Gonzaga Prep returns home for convincing win over Lewis and Clark
After logging a season’s worth of miles in two nonleague games, Gonzaga Prep came out Friday fired up for its first home game of the season.
“It’s good to be home,” G-Prep coach Dave McKenna said. “It’s good to be in front of our fans because we have great fans.”
To top it off, the Bullpups debuted a new carpet in their Greater Spokane League opener with Lewis and Clark. After shellacking the Tigers 49-7, they’ll be checking for rug burns.
The Bullpups wasted no time inaugurating their new home turf, thanks to some home-opener adrenaline.
G-Prep (2-1, 1-0) swarmed the LC offense and forced a three-and-out to start the game. Taking the ball at the 50 for his first possession, G-Prep quarterback Connor Halonen dropped two steps on first play and found a sprinting Sam Lockett 30 yards downfield. The senior raced the final 20 yards untouched to make it 7-0.
A second LC three-and-out gave the Bullpups the ball at their 35 to start their second possession. Nine plays later they were in the end zone again, thanks to a 1-yard blast from Kacey Anthony, who reached the end zone three more times before checking out late in the third quarter.
LC (1-2, 0-1) found a way to move the ball on its third possession, thanks to some heady play from quarterback Michael Flaherty. Faced with a defensive front that was both quick and relentless, the junior used his quickness to find seams that allowed him to work the ball downfield – driving the Tigers 65 yards for their lone touchdown.
Flaherty carried 18 times in the first half, gaining 95 yards.
“Our D-Line was very good early,” McKenna said. “But I think after that initial success, they all started trying to make too big of a play. They’ll learn and it will take them getting some experience. We’re still a little green in a few places.”
The Bullpups’ offense showed no signs of being green.
As a first option, Anthony punished the middle of the LC defense for solid yardage, picking up 95 yards on 13 carries in the first half and scoring on runs of 1, 20, 28 and 4 yards.
Devin Culp, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound load coming off the wing, was solid on the sweep.
Halonen kept it all in rhythm – running when the defense overreacted to his backs – and threw the ball effectively, hitting Dawson Emery for a 19-yard touchdown.
Matthew Carney came on at quarterback for G-Prep at the end of the third quarter and added the game’s final score on a pass to Cayden Kerr.
“The thing that I was most pleased with was how unselfish out kids were,” McKenna said. “They didn’t care who carried the ball or who scored. All they were concerned with was the team.”