Cheney Strikes Down EV Blackhawks Surprise Through The Air

Cheney senior wide receiver Jason Miller spent last football season on junior varsity, where his year ended with a stress fracture in his foot.

Friday night, he stressed out previously unbeaten East Valley with two long touchdown catches during the Blackhawks’ 27-6 victory at EV.

The first came barely 3 minutes into the first Frontier League game for both teams. It gave quick-strike Cheney a 14-0 lead.

The second came late in the third quarter, after the Knights had scrambled back into the game.

“They bit on a slant,” said Miller, whose scores went for 81 and 56 yards. “I went to block the safety and turned up field both times.”

Both times he was the only player in the vicinity of Chris Oyolokor’s long passes.

Oyolokor, a first-year quarterback, completed just 4 of 8 attempts, but they went for 155 yards, most of it to Miller.

“It’s too bad Oyolokor has not played before; he has a lot of natural ability,” said coach Tom Oswald. “He’s not throwing well right now so it was nice to get a couple scores.”

Vintage Cheney football is a punishing running game, conservative game plan and spirited defense.

But fans were barely settled in their seats when Cheney’s Mike Randall took the opening kickoff, broke outside and went untouched 94 yards for the first score.

When Cheney (3-1, 1-0) got the ball back three plays later, Oyolokor hooked up with Miller on third down for the 81-yard score.

The lead was unnerving, but East Valley (3-1, 0-1) turned to Aaron Herath to get his team back into the game. The Knights’ junior running back rushed for 83 first-half yards, including a 39-yard score midway through the second quarter.

That’s how the game stood before Miller dashed into the end zone with 1:21 remaining in the third quarter.

“He has played really well,” said Oswald of his split end.

Except for that pass, Cheney reverted to type with its dominant ground game and defense. Matt Fox gained 87 of his team-high 135 yards, while the Blackhawks allowed EV but 59 yards total the final two quarters.

The Blackhawks finished with 410 yards of total offense to EV’s 219.

“The first half we made mental mistakes,” said two-way line standout Seth Morris. “In the second half, defensively we just got after it.”

So did first-year wideout Miller.

Cheney 27, East Valley 6

Cheney 14 0 6 7 - 27

East Valley 0 6 0 0 - 6

C-Randall 94 kickoff return (Laughlin kick) C-Miller 81 pass from Oyolokor (Laughlin kick) E-Herath 39 run (kick failed) C-Miller 52 pass from Oyolokor (run failed) C-Fox 12 run (Laughlin kick)

Pullman 48, WV 23

Cole Sheridan helped the Great Northern League Greyhounds outscore the Frontier League Eagles.

He had touchdowns rushing, passing and on kickoff returns to offset WV’s 436 yards of total offense.

Ryan Harms caught five passes from Gavin Clark for 153 yards in the first half and a 28-14 Pullman lead.

WV’s Chris Hilsabeck had 160 yards rushing, including a 44-yard touchdown. Nick Brumback threw for 153 yards and two scores.

West Valley 0 14 7 2 - 23

Pullman 7 21 20 0 - 48

P-Sheridan 19 pass from Clark (Morscheck kick) P-Harms 66 pass from Clark (Morscheck kick) P-Morscheck 1 run (Morscheck kick) W-Hilsabeck 44 run (Sorensen kick) W-Groh 43 pass from Brumback (Sorensen kick) P-Sheridan 83 kick return (Morscheck kick) P-Sheridan 83 kick return (Morscheck kick) P-Law 35 interception return (kick failed) P-Sheridan 15 run (Morscheck kick) W-Frampton 12 pass from Brumback (Sorensen kick) W-Safety

Lewiston 42, Clarkston 0

David Steen rushed for three touchdowns to lead the Bengals past the Bantams.

Lewiston 14 7 14 7 - 42

Clarkston 0 0 0 0 - 0

L-Steen 21 run (Anderson kick) L-Steen 2 run (Anderson kick) L-Holmes 34 pass from Litchfield (Anderson kick) L-Holmes 1 run (Anderson kick) L-Steen 1 run (Anderson kick) L-Wittman 11 run (Anderson kick)

Post Falls 7, Chewelah 7, tie

Forrest Ewens rushed for 99 yards on 12 carries and Kevin Rogerson returned a blocked punt for a TD as the visiting Cougars (2-1-1) tied Post Falls (0-3-1).

The teams didn’t play a tiebreaker because it was a non-league game.

Luke Smith had 14 tackles and Nathan Lightner rushed for 223 yards for Post Falls.

Chewelah 0 7 0 0 - 7

Post Falls 7 0 0 0 - 7

P-Lightner 1 run (Chestnut kick) C-Rogerson 6 blocked punt (Miller kick)

GREAT NORTHERN LEAGUE

Medical Lake 55, Newport 13

Emery Meeks rushed for 88 yards and the Cardinals (3-1, 2-0) finished with 282 on the ground to defeat the visiting Grizzlies (1-3, 0-2).

ML’s Josh Earley passed for 87 yards and rushed for 32.

Newport 0 13 0 0 - 13

Medical Lake 14 14 20 7 - 55

M-Meeks 36 run (kick failed) M-Shumpert 3 run (Meeks pass from Earley) N-Evans 1 run (Elmer kick) M-Chappell 46 run (kick failed) M-Chappell 4 run (Meeks run) N-Wyrobek 25 pass from Evans (kick failed) M-Fuqua fumble return (Gaines kick) M-Meeks 1 run (Gaines kick) M-Fuqua 60 pass from Earley (kick failed) M-Alexander 5 run (Gaines kick)

Deer Park 28, Lakeside 14

Roger Henry rushed for 141 yards on 26 carries as the visiting Stags (3-1, 2-0) defeated the Eagles (1-3, 1-1) at Nine Mile Falls.

Willie Soelter added five carries for 70 yards and Jesse Fricky two receptions for 67 yards for DP. Lakeside’s Mike Mortlock rushed for 183 yards on 18 carries.

Deer Park 7 14 7 0 - 28

Lakeside 0 0 6 8 - 14

D-Martin 2 run (Langbehn kick) D-Henry 5 run (Langbehn kick) D-Soelter 3 run (Langbehn kick) D-Soelter 55 run (Langbehn kick) L-Day 27 pass from Rowse (kick failed) L-Mortlock 85 run (Mortlock run)

Colville 7, Riverside 0

C.J. Davis rushed for 65 yards on 20 carries and scored in the fourth quarter as the visiting Indians (1-3, 1-1) edged the Rams (0-4, 0-2).

Colville’s Ryan Bradeen hit 9 of 25 passes for 67 yards. Riverside’s Derek Leighton rushed for 36 yards before injuring his back. Rams starting quarterback Stewart Bullen broke his hand in the first quarter.

Colville 0 0 0 7 - 7

Riverside 0 0 0 0 - 0

C-Davis 2 run (Bradeen kick) Lake City 35, Sandpoint 7

Running back Mike Duff scored five touchdowns and end Justin Nipp led the defense as the Timberwolves (4-1, 2-0 Inland Empire League) overwhelmed the defending State A-1 Division II champion Bulldogs (1-4, 0-1) in Coeur d’Alene.

It was LC’s first win in five tries against Sandpoint.

Sandpoint 7 0 0 0 - 7

Lake City 14 6 8 7 - 35

L-Duff 89 pass from Troxel (Stroh kick) L-Duff 2 run (Stroh kick) S-Singleton 35 pass from Nieman (Harvey kick) L-Duff 1 run (kick failed ) L-Duff 16 run (Troxel run ) L-Duff 5 run (Stroh kick)

Moscow 21, Coeur d’Alene 6

Junior quarterback Trent Baysinger ran for three touchdowns as the Bears (1-3, 1-0 IEL) spoiled homecoming for the Vikings (0-5, 0-1), dealing Coeur d’Alene its 12th straight loss.

Moscow 7 7 0 7 - 21

Coeur d’Alene 0 0 6 0 - 6

M-Baysinger 3 run (kick failed) M-Baysinger 3 run (McFarland kick) C-Beckman 17 run (kick failed ) M-Baysinger 38 run (McFarland kick)