East Valley runs past Lakeland
SPOKANE - The East Valley Knights struck fast on their first play from scrimmage and didn't let up until the final moments on their way to a 34-7 win over the Lakeland Hawks on Friday in a nonleague game.
Lakeland opened with 11- and 13-yard runs by Brendon Kedish before a fumbled snap turned the ball over to East Valley on the 45-yard line. East Valley struck on a 45-yard slant from Dustin Hansen to Rich Melbrech to take an early 7-0 lead.
Hansen finished the game 6 of 9 passing for 151 yards and three touchdowns and East Valley senior tailback Shane Quinn finished the night with 20 carries for a game-high 114 yards.
"My goal was to get 100 in each game this season," Quinn said. "This is my final year, so I wanted to make everything count. It was tough to run the ball up the gut on their defensive line."
Hansen also had touchdown passes of 27 and 52 yards for East Valley (1-1), which travels to Post Falls on Friday.
"Running is more our style," East Valley coach Adam Fisher said. "We've been a running team since I took over here 11 years ago."
Kedish had 10 carries for 45 yards for Lakeland (0-3), which travels to Timberlake on Friday.
"Brendon's a tough kid," Lakeland coach Tim Kiefer said. "He's a hard worker that's fast and strong. We like having the ball in his hands."
Lakeland was hit with injuries again on Friday, losing linebacker Sam Mallory late in the fourth quarter to a concussion. The Hawks were already without starting wide receiver Daniel Whitesitt, who broke his collarbone last week against Colville.
"Anytime you lose a kid it's tough," Kiefer said. "We've got confidence in the other kids like Gaige (Grey) and Hunter (Arno). We were banged up going into the game tonight and now we're a little more banged up."
Eric Cooper went 11 of 26 for 92 yards and a touchdown for Lakeland.
Lakeland 0 7 0 0 - 7
East Valley 7 14 13 0 - 34
EV - Rich Melbrech 45 pass from Dustin Hansen (Brandon Rankin kick)
EV - Joey Strehlou 1 run (Rankin kick)
LL - Cory Thorne 5 pass from Eric Cooper (Cody Vandever kick)
EV - Matt Hoadley 27 pass from Hansen (Rankin kick)
EV - Shane Quinn 2 run (Rankin kick)
EV - Ronnie Jarvis 52 pass from Hansen (kick failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING - LL, Carr 4-28, Co. Thorne 4-16, Kedish 10-45, Malloy 6-3, Cooper 2-(-10), Ca. Thorne 1-0. EV, Quinn 20-114, Strehlou 1-1, Clark 1-0, Rockstrom 4-33, Hansen 3-5.
PASSING - LL, Cooper 11-26-92-1. EV, Hansen 6-9-151. Watkins 2-4-10.
RECEIVING - LL, Gray 3-29, Arno 1-6, Campbell 1-7, Co. Thorne 4-32, Ca. Thorne 1-13. CV, Jarvis 3-91, Mehlbrech 1-45, Hoadley 2-38, Fredrick 2-9, Fleck 1-5.