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Shadle gets past North Central, heads to postseason

North Central tailback Kieran McHenry (43) runs the ball during the first half of a GSL high school football game at Joe Albi Stadium, Thurs., Oct. 27, 2016. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
North Central tailback Kieran McHenry (43) runs the ball during the first half of a GSL high school football game at Joe Albi Stadium, Thurs., Oct. 27, 2016. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
By Greg Lee

Shadle Park junior Eric Leavey is listed as a backup running back and a starter at linebacker.

Backup running back might be a stretch, according to coach Jim Mace.

“We call him stone hands,” Mace said.

Somehow Leavey picked off a pass and returned it 61 yards for what would prove to be the winning score with 7 minutes, 30 seconds remaining, and Shadle Park held off North Central 21-14 in a Greater Spokane League 3A finale Thursday at Albi Stadium.

Now Shadle (5-4) travels to Kennewick on Tuesday to face Southridge (5-4) in a playoff to decide a play-in berth.

The winner travels to the still-to-be determined KingCo No. 1 seed on Nov. 5.

“That was a miracle,” Mace said of Leavey’s interception. “It was our night, I guess. He caught it and ran it in. He’s a great kid, but he wasn’t gifted in the hands part.”

As it turned out, the Highlanders needed it. The return extended Shadle’s lead to 21-7. But on NC’s second play on the next series, quarterback Matt Mickey hit Michael Stacy on a 57-yard touchdown to pull the Indians (2-7) within 21-14 with 6:51 to go.

NC got one more possession, starting at its 5 with 1:18 remaining. But the Indians turned it over on downs at the 4, and Shadle quarterback Carson Doyle took a knee to end the game.

Leavey said his hands aren’t as bad as some think.

“That’s somebody else, that’s not me,” Leavey said. “I saw the running back come out and I knew he was coming to the middle of the field, so I settled. It (the pass) was right to me.”

Defense has carried Shadle all season and it came through again. The Highlanders held NC to 154 yards.

“We have to be mentally checked in (Tuesday),” Leavey said. “We’ve had ups and downs. We fought through some, lost some, and I’m just glad to play.”

Doyle led Shadle with 178 yards, completing 12 of 26 passes. Receiver Vinny Epefanio had five catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns.

Things were chippy at times between the neighborhood rivals.

After a slow start, Shadle got going on its fifth possession.

The Highlanders, taking over at NC’s 41-yard line, used seven plays before Doyle found Epefanio wide open in the end zone on a 17-yard connection with 4:33 to go before halftime.

Shadle needed just three plays on its next series. The Doyle-to-Epefanio duo converted again on a 53-yard touchdown against 1-on-1 press coverage. Epefanio blew past his defender, giving the Highlanders a 14-0 lead going into halftime.

NC held a time of possession edge by 2:15 in the first half but Shadle dominated the yardage. The Highlanders had 170 to NC’s 56.

“We have to play better offensively,” Mace said. “It’s been the same thing all season. We’d do something good and then we’d kill ourselves, self destruct. We’ve got to figure it out in the next couple of days.”

Mace praised his defense.

“The defense has bailed us out several times,” he said. “They just find ways to scrap.”