U-Hi wins before beginning GSL gantlet

The University football players and coaches know it: The easy part of the season is over.

Even as they savored a 50-7 homecoming victory over Rogers on Friday night, the unbeaten Titans looked forward to next week’s game at Gonzaga Prep and the other big contests to follow.

As for Friday night’s Greater Spokane League crossover game against the Pirates, it was no contest. By halftime, the Titans (5-0) scored on their first six possessions, forced three turnovers and never punted en route to a 43-7 lead.

It won’t be that easy next week, U-Hi coach Rob Bartlett said.

“We’re going to find out what we’re made of and how good we really are,” Bartlett said.

So far, so good: The Titans have outscored Greater Spokane League rivals Ferris, North Central and Rogers 157-14 in their last three games.

The Titans jumped to a quick 14-0 advantage against a Rogers team that seemed focused on stopping running back Tre’von Tuggles. The senior got his yards regardless – 131 in the first half alone on just 12 carries, including two scores.

But the Titans did most of their damage through the air, as quarterback Logan O’Neill threw four TD passes to four different receivers in the half. O’Neill opened the scoring by finding a wide-open Jordan Moore for a 26-yard touchdown.

“We’ve been pretty balanced with the run and the pass, and I feel like we can do either, that’s been part of the reason we’ve been so successful,” Bartlett said. “We also have great team chemistry, we’re relatively healthy and we’ve executing well on offense and defense.”

Tuggles scored twice on short runs to push the lead to 21-0 before Rogers got on the board on a remarkable play by running back Patrick Pullins early in the second quarter. Teammate Eric McKay caught a long pass to the U-Hi 2, but fumbled. Pullins picked up the ball near the 4, then carried half a dozen Titans into the end zone.

The Pirates (2-3) weren’t as lucky with their other miscues, as quarterback Cole Shafer was intercepted three times by Titans free safety Bryan Braley.

“It’s a great feeling (being 5-0), and I think the Prep game will be a good one,” Braley said.

U-Hi took advantage with three more scores before halftime, including a 52-yard bomb to Zac White, a 3-yarder to Tanner Chase and a 33-yarder to Griffin Thorson.

O’Neill finished 9 for 18 for 199 yards; Tuggles had 19 carries for 152 yards.

Moments after halftime the Titans scored on an 11-yard pass from O’Neill to Chase that made it 50-7. That ushered in the running clock and an early end.