University blanks Ferris in GSL 4A football

University started slowly, but the Titans got rolling Friday night and crushed visiting Ferris 48-0, adding more pain to the Saxons’ season.

U-Hi (3-0) rolled up 34 points in the first half and another 14 points in the third quarter. Ferris’ offense was only able to generate one first down the entire game.

The Saxons have given up 130 points and scored none to drop to 0-3.

“It’s a great program,” University coach Rob Bartlett said of Ferris. “They are young. Give them another year and they will be back.”

Former Washington State star Connor Halliday, who is helping coach the Saxons’ quarterbacks, agreed with Bartlett.

“It’s tough, but the kids are working hard. They are doing everything we ask of them,” Halliday said. “Coach (Jim) Sharkey is a great coach. He’ll get it turned around.”

But this night was all black, as in Titan black. U-Hi quarterback Logan O’Neill threw four touchdown passes, including two to Tanner Chase, to break the game open in the first half.

O’Neill finished 16 of 20 for 237 yards with no interceptions.

“It feels great. Our whole offense killed it,” O’Neill said. “It was fun to see the ‘2s’ with big grins on their faces when they got to play.”

But the Titans’ best effort came on the other side of the ball. University held Ferris to 41 total yards and just the one first down. The Saxons punted 10 times.

“Our defense is playing exceptionally and has all year,” Bartlett said. “Our new defensive scheme fits our personnel. I couldn’t be happier.”

U-Hi got on the board with an 11-yard run by Treivon Tuggles with 6:52 remaining in the first quarter.

O’Neill hit Chase on scoring strikes of 49 and 8 yards before he found Griffin Thorson on a 14-yard touchdown pass to make the score 28-0.

U-Hi got the ball with 1:30 left before the half and O’Neill again drove the Titans before hitting Jordan Moore on a 44-yard catch with 8 seconds remaining to make it 34-0.

Gage Anderson scored on a 1-yard plunge and Malcolm Lohstreter scored from 10 yards out at the end of the third quarter to complete the scoring.

“For the most part, we got what we thought we were going to,” Bartlett said. “They gave us some trouble at times, but we made some adjustments. It was a good win.”