Mike Vlahovich

Frontier League East Valley was counting on the element of surprise when it went to the air with 3:13 remaining in a tie Frontier League game with unbeaten Cheney. There was nothing surprising about the resulting interception, however, which set up the Blackhawks' winning touchdown in a 21-14 triumph. The Knights (3-4, 1-3) had five passes picked off and Cheney (5-2, 4-0) lost two in a turnover-filled game at EV.

A year ago, University High's girls cross country team won the battle but lost the war. The Titans defeated Lewis and Clark 27-34 during league competition, then lost to the eventual state runnerup Tigers during regionals. Next Wednesday they'll hope for a turnabout. U-Hi had to settle for a share of the Greater Spokane League championship after losing to the Tigers in their season finale, 24-32.

CV's No. 91 Marc Hinckley, right, and teammates close in on Mead quarterback Brandon Muzatko. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

East Valley has its back against the wall and University has its work cut out in featured Friday night football games. The Knights, following a disheartening 28-27 loss to Clarkston, entertain unbeaten Cheney in the Frontier feature. In Greater Spokane League action, U-Hi hosts rival Central Valley, unbeaten and second ranked in state.

The significance of last week's cross country meet at Shadle Park wasn't so much the outcome between unbeatens Mead and University as it was the effort in defeat by Shadle Park's girls. The Highlanders competed without their top three runners who were either injured or ill, yet still turned in a creditable effort. They lost by a mere six points to the Panthers and 21-37 overall to race winner U-Hi.

Monica Abrahamson, a three-year letter winner, is carving a place in Rogers volleyball history. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

If Cheney football players need incentive to guard against a letdown, coach Tom Oswald will gladly oblige. He's been involved in three second-round state playoff games between Frontier League foes where the victor was not the league champion, but its runnerup.

Frontier League The tenor of Cheney's 42-9 Frontier League football victory over short-handed West Valley was determined on the night's first play. Cheney linebacker Romanus Chodorowski intercepted Nick Brumback's pass and ran it back 15 yards to the Eagles 11. Three plays later, tight end Chodorowski caught Pat Stiffler's 5-yard pass for the game's first score.

Central Valley passed the second-half test. University showed there's no substitute for athleticism. On the road for a rare Valley doubleheader at Joe Albi Stadium, both were ingredients for victory Thursday night. CV was forced to play the second half of a Greater Spokane League game for the first time in more than a month after scoring six first-half touchdowns against each of three league foes.

The U-Hi girls cross country team celebrates after beating Mead Wednesday at Shadle. Both boys and girls teams won, ending the Mead decade of domination in cross country. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Central Valley's football team has scarcely been tested since its shaky season-opening win over Ferris. But tonight CV faces what should be their sternest test as they enter the meat of the Greater Spokane League schedule.

North Central's Brian Mack averaged more than 140 yards rushing per game before breaking his arm. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

The way for Mead to repeat as Greater Spokane League football champions is with a victory tonight over unbeaten Central Valley. It won't be easy. "They're so big, they're illegal," said Mead coach Bob McCray about the opponent.

Rachelle Watson, 17, is a setter and outside hitter on the West Valley volleyball team. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

East Valley runner Melissa Frostad races by the Knights football team on her way to win the cross country race. Frostad clocked 20:36. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

When Jim Dorr coached East Valley's freshman volleyball team, he recalled a match against Lake City of Coeur d'Alene in which his team trailed 14-4. Rally scoring was used, meaning that any time the ball hit the floor, a point was scored.

Frontier League football Looks can be deceiving. In the case of East Valley's 27-10 Frontier League football victory over West Valley on Friday night, they were just that. With less than 5 minutes remaining, the Knights were faced with third-and-9 at their own 26, clinging to a 14-10 lead. Quarterback Kris Allen lofted a wobbling pass downfield, where Brandon Blize awaited, well behind his defender.

Until last week, West Valley had not won a dual volleyball match. "We won the Priest River tournament and did well at Freeman," said Eagles coach Carol Preston. "But as far as an actual match win, Lewiston on Saturday was our first." The carryover three days later proved stunning when the Eagles upset Cheney in four games to share the early Frontier League lead with East Valley.

West Valley couldn't have picked a worse time to host East Valley in a Frontier League football game. The Eagles, though coming off a dramatic 20-14 win over Bonners Ferry, are hobbled by injury. The Knights, coming off a loss to Cheney, are angry. "We have a personnel mismatch sizewise," said Eagle coach Steve Kent. "We don't lack in toughness and have good athletes, but if we have to go toe-to-toe we're in trouble."

1. The new youth hockey association gives kids another opportunity to play hockey, one of the nation's fastest growing sports. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. The Ice House at Mirabeau Point draws players from around the region. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Deer Park and Lakeside crammed a season's worth of drama into the final minutes of their football game last week. The 24-20 Stag victory wasn't secured until the final 4 seconds on Ken Griffey's 75-yard kickoff return following Lakeside's go-ahead score. "It was the most crazy game I've ever been involved in as a player or coach," said Deer Park's first-year mentor Doug McGill. "There was lots of excitement. Obviously, I like the way it finished."

CORRECTION: 10-11-97: V8 The cutlines on the sports page in Thursday's Valley Voice were inadvertantly switched, resulting in two East Valley players being misidentified. 1. Ryan Stengle practices with the East Valley football team. File photo 2. T.J. Horgan comes in to finish off a ball carrier from Cheney in Friday's game. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

Chris Short (handing off) quarterbacks the Titans during Thursday's game with North Central. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Cheney's Harley Fausett tackles East Valley's Chris Allen during first-half play at Woodward Stadium. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review