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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Central Valley forced to rally past University in second half

In this Oct. 6, 2017 file photo, Central Valley running back Hunter Chodorowski (33) runs the ball during the first half of a GSL high school football game against Gonzaga Prep at Central Valley High School. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
Correspondent

The football game was played outdoors, under a night sky on natural turf on a crisp Friday night outdoors.

The Greasy Pig contest between Central Valley and school district rival University had a touch of Arena ball about it.

The host Bears, one win away from a perfect Greater Spokane League season, survived but just barely, rallying past the game Titans 49-42.

“That was incredible,” Bears coach Ryan Butner said of U-Hi. “Hats off to them. Those guys came back, buckled down and fought.”

The Bears changed things defensively and righted the ship.

What first appeared to be a rout by the home team that went 54 yards in five plays and less than a minute later upped the lead to 14-zip following an interception by Bekk Martin, became a track meet.

U-Hi behind a punishing ground game dominated most of the half. Diminutive 5-foot-7, 150-pound running back Terrell Sanders carried the bulk of U-Hi’s 28 plays to Central Valley’s seven as its sizeable line took over helping Sanders to 145 yards on 22 carries.

Sanders scored 3 seconds into the second quarter and with 1:29 remaining until half, with a 31-yard TD pass from Gavin Wolcott to Kye Duplessis inbetween to take a 21-14 lead.

Aided by a personal-foul penalty, CV tied the score with a 25-yard keeper up the middle out of the shotgun with less than 45 seconds remaining for the halftime tie.

The Titans started the second half in Central Valley territory and scored twice in the third quarter on nine running plays to build a 14-point lead, but the worm turned when they fumbled deep in their territory.

Led by Hunter Chodorowsky, CV took charge as it has become accustomed to in the latter stages of a game.

Chodorowsky scored from the 19 after the turnover. He carried six consecutive times setting up Ryan Harper for the final 17 yards to tie the score early in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Grant Hannan made it 42-35 benefitting from good field position. And his 47-yard scamper was the capper.

“We put in a new offense with motion and that got me going,” Chodorowsky said of his 70-yard second half. “And I dropped two passes so that got me going and I decided to make up for it.”

He added he liked the drama of close games, but not that close. “I’d rather have it an exciting game, not a blowout.”

The Titans capped the scoring with 41 seconds remaining.