Big game Thursday for East Valley Knights

Thursday’s high school football game between East Valley and Mt. Spokane looms large for both teams.

Depending on the outcome of Friday’s game against Central Valley, the Knights could be scrambling for their 3A playoff existence.

Heading into this week’s games (go to The Spokesman-Review sports section for the outcomes) the Knights and Wildcats were separated by a game in the Greater Spokane League.

Mt. Spokane played winless Rogers, EV hosted a Bears team also needing a victory in its quest for a 4A top-three league finish and postseason berth.

Last week the Knights lost to Mead following a controversial onside kick call. The Bears beat North Central. Friday’s game pitted the GSL’s rushing leaders against each other.

CV’s Shon Davis led the league with 420 yards and was named the school’s Red Zone Player of the Week, a national program sponsored by Procter and Gamble Old Spice Red Zone Deodorant.

Players are picked weekly from participating schools with a chance for possible selection as a national finalist.

EV’s Ryan Campbell was second in GSL rushing with a 401 yards and scoring with six touchdowns.

In another important game, University hosted Mead Friday for its right to remain in the playoff picture. It was the Titans’ fourth straight home game. Next week they play North Central at Joe Albi Stadium.

West Valley, meanwhile, was in Colville hoping to rebound from their 34-13 loss to Pullman. Through four games Camron Bowman had rushed for 347 yards and caught 15 passes for 215 more.

Tommy Peterson had 180 rushing yards, Casey Sherrill and Parker Flynn a combined 14 catches for 238 yards, and Bryan Peterson was 39 for 69 for 611 passing yards and six touchdowns..

U-Hi’s Tyler Carlson was sixth among GSL rushers with 320 yards. EV’s Russell Woodworth was second in league passing with 484 yards, U-Hi’s Danny Jordan was fourth with 406 and CV’s Luke Clift was sixth with 392.

Among GSL receiving leaders were EV’s Sam Hale, fourth with 13 catches and 225 yards, followed by Titan Ken Wood with 11 catches and 221 yards.

Knight Scott Bunkelman in only two games, CV’s Jake Igo and Brad Whitley were eighth through 10th. Connor Janhunen (CV) and Josh Polello (EV) were the top two kickers in league with 24 points each.

Good start for Eagles

West Valley boys cross country team started the Great Northern League off on the right foot.

The Eagles swept the first five places for a 15-41 victory over Riverside. WV’s pack held back for half the race, then overhauled the Rams lead runner and won easily.

Joey Hartmeier won in 16:47, two minutes ahead of Justin Degenhart. Michael White finished under 17 minutes in third place, with Richard Keroack and Alex Hanson rounding out the top five.

Fifteen seconds separated the first four runners, and Hanson was another 25 seconds back. Such togetherness hasn’t altered WV’s seventh-place State 2A ranking.

“It’s a long time since we’ve been packed up like that,” said Eagles coach Jim McLachlan. “But we’ve still got to get faster.”

In the girls race Krystal Hughes finished second in 20:04, five seconds behind Riverside state sixth-placer Stephanie Dye. Camille Mackie placed fifth.

The Eagles host the Spokane Valley Classic at Plantes Ferry Park today and Colville and Pullman on Tuesday.

Greater Spokane League runners take next week off to prepare for the postseason push. Two league meets remain before regionals and state.

Central Valley’s boys (5-1) are virtually tied for second place with Mead (6-1) whom they race on Oct. 11. Sean Coyle and Tylor Thatcher finished one-two during a 22-35 win over North Central.

The Bears are ranked fifth in state behind Ferris and Mead.

Both University (6-1) and CV (5-1) girls are part of a three-way logjam behind unbeaten Mt. Spokane following wins on Wednesday.

The Titans beat Lewis and Clark 23-34 in a key race at Manito Park, won individually by East Valley’s Lauren Bergam. U-Hi’s Elise Thatcher was third as the Titans placed five runners in the top nine.

CV escaped North Central 26-29. The Indians had the top two finishers, but the Bears had the next four placers, and five of six for the team win.

Net worth increases

West Valley and Central Valley showed net gains last week in their respective volleyball leagues.

The Eagles (5-1) faced their two toughest Great Northern League foes, gaining a split to hold second place.

The Bears (3-2) started slowly this year, but with wins over Valley rivals University and East Valley this week, moved up in the Greater Spokane League standings.

WV lost to defending state champion and GNL favorite Pullman in three games on Tuesday. Two days later the team bounced back with a pivotal third-game win in an 18-25, 25-22, 29-27, 26-24 victory at Colville.

The third game was tied at 20, 21 and 23 through 27 points before the Eagles finished with a pair of kills. Amelia Hofer led the team with 17 while Alyssa Wold and Rhea Woolley were blocking warriors at the net.

CV moved into fifth place in league heading into the grinder with matches upcoming against unbeatens Lewis and Clark and Mead, both at home on successive Tuesdays, then at Shadle Park on Oct. 12.

Jaclyn Robinson and Kristin Telin led CV in kills during their wins over the Titans and Knights, and setter Shannon Giusti had a combined total of 79 assists.

Soccer teams near top

East Valley and University soccer teams remained near the top of the Greater Spokane League.

Both teams were 3-1 prior to Friday’s matches between the Titans and Central Valley (0-4), the Knights against Mead.

EV split with fellow 3A schools, losing to Mt. Spokane 2-1 but beating North Central 3-0 in a match that was mmm-mmm good. Lindsey Moles, Mallory Mott and Morgan Manchester scored the goals.

The Titans had blanked previously unbeaten Shadle Park 3-0 and topped Lewis and Clark 4-1 as Rachel Lopez scored four goals.

CV lost to LC in a 1-0 shootout, and 3-0 to Ferris.

West Valley (5-1) was part of a four-way tie for first in the Great Northern heading into its match with Lakeside.

The Eagles beat Medical Lake 9-1 on Tuesday. Dee Dee Garbe had four more goals. She assisted Krystal McCarthy on two others.

Irons only at Trailhead

Trailhead Ladies Club golfers kept the woods in their bags during their weekly gathering.

Marcia Rowley finished with net 38 in A flight. Dee Elder and Deanna Hauser tied with 34 in B, and Peg Nadvornick had 36 in C.

B flight golfer Sammie Fletcher shot low gross 52, Barb Gunderson had 63 in C, and Bev Sloan shot 62 to win no-handicap flight.

Best nine of 18

Liberty Lake Women’s 18-Hole Golf Club scored their best nine holes, then handicapped them during a beautiful fall day.

In first flight Patsy Lynn scored a net 37, and Jean Hatcher was at 37 1/2. Second flight was won by Gloria Cash at 33 1/2, and Connie Hatfield with 35.

Third flight went to Louise Newtson and Jody Cantrell, each with 36 1/2. Fourth flight winners were Myrna Neubauer with 33 and Dorothy Womach with 33 1/2.