Mead keeps turnovers in check in win over U-Hi

The Mead football team has been stung by turnovers this season.

Thursday, the turnover bug infested the University Titans.

The Panthers played their first error-free game in terms of turnovers, stopping University 21-13 in a Greater Spokane League 4A game at Albi Stadium.

Mead (3-5, 1-3) snapped a three-game losing streak.

“Pretty much our entire year we’ve felt like we’ve moved the ball, we have a high yards per carry, but we shoot ourselves in the foot,” senior running back/linebacker A.J. Layton said. “And it seems like it happens at the worst times. It felt really good to get it out of our system.”

Layton picked up Mead’s final first down, allowing the Panthers to run out the final minute. He led with 96 yards on 19 carries. Mead finished with 282 on 64 attempts.

“We’ve had lots and lots of ball security drills,” Layton said of the recent emphasis in practice. “No secret, just lots of ball security drills. Glad to see it pay off.”

It was a big win for a young Mead team that features just 11 seniors.

“It’s nice seeing all these younger kids step up,” Layton said.

The turnover bug for the Titans started on the opening kickoff. U-Hi never had a handle on the ball as Mead’s Sam Brown recovered, setting up the first touchdown moments later.

Halfway through the first quarter, defensive back Beau Skinner intercepted a pass, returning it 35 yards for a touchdown that extended the Panthers’ lead to 14-0 with 5:58 to go in the first quarter.

U-Hi finished with five turnovers to Mead’s none.

Mead finished with 196 yards total offense in the first two quarters, 158 coming on the ground. U-Hi running back Bryce Williamson had 92 yards on 14 carries including a TD.

“In any sport it (turnovers) is the bottom line,” Mead coach Sean Carty said. “Obviously, the scoreboard is the bottom, bottom line. But when you’re trying to get a (win) you have to be positive in the takeaway/giveaway.”

Shadle Park 56, North Central 6: The Highlanders scored early and often en route to a 49-0 lead at halftime in the 3A GSL game at Albi.

Highlanders quarterback Brett Rypien passed for 322 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half, including a 29-yard scoring throw to Michael Morris as time expired for intermission.

The game was played with a running clock in the second half.

Shadle (6-2, 2-0) added a late touchdown in the final quarter.

Jayden Nguyen led Shadle with eight receptions for 74 yards. George Pilimai had five for 74 yards and a TD. Darius Savick-Batters led Shadle with 119 yards and three TDs on 12 carries.

Bryson Pierce accounted for NC’s lone TD when he returned an interception 50 yards.

NC slipped to 1-7, 0-2.