Shadle back in chase

Two weeks ago, the Shadle Park Highlanders appeared to be out of the 4A playoff race.

At 1-3 in the Greater Spokane League, Shadle needed to heat up to get back into the chase.

Consider them back.

The Highlanders put up 345 total yards against East Valley, the GSL’s best defense statistically, and went on to a 28-14 victory before 2,910 Thursday night at Albi Stadium.

In the Albi opener, Mt. Spokane routed Rogers 35-0 to also move to 3-3 in GSL play. In the outside game, North Central traveled to Cheney and topped the Blackhawks 48-27 in a battle of 3A teams.

The Knights (4-2 in the GSL, 4-3 overall and leading the 3A playoff race) had yielded just 310 yards through the air in five league games. Shadle Park, riding the arm of Josh Powell and the legs of Andy Largent, threw for 200, including a game-clinching Powell-to-Largent 28-yarder midway through the final quarter.

“Our receivers did a heck of job getting open, our line did a heck of job keeping them off Josh; it was a team effort,” Shadle coach Mark Hester said. “I’m proud of the way our guys have come back and met the challenge the last couple weeks. This was a big win for us.

“We knew they blitzed quite a lot, so we had to use quick hitters to run, and we had to keep backs in to protect when we passed.”

EV’s blitz package came up with five sacks of Powell and forced a first-half interception that led to a 26-yard Jye Lanphere-to-Grant Bruscoe scoring pass.

But it also left the Knights defensive backs having to play man coverage.

“We saw on film they were susceptible to the pass,” said Largent, who caught six of Powell’s tosses for 127 yards and two touchdowns. “They play a lot of man and I love that.”

Largent plays safety and does all of the Highlanders’ kicking. The player covering him most of the night is also a two-way performer, the Knights’ Lanphere, who is also EV’s quarterback and punter.

In fact, the punting battle was one of the more interesting aspects Thursday night, with Lanphere averaging 46 yards an effort and Largent 42. But it was four times the Knights didn’t punt on fourth down which might have been the difference.

The first of those Lanphere actually tried to punt, but it was blocked by Bryan Braman, leading to Largent’s first scoring catch, culminating a 16-yard drive.

Two other times the Knights faced a fourth down just outside field-goal range inside the Shadle 30 and both times they were unable to convert.

And, trailing 21-14 with 9 minutes left, Lanphere tried to pass out of punt formation on a fourth-and-14 from the Knights’ 30. Largent, who also returns punts, broke it up, leading to the Highlanders’ final score.

Besides Powell’s 11-for-21 passing night, Shadle (3-3 overall and in the GSL) also had 91 yards rushing (on 15 carries) from Brian Kranches. The rushing standout of the night, however, was East Valley sophomore Ryan Campbell, who darted free for 160 yards on 18 carries, including a 5-yard scoring run and two runs of more than 40 yards.

Mt. Spokane 35, Rogers 0

The Wildcats posted their second shutout of the year, a school first, and kept their playoff hopes alive.

“Once we had a chance for that, it was a goal,” Mt. Spokane coach Mike McLaughlin said of the shutout. “(The win) puts us on the positive side of the ledger for the first time all year.”

The Wildcats are 3-3 in the GSL, 4-3 overall and one of a group of four 4A schools near .500 in league. Rogers dropped to 1-5, 1-6 overall.

It was drops of the ball that cost the Pirates the most, especially in the first half when they lost four fumbles. The Wildcats used the turnovers – and a defense that yielded just 38 yards rushing – to build a 14-0 lead behind Mike Jared’s two touchdown runs. They built the lead to 28-0 in the third, when Shawn Semb scored twice.

Mt. Spokane rushed for 364 yards (Semb had 94 and Jared 84 as eight players carried the ball) and limited Rogers to 188 totals yards, 73 of those coming in the final minute

NC 48, Cheney 27

The Indians caught the Blackhawks in the league standings at 2-4 behind the four touchdowns and 222 rushing yards of Shane Thomas.

Derek Brown added 204 yards and two touchdowns as the Indians (3-4 overall) rushed for 594 yards.

Brett Igbinoba paced the Blackhawks with 175 yards rushing and three touchdowns.