Dave Trimmer

Central Valley receiver Todd Millar, right, makes the catch and slips the diving tackle attempt of University's Nick Binkoski. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

UNPUBLISHED CORRECTION: The name of football player Jeremey Williams is misspelled in this story. The correct spelling was confirmed by his mother. Lewis and Clark's Pete Flatt, No. 1, races for a touchdown with Silas Wyatt leading the way. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

Washington State's defensive backs didn't need to be introduced to Bobby Shaw. The all-conference receiver for California burned them for 10 receptions for 108 yards last fall, and Cougar cornerback Dee Moronkola worked out with the All-America candidate in the Bay Area last summer. So the 13th-ranked Cougars were prepared for Shaw, who caught 61 passes for 927 yards last year and entered Saturday's game at Martin Stadium averaging 16.4 yards for his 39 receptions.

GSL The Ferris homecoming fireworks show started with 9 seconds left on the clock, then the buses that were supposed to pick up the Saxons were nowhere to be found. That perfectly describes the way the football season has gone for the Saxons. Ferris dropped another heart-breaking Greater Spokane League game Friday night at Albi Stadium when Lewis and Clark's Pete Flatt boomed a 42-yard field goal with 20 seconds left to lift the Tigers to a 16-15 win.

1. Chasing GSL supremacy. Mead quarterback Brandon Muzatko finds himself pressed for time by CV defenders Brandon Bouge (70), Wil Beck (64) and Mark Hinkley. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review 2. CV wide receiver Greg Papich snares a TD pass over Mead's Kyle Ellenz. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

Tony Adams of Reardan wrapped up Davenport's Travis Telecky one last time. This time it was an emotional embrace as Telecky balanced himself on crutches and accepted heart-felt condolences.

GSL football Give Post Falls credit. Visiting Albi Stadium in Spokane for a game against first-year Mt. Spokane, the Trojans gave themselves every opportunity to lose a game they shouldn't. "We talked about that all week," Post Falls defensive end Eli Thornley said. "We didn't want to be the first team to lose to these guys. I think we knew we weren't going to." The Trojans scored twice in the final 5 minutes to defeat the Wildcats 27-16.

GSL football Shadle Park was tired of losing. Ferris deserved a break. Both struggling Greater Spokane League football teams couldn't have it their way at Albi Stadium Thursday night and it was the Highlanders who held on for a 27-25 win. "The whole thing is we're sick of losing," Shadle standout Tim Snell said. "These four games taught us a lesson about football. We finally played with heart."

Quarterback Kevin O'Connell took a beating the last couple of seasons but now has Gonzaga Prep pointed in a winning direction. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Greater Spokane League Kevin O'Connell and Shane Wharton took giant steps toward earning All-Greater Spokane League honors on defense. Not bad for the Gonzaga Prep starting backfield. O'Connell, a senior quarterback, and Wharton, a senior fullback, battered Ferris for 334 punishing yards as the Bullpups stuffed the Saxons 21-0 at Albi Stadium Friday night. "A great offense is the best defense," Prep defensive coordinator H.T. Higgins said with a smile. "They controlled the clock." Indeed, Ferris only had two offensive possessions in the second half and the Bullpups' real defense didn't give the Saxons much of a chance to make it a game.

LC's Chris Gray, left, breaks up pass to Mead's Kris Griffins. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

1. The best weapon Ferris receiver Jonathan parker has at his disposal on the football field is his speed. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Parker

FROM SPORTS REPLAY (Tuesday, September 30, 1997): Replay Chris McCullough of Mead rushed for 143 yards in the Panthers' 47-42 high school football win over Davis in Yakima Friday night. The credit was given to a teammate.

Gonzaga Prep was great on defense and good on offense. Central Valley one-upped the Bullpups. Prep stymied Shadle Park 30-6 in the first game of a Thursday night doubleheader at Albi Stadium before 3,646 fans. Central Valley followed with a 47-14 shellacking of Rogers.

Beck

Pullman receiver Nate Brown celebrates a first-quarter touchdown catch over Chewelah's Chris Eggleston. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Rogers' Max Devore (87) and Jeff Mace (12) nab NC quarterback Nick Froscheiser. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

Over the years, hundreds of Spokesman-Review sports department employees have taken thousands of calls for reports on high school sporting events. Many callers have been great but none have been better than Ralph Bowman. "When you take that many phone calls, it is always good to know you could depend on Ralph to call," Spokesman-Review sports editor Jeff Jordan said. "He has been a great ambassador for Pullman High School athletics."

Running away with a win. Central Valley quarterback Chad Adamson bolts into the clear while carrying the Bears to a 26-21 win over Ferris. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

Shadle Park quarterback Chris Ryan eludes University's Reggie Lee on his way to a touchdown during U-Hi's 29-28 overtime win Thursday night. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

As the newest name on the area sports scene, the Great Northern League came up with the perfect way of getting attention. The league without a defending champion kicks off its conference season next week with a battle of defending champions. Chewelah, the defending Northeast A champion, travels to Pullman to face the defending Frontier League champ.

Medical Lake John Giannandrea is philosophical about being in the 2A Great Northern League. "When you have a down year, you're small; when you have a good year, you're big," the Medical Lake football coach said. "That's the nature of athletics." The Great Northern League is composed of five Northeast A League members, including Medical Lake, and three dropped down from the Frontier League. It evolved from the reclassification of Washington high schools into five rather than four divisions.

All-State linebacker Jacob Keck also helps out with Colfax kicking game. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Liberty If the moving vans stay away from Spangle for a few more days, Rod Fletcher can concentrate on football. Instead of worrying about the rugged Bi-County B-11 league, the Liberty coach watched moving vans decimate the depth of his offensive line.