CHENEY – The Blackhawks football team returned to the win column with a 21-0 shutout of East Valley last Friday night in Greenacres.
Alex Long threw for a pair of touchdowns while Gabe Gerber capped the evening with a 1-yard score to help Cheney get to 1-0 in Great Northern League play, 4-2 overall. After both teams spent the first quarter and half probing each other’s weaknesses, the Blackhawks used a two-minute drill to get on the board right before halftime, with Long hitting Ryan Rieckmann on a 10-yard touchdown throw.
Long connected on his second TD pass in the third quarter, finding tight end Koby Holt on a 29-yard throw. Gerber made the score 21-0 with a touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Long was 8 for 17 for 102 yards passing and the two scores, with Rieckmann having five receptions for 49 yards. Cheney rushed for 209 yards, with five backs doing the work, led by Nick Morgan with 72 yards and 12 carries and Gerber’s 71 yards on eight carries.
Head coach Bobby Byrd said the Blackhawks “did some good things” as the out-manned Knights “took their best shot.” Both teams used a lot of clock to limit offensive possessions in the game that was played in less than two hours.
Offensively, Byrd said they’re still looking to put four quarters of solid football together. Cheney’s success has come a lot from its defense.
“Our secondary has grown a lot,” he said. “Their play this year has been pretty consistent.”
They’ll need that consistency this Friday as the Blackhawks host GNL leaders Clarkston (2-0, 5-1) for Cheney’s Homecoming. Byrd said the Bantams are a “dynamic” team that has good athletes at the skill positions and is stout up front on both sides of the ball.
Clarkston has been scoring in bunches, averaging 38.5 points per game while allowing opponents 22 points. The 2A eighth-ranked Bantams have notched victories over GNL powers West Valley, 50-49, and last week over Pullman, 23-14.
Clarkston is led by senior quarterback Kaiden Frazier, whose main weapon is senior wide receiver Tru Allen. Byrd said they will operate out of the spread offense mostly, but are also efficient in two-back sets.
“They run the ball well, they pass the ball well,” he added.
Defensively, Clarkston will likely be another team that “loads the box” against Cheney, daring the Blackhawks to run. Byrd said last Friday’s game at East Valley showed him his squad can be efficient also in drop back passing situations, along with play action. But as in years past, Cheney will not shy away from trying to pound it out on the ground.
“They’re going to dare us to run the ball,” Byrd said. “That’s an invitation we’ll happily accept.”
While some coaches feel Homecoming activities can be a distraction to teams, Byrd is of the opposite mind, embracing the fun, especially for his seniors – most of whose football playing days are winding down.
“A lot of times it helps us out,” Byrd said, adding Homecoming is a key element of the high school culture and spirit.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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