Mt. Spokane completes sweep of 3A GSL teams with win over Shadle Park
The Mt. Spokane Wildcats made sure there are no questions as to which 3A football team in the Greater Spokane League is supreme.
The Wildcats used an efficient and balanced offense on their way to a 38-6 win over the Shadle Park Highlanders. Five different players scored touchdowns for Mt. Spokane.
“We got up a little bit so we were able to get some backups in and give them some playing time and get some experience for down the road,” Mt. Spokane head coach Terry Cloer said.
The Wildcats defense did its part too, frequently finding the backfield and limiting Shadle’s running backs. Shadle did not have a first down until the 4:34 mark of the first half. Its six possessions prior to that resulted in five punts (one that was blocked) and a turnover on downs.
Despite the dominance, the Wildcats gave up a number of sacks. Cloer also pointed to his team’s ability to run the ball as something that needs to be cleaned up before the playoffs.
Dylan Mead opened the scoring the Mt. Spokane when he ran in from 4 yards out. Mead’s touchdown came after the Wildcats converted on a fourth-and-10, as well as a third-and-9.
After a Shadle three-and-out, the Wildcats used a nine-play drive that culminated in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell Speer to Kyle Griffiths to make it 14-0.
The Wildcats partially blocked Shadle’s punt attempt on the next possession, setting up its offense with good field position. Mt. Spokane settled for a 29-yard field goal from Cody McDonald.
Mt. Spokane got good field position again after Shadle went for it on fourth-and-5 on its own 12-yard line. The Wildcats needed only two plays to score on a 1-yard run by Dalton Dixon.
It went from bad to worse for the Highlanders, who fumbled the ball on its first play of the ensuing possession, again giving Mt. Spokane a short field.
The Wildcats needed just one play this time to reach the end zone – a 24-yard touchdown pass from Speer to Jacob Barnes, extending the lead to 31-0.
The Highlanders finally got on the board late in the first half after an 11-play drive – its first drive that produced a first down. Justin Solt grabbed a 9-yard touchdown pass from Carson Doyle 55 seconds before halftime. The point after attempt was no good.
A 21-yard touchdown run by Mt. Spokane’s Steven Hanson extended the Wildcats’ lead in the second half.
The Wildcats finish atop the 3A side of the GSL standings at 8-1 overall and 3-0 in league games. They now await the playoffs.
“You refocus yourself now,” Cloer said. “The stakes are higher because it’s win or go home. We’ll take it one week at a time and the focus needs to be there for us.”
Shadle falls to 2-7 overall and 1-2 in league play.