Shadle Park Grabs Playoff Spot; G-Prep Edges Nc

North Central had a good trick for Gonzaga Prep but Shadle Park got the treat.

The Indians stuffed the running game but couldn’t completely stop Prep’s offense, dropping a 16-7 decision in a Halloween night Greater Spokane League football game at Albi Stadium.

In the second game, Shadle Park treated a cable television audience to a 49-21 win over University and itself to a playoff spot and its first winning season since the Highlanders made the state semifinals in 1991.

“This is sweeter than any Halloween candy,” said the Highlanders’ Jeff Lafferty, who rushed for 176 yards and two scores at fullback.

QB Kris Walters, who ran for two TDs and picked off a pass to set up a third, added, “At the beginning of the season we knew we could place high. We were going for a championship but placing second would be great. The last few years we haven’t had a great reputation. I think being underdogs motivated us more.”

Shadle Park (5-3, 5-2) scored seven rushing touchdowns and added a safety against U-Hi (1-7, 1-6).

“The line has stepped it up,” Walters said. “This is the best season I’ve ever seen from the line.”

One week after Gonzaga Prep rolled up 343 rushing yards - including 291 by Tyson Thielman, the second-best game in league history - NC held Prep to 57 yards, 49 by Thielman on 23 carries.

Prep responded with an effective passing game and a solid defense to pull out the win.

Everyone expected Prep (5-3, 5-2) to run the ball against the Indians (1-7, 1-6), including Bullpups wide receiver Ryan Turner, who scored the first touchdown.

“I was expecting us to run, probably every play,” Turner said. “The first all we called were a lot of pass plays; the run wasn’t really working that well.”

, DataTimes