Prep runs past Cheney in GSL opener

CHENEY – Cheney and Gonzaga Prep spent the better part of the first quarter of their Greater Spokane League season opening game being more like a pair of sparring boxers, testing each other with a series of jabs.

And once the Blackhawks landed their first real punch, a late first quarter touchdown, that certainly got the Bullpups' attention.

Prep went on to land a succession of their own blows, scoring twice in both the second and third quarters en route to a 34-6 victory Sept. 1 at Tom Oswald Field.

Cheney scored on its third possession when quarterback Samuel Coffin scored from two yards out with 21 seconds to play in the opening quarter, leading 6-0 when Prep blocked the point after.

Opening the second quarter and keyed by a spectacular catch from the Bullpups' Isaiah Docken, Prep's Nate Moinette scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 3-yard run with 7:04 remaining in the half. The point-after gave the Bullpups the 7-6 lead that they would build upon.

Following a three-and-out by the Blackhawks the Bullpups got the ball back with 6:01 to play. They used a penalty to earn a first-and-goal from the seven before Gavin Damon scored on a pitch with 1:09 remaining in the half.

Leading 14-6, Prep converted a critical third-and-10 play to keep its opening second half drive alive before Moinette had TD No. 2 with 7:14 to go in the quarter.

On the ensuing Cheney possession, Prep took advantage of a poor punt by the Blackhawks and the Bullpups moved quickly to go up 28-6 at the 3:06 mark on a 5-yard run by Carson Flynn. Damon's second TD, a 15-yard pass from Stafford came with 9:43 to go in the game.

"Both sides of the ball showed great effort but lacked focus at times later in the game," Blackhawks' head coach Bobby Byrd wrote in a text message.

Cheney could only generate 136 yards of total offense, 98 via the arm of Coffin and Alex Hubbard's 23 rushing on high carries. Prep put up 413, of which came 336 was on the ground - 103 of that by Moinette.

Heading into their next game, Sept. 8 against Ferris on the Saxons' field at 4 p.m. Byrd said, "We made steps in a good direction but have a lot of work to do."