Blackhawks close season with big win

They didn’t check all the boxes for the 2024 season, but Cheney football appears to have things headed in a better direction?

The Blackhawks recovered an early fumble, turned it into an immediate score and ultimately a 48-7 crossover victory over the Hermiston, Oregon Bulldogs Nov. 8 at Eastern Washington's Roos Field.

"We got right out a good start, we forced a fumble on their very first play after we kicked off and scored the very next play," head coach John Graham said.

Tank Best's 18-yard catch and run off a pass from Connor Collins ignited the scoring. Best's second score, a 29-yarder, capped first half scoring for Cheney with touchdown runs from Gladius Edejer and Tristan Huse coming in between on the way to a 28-0 halftime lead.

In Graham's first season, Cheney, 3-7, improved from its winless 0-10 campaign in 2023.

The goal for seniors was to win their final three games — and they came close winning two-out-of-three, the loss 7-3 to playoff-bound Mt. Spokane.

Cheney got an efficient performance from new starting quarterback Connor Collins who was 14-for-17 with 180 yards and four touchdowns.

"And he took care of the ball," Graham said referencing zero turnovers for a third week in a row, adding Cheney forced a handful of Hermiston turnovers.

Tristan Huse added over 100 yards rushing.

Cheney kept the offense engaged in the second half where Chris Wilson had a 99-yard kick return. But that wasn't all for Wilson who also snared a pair of interceptions.

Next, the Collins brothers connected when Camden collected a 12-yard scoring pass from Connor. Carter Itner wrapped things with a scoring toss of 14 yards from Connor Collins.

Following a 1-5 start, the little things began to fall in place for Cheney, and Graham, who had been away from coaching for several years, his last gigs at the college level with Idaho and Eastern Washington.

Graham said he had to remember these are 15-or-16-year old kids who haven't even started driving. "I mean, I have a coach who’s not even 21."

As this chapter closes, Graham is already looking to writing the one for next season where the usual turnover occurs and how to both fill those holes is the topic of conversation.

Senior standouts moving on include Gauge Scubert, a multi-year starter who Graham called, "The cornerstone on the offensive line."

"But then we have four underclassmen coming back that started all year, so that's good," Graham said.

Skill position losses include receiver Cam Collins and Carter Ittner at tight end as well as tailback Tristan Huse who doubles on defense at safety.

And there are also the intangibles.

"We have to get bigger and stronger with the upper echelon teams, 3A, 4A, we just have to," Graham said. "We're not physical enough yet to compete."

Graham will welcome back Connor Collins at quarterback and Tank Best at both receiver and linebacker.

And Mason Stinson who started the season as QB, will move to receiver in his senior season.

"He's one of our best athletes so we've got to have him on the field," Graham said. "We made the move an