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

Mitch Speer finds it’s worth wait as Wildcats win

It’s not a matter of making up for lost time for Mt. Spokane senior quarterback Mitch Speer.

It’s a matter that it’s his time.

In his second career start, Speer threw for 259 yards and four touchdowns to lead Mt. Spokane to a 41-34 win over Eastmont in a nonleague football game Thursday evening at Albi Stadium.

“I’ve been waiting for years for this,” Speer said. “It’s finally here.”

Mt. Spokane coach Terry Cloer has liked everything he’s seen from Speer all summer.

“We always give Gatorades in the fall for interceptions and I haven’t given out one that he threw this (preseason),” Cloer said. “To be that present in the pocket and to throw that well all through fall camp has been really impressive.”

Defensive lineman Jacob Sander returned an interception 25 yards to extend Mt. Spokane’s lead to 41-20 with 3:11 remaining.

Eastmont scored two TDs, sandwiched around an onside kick recovery, against Mt. Spokane’s third-stringers to tighten the gap in the final minutes.

Mt. Spokane (2-0) probably should have had a two-touchdown lead at halftime – or at least a two-score advantage of some variety.

Mt. Spokane’s final possession of the opening half ended at Eastmont’s 8-yard with a 26-yard field goal attempt that was blocked.

“We’ve still got a few mental mistakes that we’ve got to shape up,” Speer said. “We got in the red zone a couple of times. We’ve got to capitalize when we get down there. Our offense is capable of being in the end zone every time.”

After Eastmont (1-1) took a 13-7 lead midway in the first quarter, Mt. Spokane scored back-to-back touchdowns for a 21-13 lead at intermission.

Mt. Spokane moved the ball up and down the field piling up 271 yards through the first two quarters.

Eastmont’s two TDs came on big passing plays that covered 63 and 48 yards.