Making a statement

Gonzaga Prep spent the better part of the game defending its red zone against visiting Lake City in their non-league football game Friday night. And for the most part, the Bullpups did an admirable job.

But they saved the best for last when senior defensive back Daniel McCanna somehow fended off burly Timberlake tight end Billey Sanders and pulled down a one-handed interception in the end zone to preserve the Bullpups’ 21-13 win.

McCanna gave away five inches in height and some 60 pounds to the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Lake City senior as both went for the high wobbling pass. But his position held firm and he came down with the ball, keeping his feet in-bounds for the pick with 49 seconds left in what was a barn-burning finish.

McCanna was at a loss to explain how he did it, simply saying they’d practiced it during the week. It was a fact confirmed by G-Prep coach Dave McKenna, who said the Bullpups used 6-6 Charlie Hopkins to channel Sanders.

“I’ll tell you what,” McKenna said, “that was a heckuva play, one-handed and we worked on it this week and I’ll tell you what, that kid responded. It couldn’t have come from a better kid at a better time.”

It was the sixth time the Timberwolves were at or inside the Bullpups’ 20 during the game. Four times the G-Prep defense, Galen Duff and Travis Long among them, denied them.

If McCanna’s pick wasn’t the biggest, a first-quarter stop was. G-Prep had a play mix-up and David Stockton made a pitch to nowhere.

Timberwolves defensive lineman Brandon Robinson fell on the ball at the 23, but four plays later G-Prep had it at the 29 following Nick Lenoue’s sack of quarterback Adam Fennenbock.

“That was huge,” McKenna said. “But we’ve done it before (after a lost fumble) against East Valley and University.”

With the ball back, G-Prep kept it for nearly five minutes on a drive that included Stockton’s 32-yard option keeper and put the Bullpups ahead 7-0 on John Lampert’s 1-yard plunge.

That was it for the first-half scoring as G-Prep’s defense denied Lake City at the 14-yard-line where a field-goal attempt missed. It happened again in the third quarter after a 30-yard Justin Bryant run put the Timberwolves at the Bullpups’ 21.

Derek Hare picked off a pass and five plays later, Bishop Sankey took a pitch with a full head of steam and sprinted 69 yards for a 14-0 lead.

That was the beginning of four successive possessions when the teams traded scores. G-Prep’s winner, on another Lampert plunge, was set up by a 14-yard misdirection pitch that Jack Wilson carried to the 11-yard line on fourth-and-10.

Jared Heston had both Lake City touchdowns, but he also missed an extra point.

The 225 pounder finished off a drive that included Julian Burgess’ 35-yard kickoff return at the start and featured a 35-yard pass reception to inside the 10 before Heston finished it off.

Lake City cut the deficit to 21-13 with 5 minutes, 51 seconds left in the game, covering 61 yards in a hurry. Tanner Schalk picked up 26 yards on two carries, Sanders had a 12-yard reception that was tipped before he grabbed it. Heston scored four plays later.

And the Timberwolves were in business again with 3:36 remaining after Lampert, who rushed for 94 yards on 16 attempts, lost a fumble to burden the defense once more.

A personal foul put Lake City 48 yards away, but the visitors were threatening with a first down at the 17 before McCanna saved the game with his acrobatic interception.

“Lake City is a great team and a well-coached team. We knew they would come back and hit us,” said McKenna. “Our kids played hard, their kids played hard and I can guarantee you Coach (Van) Troxel is as proud of his kids as we are of ours.”

Both teams have similar option-based styles, the Timberwolves (2-2) operating out of the shotgun for a good portion of theirs and showing variety in their attack.

Bryant rushed for 91 of their 199 ground yards and Fenenbock passed for 90.

The Bullpups (3-1) did most of their work, as usual, on the ground, rushing for 287 yards. They relied heavily on Lampert.

Sankey, who finished with 97 yards, gave them a key breakaway and Stockton picked his moments for 57 more yards that moved the chains and used the clock. His one completion, for 19 yards to Sankey, came on the third touchdown drive.

“It was a great football game,” McKenna said. “We go up early and they battled back. It’s a quality football program. They gave themselves a chance at the end and our kid made a play on them.”