Mead bounces back, cruises past Lewis and Clark 37-7

Looking to get back on track after a difficult loss in a key league opener last week, the Mead football team found an antidote Thursday.

The Panthers coupled improved defense with enough offense to knock off Lewis and Clark 37-7 in a 4A Greater Spokane League game at Albi Stadium.

On its first possession, Mead (2-2, 1-1) used 19 plays to drive 79 yards with quarterback Payton Loucks hitting Vinny Saldana on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line for a touchdown.

Saldana leaned and stretched his arm over the goal line.

In between a pair of Conaire Shaffer field goals, Mead scored another touchdown when Loucks found Joseph Heitman on a 16-yard short post.

And as the horn sounded to end the first half, Shaffer made a 39-yard field goal to go with a 36-yarder earlier.

Mead put together 230 yards total offense in the first two quarters to LC’s paltry 58. Loucks accounted for 138 yards and two TDs by completing 14 of 23 attempts. He finished with 268 yards and a third TD.

LC (1-3, 1-1) pulled within 20-7 in the third quarter when Ian Smith, on fouth-and-6, hit Jack Sestero on a pump-and-go for a 27-yard TD.

The Tigers’ score was set up by an interception from Xavier Guillory.

Mead answered when on fourth-and-2 at LC’s 11-yard line, Thomas Dammarell took a lateral and threw TD pass to Joseph Heitman to stretch the lead out to 27-7 with :34 to go in the third quarter.

Shaffer hit a third field goal, a 43-yarder, in the fourth to push the lead to 30-7.