EV Overcomes Wv
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.
Blize had to reach back for the ball, but gathered it in for a 39-yard gain.
The Knights (3-2, 1-1) went on to score twice in the game’s final 3:50 to shake the pesky Eagles (2-3, 0-2).
“On the one hand, you look at the score and say we got beat,” said WV coach Steve Kent. “On the other hand, we did a lot of good things. For a junior-dominated team, I’m tickled with the effort.”
The play-action pass to Blize was off a counter trap run fake.
“Some plays you just have good luck with against some teams,” said Knights coach Jim Clements. “We’ve had luck running it against WV.”
It was only the second pass completion of the night for EV, although Allen later found Blize for a 13-yard TD and 20-10 lead.
Second-string tailback Rob Johnson, subbing for benched Adrian Likely, had rushed the Knights to their first two scores.
He carried the ball 10 times for 84 yards on two series. His fumble following 54 yards gained stymied EV early.
He carried six consecutive times for 30 more and the touchdown once the Knights regained possession.
Thereafter, WV controlled the half and forced EV out of its ground game and into an unsuccessful passing attack.
The Eagles only got three points, however, on Ty Roberts’ 48-yard field goal.
Johnson carried six times for 31 yards and a 14-3 lead on the opening drive of the second half.
He finished the night with 23 carries and 132 yards.
“The guy in front of me is really good,” he said. “I kinda hope the coaches give me an opportunity.”
West Valley came right back, benefitting when Rick Collins passed 31 yards to Chris Hilsabeck on a halfback option. Collins finished it with a 1-yard plunge.
“What’s new?” asked Clements. “Anytime the two schools hook up it’s always tough. Our kids had to fight for their lives all night long.”
In the second half, EV rushed for 175 yards. Rusty Ruchert gained 88 and also had a 40-yard gain nullified by penalty during the decisive 86-yard TD drive.
But Allen and Blize hooked up for the play of the game and EV evened its league record.
East Valley 27, West Valley 10
East Valley 7 0 7 13 -27
West Valley 0 3 7 0 -10
EV-Jones 1 run (Storey kick) WV-Roberts 48 FG EV-Jones, 3 run (Storey kick) WV-Collins 1 run (Roberts kick) EV-Blize 13 pass from Allen (kick failed) EV-Crockett 14 run (Storey kick)
Cheney 34, Clarkston 7
The Blackhawks scored 20 second-quarter points to dispatch the Bantams.
Matt Fox gained 145 yards on eight carries, including a 44-yard sprint for a touchdown in the second quarter and 35-yard TD run to complete Cheney’s scoring.
The Blackhawks (3-2, 2-0) capitalized on a Clarkston fumble at its own 18 to break a scoreless tie.
Cheney limited Clarkston to 196 yards. Logan Royce had four sacks and Romanus Chodorowski two.
Cheney 0 20 8 6 -34
Clarkston 0 0 7 0 -7
Ch-Loughin 8 run (Reynolds kick) Ch-Fox 44 run (Reynolds kick) Ch-Chodorowski 9 pass from Stiffler (kick failed) Cl-Skinner 11 run (Truscott kick) Ch-Hunley 18 pass from Stiffler (Stiffler run) Ch-Fox 35 run (kick failed)
, DataTimes