A Perfect (9-0) Finish For Cheney

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One thing the Cheney Blackhawks have done well all year, said coach Tom Oswald, is play defense.

In the second half of its football game against West Valley on Friday night, defense wasn’t necessary.

The Blackhawks’ offensive backs ran wild on the linebacker-depleted Eagles, breaking a 10-10 halftime deadlock to win 30-10.

They had 263 of their 346 rushing yards in the second half, gaining it in huge chunks, and held the ball for 36 plays to WV’s 16.

“We don’t have many players go both ways and I think we wore them out,” said Oswald.

The Eagles were already without middle linebacker Ty Gregorak because of injury. When the other, Will Herndon, possibly broke his leg with 1:44 remaining until halftime, WV had no way to stop Cheney.

The Blackhawks took the lead 17-10 on its first series of the third quarter, going 77 yards in eight plays.

Joey Medeiros, subbing for Chad Randall, who was resting an injured hamstring, had 105 of his game-high 142 yards (on 17 carries) in the second half and scored the go-ahead TD.

Earon Davis entered the game in the fourth quarter and reeled off 119 yards on 11 carries, including a 64-yard burst, and scored twice.

Of quarterback Rick DeMulling’s seven pass completions, six went to Abdul Odood for 96 yards.

The first half was dead-even statistically and on the scoreboard, but WV managed just 28 yards of offense in the final two periods until a game-ending five-play series. Justin Tichy had 113 yards on 28 carries for the Eagles.

Cheney completed a perfect 9-0 season without flash, just solid overall two-way play.

“We’re just a solid team with a good line and good backs,” said DeMulling, “and we’re close.”

But the team looked dominant in the second half against WV.

“We weren’t getting much better until last week against Lewiston,” said Oswald. “We got a little better again tonight.”

Cheney 30, West Valley 10

Cheney 7 3 7 13 - 30

West Valley 3 7 0 0 - 10

Cheney-Barthelmes (Johnson kick)

WV-Whitney 33 field goal

WV-J. Eklund 15 run (Whitney kick)

Cheney-Johnson 36 field goal

Cheney-Medeiros 8 run (Johnson kick)

Cheney-Davis 5 run (kick failed)

Cheney-Davis 1 run (Johnson kick)

Riverside 23, Colville 22

The Rams rallied from a 22-3 deficit in Colville to end their first Frontier League season at 3-3 and 5-4 overall.

Joel Schurtz threw three touchdown passes, one to Joe Beckham and two to Ryan Baker, during the comeback.

His throws offset a 359-yard rushing game by the Indians. Riverside gained 298 yards on the ground.

Riverside 3 0 0 20 - 23

Colville 0 10 0 12 - 22

R- Baker 18 FG

C- Nielson 1 run (Mybo kick)

C- Mybo 20 FG

C- McCurdy 4 run (kick failed)

C- Villers 1 run (kick failed)

R- Beckham 23 pass from Schurtz (Kick failed)

R- Baker 5 pass from Schurtz (Baker run)

R- Baker 10 pass from Schurtz (kick failed)

Clarkston 10, Pullman 9

In another game decided by one point, Josh Martin’s fourth-quarter, 24-yard field goal gave the Bantams their third league win.

The host Greyhounds held Clarkston to a minus-3 yards of first-half offense and led 9-0 on Brent Johnson’s second-quarter touchdown and third-quarter field goal.

But a missed extra point attempt proved costly.

J.D. Burns passed to Darin Larson for Clarkston’s initial score in the third period before Martin won it.

Johnson rushed for 145 yards on 29 carries.

Clarkston 0 0 7 3 - 10

Pullman 0 6 3 0 - 9

P- Johnson 2 run (kick failed)

P- Johnson 29 FG

C- D. Larson 20 pass from Burns (Martin kick)

C- Martin 24 FG

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