Four and counting - Blackhawks down Knights 29-14

Start slow — big second quarter — defensive stops — late score.

Those nine words have proven to be the winning formula for the Cheney High School football team the past two games, none bigger than last Friday’s 29-14 win in the Blackhawks Great Northern League opener at East Valley.

In the shortest of Cheney’s five straight road trips to begin the season, the Blackhawks opened up a close game with 22 points in the second quarter. Cheney capped a drive highlighted by a Josh Martin to Kennan Williams 36-yard pass with a 3-yard touchdown run by Austin Kline, tying the score at 8 on Martin’s 2-point conversion pass to Logan Clayden.

The Blackhawks defense got into the act when defensive back Ty Graham scooped up a Knights’ fumble and returned it 37 yards for the go-ahead score. East Valley pulled within one point on Connor Ramm’s 28-yard touchdown strike to Alex Bowdish, but missed the extra point.

But on the subsequent possession, Cheney delivered a quick answer when Martin hit Clayden on a short slip screen, and the senior scampered down the sidelines 71 yards for the score and 22-14 halftime lead. In the second half Cheney’s defense once again proved formidable, harassing Ramm repeatedly in the pocket and preventing East Valley from developing any offensive rhythm.

Cheney sealed the game in the fourth quarter on Shane Hammel’s 5-yard touchdown run.

“The strength of our team is definitely our defense,” head coach Bobby Byrd said, adding not only can the Blackhawks stop opponents, but also possess the ability to score.

“That’s huge,” Byrd said. “That takes a little pressure off of the offense and speaks to the hard work those guys put in there.”

Besides the fumble recovery, Graham also picked off a Ramm pass, while Williams and Tyler Gladden each had a pair of sacks of the Knights quarterback. Offensively, Cheney was efficient, starting slow but once rolling, proving it has the capability to produce points.

“(I’m) glad we got the job done,” Byrd said.

The win is Cheney’s fourth straight, running its overall record to 4-1. After opening the season with five consecutive road games, the Blackhawks finally get to play under the lights of the friendly confines of Tom Oswald Field this Friday, hosting Idaho 4A Moscow in Cheney’s final non-league contest.

The Bears come in at 2-4, owning wins over North Central of the 3A Greater Spokane League and Lewiston. Two of those losses came against GNL opponents, Pullman 14-12 and West Valley, 42-7.

Byrd said Moscow likes to spread things out offensively, running single-back sets while putting 2-3 receivers on a side, and have the ability to make big plays.

“As long as we can handle their pressure, get our running game going and keep getting better, I think we can come out with a win,” Byrd said. “We haven’t put together four quarters of good offense yet so I’m looking forward to that.”

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].