NC football team keeps slim postseason hopes alive

Slim as they appear, the North Central football team kept its postseason hopes alive Thursday.

The Indians pulled away from the Rogers Pirates 21-8 in a 3A Greater Spokane League game at Albi Stadium.

The game may have been hard on the eyes at times but the Indians (2-6, 1-1) put together enough offense while the defense stymied the Pirates (0-8, 0-2).

NC faces Shadle Park next Thursday.

The Indians led 14-8 at halftime and that would have been enough. But on the first play of the third quarter, defensive back Caleb Moses intercepted a pass that tipped off a receiver’s hands and returned it two yards for a touchdown.

A mistake on the kickoff return had Rogers starting at its 4-yard line. Then a false start moved the Pirates back two yards before Moses’ interception.

The first half featured the teams combining for one yard passing.

The first time NC’s Quataveous Mason touched the ball was special. He broke three tackles, squirting away for a 67-yard touchdown that put NC ahead 7-0 with 7:13 to go in the first quarter.

Rogers’ defense came up big when Shelmar Teasley tackled Dylan Hooper in the end zone for a safety.

The Indians were attempting a wide receiver bubble but Teasley busted the bubble.

Rogers’ best offensive series ended with a 12-yard touchdown run by Colin Axtell. The Pirates used 10 plays to drive 66 yards. The big play that extended the possession came when Eric McKay broke outside and bulled his way for 12 yards on fourth-and-11 at NC’s 31.

The touchdown put Rogers ahead 8-7 with 5:22 to go before halftime.

Moses returned a punt 35 yards to set NC up at Rogers’ 30 with 1:20 remaining in the second period.

Five plays later, Mason scored from 3 yards out, diving in for the last yard, and NC retook the lead at 14-8 going into intermission.

Mason finished with 139 yards rushing on 14 carries.