Blackhawks look to make it seven and 2-0 in Great Northern League this Friday at Clarkston
Blackhawks running back Mekhai Goodloe finds a big hole through the East Valley line for a sizeable gain early in Cheney's 36-0 whitewashing of the visiting Knights.
Cheney High's defense turned in their second consecutive shutout and the offense showed juggernaut potential as the Blackhawks rolled over visiting East Valley 36-0 for a Homecoming win in Great Northern League action last Friday night at Tom Oswald Field. The win gives Cheney a 1-0 mark in the GNL and 6-0 overall, one win shy of matching their 7-0 start in 2015.
The Blackhawks wasted little time against the undermanned Knights. After forcing an East Valley punt on the game's first possession, Cheney efficiently marched to the Knights 1-yardline where quarterback Alex Long found wide receiver Luke Martin for a touchdown pass on fourth and goal. It was the Blackhawks second fourth-down conversion of the drive.
After another Knights three and out, Cheney again mounted a successful drive, capitalizing on several Mekhai Goodloe runs and big carry for 20-plus yards by Bryan Esquibel. On third and goal at the East Valley 2, Long again connected with Martin to make the score 14-0 with 4:01 to play in the first quarter.
Cheney's defense and special teams kept the Knights in their end of the field for most of the night, and the effort paid dividends in giving the Blackhawks the short field on offense on multiple occasions. One of those came midway through the second quarter when the defense forced an East Valley punt from their own nine.
Getting the ball on the Knights 40, Cheney quickly turned it into points, with Jacob McGourin turning a fourth and nine into a 17-yard TD run.
Cheney's defense stuffed a run on an East Valley fourth-down conversion attempt on the Knights 28, and the Blackhawks turned that opportunity into points as Goodloe bulled into the end zone from the 2 to make it 28-0 just before the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, Cheney's defense got on the board with a safety in the fourth quarter. Max Pierson's 18-yard run capped the scoring.
If Cheney is to match the 2015 team's start, they'll have to do it on the road as the Blackhawks travel to Clarkston to (0-2 GNL, 2-4) face an unpredictable Bantams team this Friday. The Bantams own wins over Idaho schools Moscow (50-27) and Orofino (29-6), but lost to Grangeville (26-7) and Lewiston (28-0). Clarkston has lost it's last two games to GNL foes West Valley, 23-14 at home, and Pullman 43-14 on the road.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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