District 8 3A football: Kamiakin runs all over Shadle Park

When Shadle Park quarterback Carson Doyle peeled off a 45-yard touchdown Friday to start its District 8 3A crossover game with Kamiakin, it appeared the Highlanders had a little mojo left over from last week’s upset of fourth-ranked Mt. Spokane.

Whatever it was, it didn’t last long.

Second-seeded Kamiakin forced four first-half turnovers, scored 39 unanswered points and handled No. 1 seed Shadle Park 55-13 in front of a sparse crowd at Albi Stadium.

Shadle Park, which went 3-0 in GSL 3A play, finished its season with a 4-6 record.

“We put our defense in a lot of bad situations early. (Kamiakin) has good athletes who can make plays,” Shadle Park coach Jim Mace said. “We buried ourselves.”

The Braves (6-4), coached by former Whitworth standout quarterback Scott Biglin, advanced to the first round of the State 3A playoffs.

Kamiakin running back Tuna Altahir rushed 117 yards and five touchdowns – three in the first half – to fuel the rout.

Altahir, who also plays defensive back, said he wasn’t surprised his team jumped out to such a big cushion because of a good game plan.

“We forced them to run,” Altahir said. “We knew what they were going to do, so we just executed.”

Doyle led Shadle Park’s offense, rushing for 110 yards on nine carries, but was held to 6-of-28 passing for 52 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Braves quarterback Lucas Castilleja had three touchdown passes – two following first-half Shadle Park turnovers – including a 55-yard touchdown connection to Kelen Rutz, which gave Kamiakin a 26-7 lead to start the second quarter.

Kamiakin (451 yards) nearly doubled Shadle Park’s offensive output (235 yards), and its defense put its offense in great field position.

The Highlanders opened the second half with a sign of life when Doyle connected with Zane Lambert on a 14-yard touchdown connection to make it 39-13. Altahir answered with a 63-yard touchdown on the next possession, and the Highlanders wouldn’t get any closer.

Mace said his team might have suffered from a “hangover effect” after shocking Mt. Spokane 14-11 last week.

“I take some of the blame. I don’t think I got all of our kids to transition from that,” Mace said.

In another district playoff, Mt. Spokane (8-2) defeated host Kennewick 21-14 at Lampson Stadium to advance to State 3A play. No details were reported.