Stags Defeat Eagles In Final Four Seconds

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.”

Deer Park had led 10-0 early in the third quarter, then turned the ball over twice inside its 20 yard line, leading to a pair of Sean Wheeler touchdowns for the Eagles.

After missing a field goal attempt with eight minutes remaining, the Stags held on defense and regained a 17-14 lead on quarterback Brad Martin’s short run.

Less than two minutes remained when Lakeside faced fourth and nine at Deer Park’s 35 yard line.

“Our corner, Nolan Jones, slips; they get behind him and get to the five,” said McGill.

Lakeside spiked the ball with 38-seconds left and lost yardage on an option play.

Again, Jones slipped on a play-action pass from Mike Rowse to tight end Will Noland that produced Lakeside’s go-ahead score with 16 seconds left.

Jones and Griffey are best friends. While McGill was consoling Jones, his buddy was cementing their relationship with his kickoff return.

Next up is powerful Medical Lake.

“I know it’s not how you start but how you finish, but it’s great to get off to a good start and get the kids confidence,” said new coach McGill. “We’ll show up Friday. You never know what will happen.”

Last week’s game with Lakeside proved that.

Pirates face next big game

Rogers High erased the memory of its loss to Central Valley at the expense of Shadle Park.

Now the Pirates hope the high-powered offense they resurrected against the Highlanders will carry over.

The Pirates play Lewis and Clark, a team which is 3-1 in league and has allowed but 49 points in four games.

By contrast, Rogers scored 48 against Shadle alone and, except for its blip against CV, scores like that have been the norm for the 2-2 North Side school.

The Rogers-LC game, 5:45 p.m. Friday at Joe Albi Stadium, is one of two significant contests.

Mead, its high-scoring offense shut down by the Tigers last week, is seeking to rebound against unbeaten Gonzaga Prep in the nightcap.

The Bullpups have allowed only 28 points in four games this year.

GSL showdowns coming up

It’s showdown time over the next week for Greater Spokane League teams in four sports.

Unbeaten Mead volleyball travels to once-beaten Ferris next Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Shadle Park is the site Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. of the cross country meet among unbeaten Mead and University boys and girls and the once-beaten Highlander girls team.

Mead’s unbeaten soccer team is facing the meat of the GSL schedule. It begins Friday when the Panthers host Ferris at 6 p.m. at Mead Middle School.

On successive outings the opponents are Lewis and Clark, unbeaten University, unbeaten Central Valley and Gonzaga Prep.

, DataTimes