Park football team is playing like it’s been here before.

A year removed from a season that ended abruptly in the semifinals, the Highlanders have a keen sense what it will take to hang around in the postseason.

Bouyed by a fast start and an ability to overcome some hiccups, Shadle Park pulled away from the Auburn Mountainview Lions 41-22 in a State 3A first-round game Saturday at Albi Stadium.

Next up is a rematch, most likely Saturday, against Mt. Spokane, a 52-6 winner over Wilson in the game following the Highlanders. Before most fans had sat down on the icy bleachers, Shadle (8-3) had opened a 21-3 lead.

“We started the best we ever have this year,” Shadle quarterback Brett Rypien said. “We haven’t had a first quarter that good. We were clicking on all cylinders.”

Almost as quickly, though, the momentum shifted to the Lions (9-2). And it seemed to do so in an odd way – when they’re talented starting quarterback, Gresch Jensen, left with a knee injury with just under 2 minutes to go in the first quarter. He didn’t return.

Stepping in for Jensen with just a couple of snaps experience this season was Jason Sele, who immediately moved AMV to the end zone. Sele completed a 23-yard touchdown pass on the second play in the second period.

After holding Shadle on downs, AMV struck again. Sele scrambled out of pressure, then found a lane and scampered 20 yards for a TD to pull the Lions within 21-16 with 5:50 remaining before halftime.

On its next possession, Shadle drove to the Lions’ 16-yard line but came up empty.

The momentum clearly still on the Lions’ side, AMV needed just four plays before Sele threw a 49-yard TD pass to Gavin Robertson, who got behind the Highlanders’ secondary. That gave the Lions their lone lead at 22-21 with 1:51 to go before intermission.

And that lead was short-lived. It was too much time to leave for Rypien.

Rypien completed four passes, the final one covering 26 yards to Sam Stratton, as the Highlanders retook the lead for good at 27-22 with 26 seconds to go.

“We told them going into the huddle it’s crucial for us to score here,” Rypien said. “We’ve got to get some momentum going into half. At that point they were rolling and had all the momentum.”

And it’s exactly where AMV’s momentum stopped. Shadle’s defense threw a shutout the final two quarters.

Rypien had a first half that had many thinking he might have one of those ridiculous games. He completed 26 of 35 passes for 318 yards and three TDs. He’d finish with 470 and five TDs.

Shadle coach Jim Mace preached patience in practice against a Lions secondary known for their interceptions.

“We didn’t think we’d have a lot of plays over the top,” Mace said. “We saw on film that other teams that weren’t patient had problems against them.”

Rypien agreed.

“I knew we were going to face adversity,” Rypien said. … “Especially against that defense where they’re playing three safeties and it’s tough to get behind them. We made some unbelievable catches, a lot of times they were getting hit right as the ball got there.”

Just when you though Boise State-bound Rypien could set another record, he went over 4,000 yards for the season and moved his career total to 12,715. He needs just 238 to break the state record set by former Skyline standout Max Browne (12,953), who is a backup at Southern Cal.