Prep’S Win Has Gsl Clear As Mud

GSL football

Central Valley didn’t give Gonza- ga Prep many chances, but the Bullpups didn’t need many.

CV made two critical errors and the Bullpups cashed in Thursday night at Albi Stadium to squeeze out a 14-10 victory that muddied the Greater Spokane League football standings.

There are now four teams with one league loss. After tonight’s games, there could be as few as one with one loss, which would leave as many as six with two.

And that’s why Prep played as if its season were on the line.

“We just figured we had to win out,” Gonzaga Prep two-way warrior Andy Bloom said. “Our goal is to make the playoffs, and we knew three losses probably wouldn’t get it done.”

Prep’s first score came after CV had roughed the punter. Then Bloom had an interception and a 61-yard return that set up Prep’s winning touchdown with 10:56 to play.

“I was the free safety, free to roam around,” Bloom said. “I read slant, read the quarterback’s eyes and he happened to make a bad throw. We had good coverage by everyone else, and I just happened to make the play.”

In the first game of the double-header, which drew 2,525 fans, Ferris put together a late drive to edge Shadle Park 17-14.

Tonight’s Albi doubleheader has Lewis and Clark (4-1, 3-1) against Mt. Spokane (0-5, 0-4) at 5:45, followed by Mead (4-1, 4-1) against North Central (3-1, 4-1). Rogers (3-2, 3-2) goes to University (3-1, 3-1) for a 7 p.m. game. East Valley (1-4) plays at home against West Valley (2-3) in the non-leaguer at 7.

Ferris 17, Shadle Park 14

The Saxons (2-3, 3-3) have sputtered on offense most of the season, but it never showed in their game-winning drive against the Highlanders (1-5, 1-5). Ferris got the ball at its 19 with 6:02 to play and six plays later, Earl Powell-Hicks was in the end zone after a 14-yard stroll around the right side. The winning score came with 4:07 to play.

“We have a chance to be a pretty good football team when everybody is in the lineup,” Ferris coach Clarence Hough said. “We had that in the fourth quarter.”

Shadle had taken a 14-10 lead with 10:45 to go on Eli Gardner’s 4-yard run. The Highlanders’ had opened a 7-0 lead on their second snap when Jerin Harper went 84 yards up the middle.

Ferris quarterback Connor Finnerty, who missed the last several games with an ankle injury, took over to start the second quarter. The Saxons were facing a third-and-6 when he entered and promptly ran the option to perfection for 29 yards. The Saxons went on to tie the game on Powell-Hicks’ 1-yard run.

Gonzaga Prep 14, Central Valley 10

After Bloom picked off Jeff Liepman’s pass and returned it to the 29 of the Bears (3-3, 3-2), the Bullpups (3-3, 3-2) still had a tough time generating offense. But they converted on fourth-and-inches before John Stiffter connected with Nick Wetzel for the 17-yard game-winner.

“I was getting concerned,” Bloom said about the Bullpups’ struggle to sustain offense. “When we got the chance, our offensive line and the rest of the team stepped up. And the tight end made a great catch.”

The Bears scored early - a 50-yard drive capped by a 25-yard run by Matt Balmes - before helping Prep out. The roughing-the-kicker penalty kept a 70-yard drive alive. A 22-yard field goal by Garrett Trimmer put CV up 10-7 late in the first half.

However, defenses dominated with the teams combining for 15 punts.