Titans own worst enemy in Thursday night’s loss

University can share responsibility in its 35-14 loss to Ferris Thursday night in a Greater Spokane League football game between playoff contenders. While the Saxons (6-1 overall, 5-1 in the GSL) proved unstoppable offensively, the Titans (4-3, 4-2) were in many respects their own worst enemy.

It began on the game’s first series after 285-pound fullback Levi Wilson bulled forward for nine yards on two carries. The Titans then tried an option pitch. The ball wound up rolling backward 15 yards on the Albi Stadium turf.

Things went downhill from there, even though U-Hi trailed just 14-7 after a quarter. After scoring, the team didn’t have a series longer than three plays until the fourth quarter. Three interceptions and two lost fumbles killed most of the possessions.

The Titans didn’t tackle particularly well, either, and trailed 35-7 one play into the fourth quarter.

Bright spots included the running of Tyler Carlson, who read the pursuit of Ferris defenders and cut for 92 rushing yards and a touchdown. Linebacker Tug Beach had a solid game on defense.

University can reach postseason, but must win their final two league games against East Valley and Central Valley and get some help from other teams.

EV (4-2) played Lewis and Clark Friday night, and the Bears (2-4, 2-3) played Shadle Park.

West Valley (3-3, 1-2) got its initial Great Northern League win in a big way, 55-6 last week over Medical Lake. Andy Vennum scored three touchdowns and rushed for 89 yards. Tom Peterson scored three times and gained 66 yards. The Eagles played Cheney Friday.

Freeman, which blanked Newport 56-0 last week, was at Kettle Falls Friday with first place in the Northeast A League on the line.

CV’s coach pleased

Central Valley girls cross country coach Dennis McGuire was pleased. You could tell by his body actions after the Bears 25-31 win at Mead.

With victory, CV (7-1 in the Greater Spokane League) set up next week’s first-place showdown against three-time defending champion Mt. Spokane.

But in talking about the victory afterward, McGuire was his understated self.

“If the GSL championship comes, that’s a wonderful thing,” he said. “But regional is most important.”

He said that the girls were leg-weary from training, but they went out front as a pack from the outset and had a comfortable team lead through the first mile.

Although a couple Panthers and one Lewis and Clark runner moved up to challenge a bit midway through the race, CV took control again on the final lap at Mead and had four runners place between second and seventh places. A come-through from the Bears’ No. 5 scorer helped secure victory.

”Camille Carter, who finished No. 7 (in the race), has been our most consistent runner, but didn’t feel it today,” said McGuire. “Robin Swanson stepped up. She’s been on junior varsity all year. It’s nice to have some depth.”

The victory, he added, was indication that the girls are beginning to believe in themselves.

University (8-1 and victorious over CV earlier this year) will be pulling for the Bears and themselves in next week’s season-ending league meets. The Titans face Mead and if both Valley teams win, they’ll be part of a three-way title tie.

The Titans swept past Gonzaga Prep and North Central by placing all seven runners between third and 10th places.

Central Valley boys (6-2 after losing to Mead) will finish third in the GSL. U-Hi’s boys (5-4) assured themselves a break-even season and fifth place by splitting with North Central and Gonzaga Prep.

Volleyball crunch time

A season’s-best front row blocking effort was not enough for Central Valley to beat Mead, but the Bears did give the GSL volleyball unbeaten a tussle.

And on Thursday CV defeated Shadle Park in five games to near their first district playoff berth since 1996.

Visiting Mead beat CV in four games, 25-14, 25-18, 23-25 and 25-15, but led just 17-13 at one point in game one, trailed 17-16 in game two and lost game three after holding a 22-19 lead. The score was just 16-13 Panthers in the final game before they got away.

CV’s front line consistently blocked Mead’s tall middle attackers to keep rallies in play. Kristen Telin fueled CV’s third-game rally and the Bears also had strong offensive efforts by junior Amanda Carlstrom and kills leader senior Jacklyn Robinson.

Telin had 15 kills and three blocks, junior Allison Giusti had 23 digs and freshman setter Shannon Giusti 50 assists during the 25-19, 21-25, 25-13, 23-25, 15-5 win at Shadle.

It’s crunch time as well for University (2-5) which needed a victory over Ferris Friday night and again against Shadle Park at home on Tuesday to reach the district playoffs.

West Valley (9-1) maintained its two-game second-place advantage over Colville in the Great Northern League with wins over Cheney and Colville this week. Four matches remain, including against unbeaten leader Pullman and Colville. Melissa Mauro had a combined 21 kills and 14 service aces during the sweep.

Soccer playoff hopefuls

GSL soccer ends next week with both University and Central Valley clinging to playoff hopes.

The Titans are currently fifth in league and probably in, but finish the season with tough games against title contenders Gonzaga Prep (Friday) and Ferris on Wednesday.

The Bears are after the sixth playoff berth and they, too, finish against upper division foes, East Valley on Wednesday and Mead next Friday.

West Valley is third in league with a 9-2 record behind Cheney and Pullman. The Eagles beat Riverside 8-0 and Colville 4-1 last week. DeeDee Garbe continues to be the Great Northern League’s scoring machine with six more goals. She now has a GNL-leading 23.

District softball next

The GSL champion University Titans get to rest, but third-place Central Valley is in action when league playoffs begin on Monday.

CV (9-5) hosts North Central in the loser-out portion of the three-day tournament. Unbeaten U-Hi (14-0) awaits the lowest-seeded winner of Monday’s games at home on Tuesday.

U-Hi capped its season with 14-4, 12-0 and 12-6 victories over Ferris, East Valley and the Bears. Alyssa Hawley had 10 hits during the week including a homer and Ashley Fargher hit two home runs against CV and had four for the week. Riki Schiermeister added seven hits, including three home runs in the games.

CV’s bid to finish second and earn a first-round playoff bye was thwarted by Rogers 13-3.