Bears Trample Knights Usai, CV End Regular Season With Impressive Win Over Ev

Bears have long memories. They also have Giorgio Usai.

It’s been 366 days since Central Valley, to put it mildly, choked.

East Valley paid the price and the Knights paid quickly as Usai went 75 yards for a touchdown on the first play of Friday night’s game.

The Bears capped a perfect 9-0 regular season, adding an impressive exclamation mark to their Greater Spokane League championship, by pounding East Valley 49-7 in a non-league game at CV’s Sig T. Hansen Field.

“It all goes back to NC,” right guard Bob Perkes said. “We weren’t overlooking anyone. We were ready to go. We weren’t going to let it happen again.”

CV only needed to beat winless North Central in its finale last year to make the playoffs, but lost 17-14 after leading 14-0 in the first quarter. That put the Bears into a tiebreaker they couldn’t get out of.

That’s all history now. Next up is Kamiakin, which beat Eisenhower 18-13 Friday night to earn the Big Nine’s No. 2 spot into the playoffs. The game is at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Albi Stadium.

The Bears demolished the Knights quickly. It was 28-0 after one quarter because Usai had 105 yards, including TD runs of 14 and 13 yards, and because CV’s Kris Burkland hammered East Valley receiver Kyle LeGrant after a short reception to cause a questionable fumble teammate Rick Giampietri turned into a 58-yard scoring run.

“We knew they were obviously a good football team … but until you have the awesome experience of playing them, you never know for sure,” East Valley coach Jim Clements said. “They’re everything they’re cracked up to be. We got off on such a bad foot … we were never close to being in synch.”

Usai added a 44-yard TD in the second quarter and had a 69-yarder called back because of a holding penalty.

“We only have to hold our blocks 2 seconds and Giorgio’s gone,” Perkes said. “We’re kind of spoiled, if we get 4 or 5 yards a play, we’re upset…. He’s amazing. I probably shouldn’t say this but after we make our blocks we watch him run.”

Those who stayed until the end of the game also got to see Perkes run. Well after the starters left the game, Perkes begged the coaches to call a “fumblerooski” play and they gave in.

The ball was on the EV 49 when the center exchange was conveniently fumbled with Perkes picking it up. He rumbled to the left sideline and turned upfield, making it to the 4 before he was dragged down.

“I’m a fat lineman,” the 254 pounder said. “He’s a fast receiver and he saw me at the beginning. He should have caught me sooner.”

Later, completely a different thought,” Perkes said, “I can’t believe he caught me I had way too many Twinkies for lunch.”

That run led to a final 4-yard scoring run by Jeremy Saty, which gave the Bears 313 yards rushing to go with 101 passing yards by R.J. DelMese.

East Valley (6-2-1) had 128 yards rushing and 114 passing but five turnovers. Jessie Ewell finished 100 yards on the ground but he was hurt after a 30-yard run and Chuck VanNote scored on an 18-yard run on the next play.

Cent. Valley 49, East Valley 7

East Valley 0 0 0 7 - 7

Central Valley 28 7 7 7 - 49

CV - Usai 75 run (Martin kick)

CV - Usai 14 run (Martin kick)

CV - Giampietri 58 fumble return (Martin kick)

CV - Usai 13 run (Martin kick)

CV - Usai 44 run (Martin kick)

CV - Stavros 5 run (Martin kick)

EV - VanNote 18 run (Hughes kick)

CV - Saty 4 run (Martin kick)

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo