Backups Play Their Roles Brandon Frost And Fellow Titans Show Strength In Fourth-Quarter Victory Over Ferris

There have been heroes aplenty in University’s 4-0 football start, from its impenetrable middle run defense to its sophomore presence at wide receiver and defensive back and the Greater Spokane League’s second-best passer, quarterback Brandon Frost.

And last week, during U-Hi’s 19-14 win over Ferris, backups did their part.

Injuries kept two-way sophomore sensation Don Turner out of the lineup and cost them third-year starters Craig Weaver, a linebacker-tight end, and Adam Vawter, a two-way lineman, early in the game.

It didn’t faze the Titans, who got the game-winning score with 2:47 remaining.

Kyle Gazaway, a starting linebacker and reserve wideout, became Frost’s go-to receiver. He caught four balls for 57 yards. Ryan Ellersick, who also played defensive back, added two catches. Back-up tight end Brandon Johnson had two catches, including a 13-yarder for a first down on the opening touchdown drive.

The defense included reserve lineman Dan Turner and linebacker Scott Florin.

Although Ferris dominated the second half, Frost engineered the winning 60-yard fourth-quarter TD march.

“I don’t know what to say about that last drive,” said Frost. “We knew what we had to do and the offensive line did a great job.”

U-Hi took a 13-0 lead over the Saxons the first nine minutes of the game by converting two drives that covered a total of just 52 yards.

The first started at Ferris’s 27 following Gazaway’s 17-yard punt return and an ensuing personal foul. The second, two plays after U-Hi scored, started at the 25 after two-way, three-year player Heath Pulver recovered a fumble.

University has a welcome bye in its football schedule after completing perhaps the most difficult half of the season. Considering the injuries, it comes at an opportune time.

“It’s good to get through the first half of the season,” said coach Mike Ganey. “Now we just have to get healed.”

Second season for Eagles

With four of its remaining five football games being against Washington schools, West Valley is done with the bulk of its Idaho schedule.

This week, the 0-4 Eagles travel to Colville for a game that counts toward the 3A Washington playoffs.

“It’s a new season,” said coach Tim Trout. “With five games left we can have a winning season if we win all of them.”

The inexperienced Eagles, with only one returning starter and two others with varsity time last year, were out scored 167-42 in their first four games.

“If we have a `W’ we’d be a lot better right now,” Trout admitted.

But there have been bright spots.

The team has gotten better each week offensively except against Coeur d’Alene, against whom the defense allowed but 250 yards of offense but couldn’t move the football.

In their last game, a 28-8 loss to Post Falls, running backs Matt Risley and Jordan Allen both gained more than 100 yards. This time, six lost fumbles did the team in.

Besides the two runners, Trout lauded play by returning starter Corde Kurtz at guard and linebacker and junior linemen Tyler Dykes and Travis Collins.

“We’re relatively healthy. So if we just get the whole package together, we’re competing,” Trout said. “We’ve just got to play our football game and we haven’t done that.”

The time is right against Washington foes and with three home games following Colville.

Grid rivalry renewed

The Freeman Scotties and Liberty Lancers are renewing their rivalry at 7 p.m. Friday at Liberty, with something at stake.

It is the first time in six years that their game has league standing implications. The Scotties and Lancers are both 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the Northeast A League. Last year Liberty was a State B semifinalist.

The game is in the first of two meetings this fall. The second game will be at Freeman on Oct. 29. Freeman has won the past two years in non-league games but Liberty had won 15 of the 16 previous meetings.

“Neither one of us wants to get off to an 0-2 start in league so that makes it real big,” said Lancers coach Rod Fletcher.

Fletcher said without Freeman around, the Lancers had become used to rivalries with teams like Ritzville.

“We have to channel that rivalry towards Freeman, which is fairly new for the guys who are here,” he said.

The game features an interesting scenario: brothers Jake and Ben Holling of Liberty, and Jake and Bill DePell for Freeman.

It’s defense the Lancers need to worry about, Fletcher said. The play of the inside linebackers, especially senior Dan DeGon and sophomore Matt Mullennix, will be key.

Sister rivalry

Friday’s 4 p.m. soccer match between Gonzaga Prep and University at Prep will be the second meeting of the sister act.

Jodi Morton is a freshman goalie for the Bullpups and sophomore Kati Morton is a forward for the Titans.

U-Hi won the teams’ nonleague meeting 3-1 on Sept. 15.

“I guess Gonzaga has this bet going on that they won’t shave their legs ‘til they win a game and this is their only game this week so they’re getting kind of pumped,” Kati Morton said. “My team knows about it.”

She said she and Jodi just laugh about the game.

“We’ll go out there and have fun and we’ll see,” Kati Morton said. “We’ll tease each other about it afterward.”