EV Getting Set For Frontier Favorite Cheney
The way to a Frontier League football championship, East Valley coach Jim Clements is aware, is through Cheney.
EV hosts the four-time defending champions right off the bat on Friday.
“It’s tough to open with a ball game like this,” said Clements. “In a small league you almost cannot afford a loss. Playing everyone twice, it’s difficult not to have one.”
His Knights are off to a 3-0 start, last week outlasting defending Idaho state champion Sandpoint 31-30 on a water-logged Valley Friday night.
“But we’re sobered by the fact we’re aware of how far we have to go to be a top-quality team,” said Clements.
And that Cheney knocked off top-ranked Idaho school Lake City of Coeur d’Alene.
EV’s quick start has in part been fueled by junior Aaron Herath, who gained 130 yards rushing in two quarters before sitting out with a minor back injury. He’ll be ready.
“The junior varsity coaches said he’d be something special,” said Clements. “He has as good vision as any player I’ve coached. When he’s out there he’s just a step quicker.”
Line inexperience, particularly in pass protection, is Clements’ major concern on Friday night.
If it wasn’t for bad luck…
Explaining University High’s 1-2 Greater Spokane League football is difficult.
The Titans have proved themselves the physical equal of every team they’ve faced. Slow starts cost them two games.
Coach Mike Ganey and running back Chris Wilkinson agreed on the cause.
“We just got after them in the second half,” said Ganey. “We’ve got to learn to play all four quarters.”
Last Friday, the Titans were outgained 199 to 69 by Ferris and fell behind 9-0. For the better part of the game’s final 29 minutes, U-Hi had the Saxons on their heels. In the second half, U-Hi ran up 189 yards to Ferris’s 55. Ferris won 9-3.
The week before against Lewis and Clark, the Tigers led 28-0 at halftime by gaining 155 of its 252 yards in the first quarter and capitalizing on special teams mistakes. U-Hi had a second-half advantage in yards gained, 180 to 59.
Wilkinson, who is averaging 133 yards rushing per game, offered his explanation.
“The line came out really good in the second half,” said Wilkinson. “The big thing is, if they’re going, I’m going. We’ve got to do that for four quarters.”
A simple twist of fate
A play gone wrong for Clarkston, wound up all right, doing in West Valley’s football team last week.
The Bantams’ extra point kick attempt following its first touchdown, went awry. It became instead the 2-point conversion that provided the difference in a 20-18 victory.
“They fumbled the snap and we tackled the ball carrier, but he lateraled to the kicker who threw for two,” said Eagle coach Tim Trout.
The teams traded scores thereafter. WV (2-1 overall) also missed a PAT on a soggy night and two 2-point attempts to tie the game.
WV’s 362 yards of total offense outgained Clarkston by over 100. Lee Rottweiler had 100 yards rushing and Rick Collins added 97.
Chris Hilsabeck scored all three WV touchdowns, two rushing and one on a pass reception.
Rain, injuries and four turnovers hurt.
“Clarkston’s a good football team, but we should have beat them,” said Trout. “We just let it slip through our fingers.”
A new dimension facing Bears
After facing three ball-control offenses, Central Valley (2-1 in the GSL) will face a different type of team Friday at 5:45 p.m. at Joe Albi Stadium.
Unbeaten foe Mt. Spokane operates out of a one-back formation designed for passing. The team averaged nearly 200 yards through the air in its first two wins. It can be equally effective on the ground. The Wildcats gained 318 rushing yards to upset Mead.
“They are pretty explosive on offense and hard to stop,” said CV coach Rick Giampietri. “I look for it to be a wide open game.”
The game will feature the league’s two most prolific athletes. Mt. Spokane’s Josh Wilson has gained 442 yards on the ground, averaging nearly 11 yards per carry. He’s also caught passes for 144 yards and has a total of eight touchdowns.
CV will counter with a ground load of its own. Tyree Clowe, who rushed for 324 yards last week despite carrying the football just two times in the second half.
He was seven yards away from the league’s single-game record.
“I wish I’d have been aware of that at the time,” said Giampietri.
Friday’s game is pivotal for the Bears. A win throws the GSL into a turmoil at the top.
“I’m sure a lot of teams are rooting for us,” said Giampietri. “We have to have it if we are to be in the title race.”
Forget the past, now it’s for real
The U-Hi girls soccer team was 5-1 and CV was 2-4 at last week’s end.
That was then, this is now.
GSL matches began for real this week and both schools won openers.
Back-to-back games against Ferris today and Friday will tell where the two teams stand. U-Hi plays at Albi Stadium on Thursday and CV is at Ferris on Friday. Both games start at 4 p.m.
Twice the Titans have lost to Ferris in the playoffs after winning in league. Both playoff losses were in double overtime.
“This year we want to sweep,” Titans defender Megan Owen said. “It’s more psychological than anything.”
During Monday’s league openers, U-Hi blanked Shadle Park 5-0, Casey Lektorich scoring twice.
The Bears reversed a pre-season loss to Gonzaga Prep on Monday and has a chance to go 2-0 in league at North Central today.
Reanna Jewell and Jennie Summers scored during CV’s initial 2-0 victory.