Carlson, Jordan lift University
Tyler Carlson continued to prove his worth Friday night.
Carlson chewed up Mead’s defense with 137 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Dan Jordan added two touchdowns to carry host University to a 31-21 victory over Mead in a Greater Spokane League football game.
Carlson’s steady play has kept the Titans in contention for a postseason berth. University (3-2, 3-1 GSL) joined Ferris and Lewis and Clark with one loss in the Greater Spokane League.
“He’s developed between his sophomore and junior year,” U-Hi coach Mike Ganey said of Carlson, a junior standing 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds. “He’s not very heavy … but he’s always running for extra yardage.”
Each time the Titans needed to piece together a lengthy drive, Carlson shouldered much of the burden. He carried the ball six times during a 14-play drive resulting in Ken Wood’s 40-yard field goal, and he carried the ball on seven of U-Hi’s 15 plays in the fourth quarter to help the Titans put the game away.
Carlson, who finished with 29 rushes and scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard run in the third quarter, entered the game sixth in the GSL with 320 rushing yards. Before Friday, Carlson accounted for 85 percent of the Titans’ rushing total on the season.
U-Hi benefited from two Mead turnovers and the Panthers’ 18-yard average on their three punts. The Titans averaged starting field position at their own 49, including seven drives at the 50 or in Mead territory. The Panthers’ average field position was their own 20.
“We haven’t had that, especially in the (Gonzaga) Prep game,” Ganey said, noting last week’s 38-6 loss. “We stressed that we had to have a complete game.”
Starting at quarterback for U-Hi, Jordan showcased nimble feet outside the pocket and finished with a pair of 1-yard TD runs, the latter a plunge over the goal line to give U-Hi a 31-21 lead with less than 2 minutes remaining.
Jordan completed 12 of 24 passes for 106 yards and connected with Ken Wood on a 45-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 7-all late in the first quarter. Wood finished with four catches for 62 yards.
Mead coach Sean Carty is hoping he can find more consistency from his two quarterbacks, junior Glen Reser and senior Matt Johnson.
Reser completed 6 of 13 passes for 94 yards, and his errant pass in the fourth quarter was intercepted by U-Hi’s Tyler Herrera and sealed the Panthers’ fate. Johnson stepped in for Mead’s final two possessions and completed 2 of 8 passes for eight yards.
“They’re both about the same,” Carty said. “They do a lot of good things, but they’re inexperienced, and we’re trying to get them as much experience as we can this year.”