Area Football Faces League Challengers, Produces Mixed Results

The Deer Park High School football team played their Greater Spokane League 2A opener on Sept. 18 against Rogers at One Spokane Stadium. After a promising early start, the Pirates would come away with a 38-28 victory. After Rogers opened the scoring, the Stags would answer with two scores before the opening period ended. Eion Bogle scored the first on a run from eight yards, and Carter Criss added the second tally on a run from 18 yards. The Pirates opened up a two-touchdown advantage with the only scores of the second quarter to lead 28-14 at intermission.

Deer Park closed the gap when Ian Olietti found Brian Soderberg on a nine-yard scoring pass. After a Pirates field and another Rogers touchdown, Criss would score his second touchdown from 15 yards for the final margin. Criss would have his third 100-yard rushing effort in as many games with 122 yards on 14 carries. Bogle added 45 yards on eight carries and was tops on the defensive side with 15 tackles.

Kale Blades caught five passes for 115 yards. Mateo Lightsey and Kash Phillips each had eight tackles for the Stags defense. Up next for the Stags is a homecoming matchup with Lakeside on Friday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m., with the Eagles coming off their second consecutive win. Lakeside opened Northeast "A" League play hosting Medical Lake on Sept. 18.

Quarterback Tanner Cummings was the Eagles top performer. The senior signal caller threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more scores. Kannon Almond caught two of the scoring tosses with the other going to Colby Compau. Jacob Smith added a scoring run for the Eagles. Riverside welcomed Liberty on Sept. 18 for the Rams home opener. After a scoreless opening quarter, the visitors from Spangle got on the board with a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Lancers would add two more second half scores for the final 20-0 margin.

Cade Koesel was the Rams top performer, catching four passes for 57 yards. The Rams are on the road Friday, Sept. 25, at Chelan of the Caribou Trail League at 6 p.m. Elsewhere in the area, Northwest Christian continued to post impressive offensive numbers as the Crusaders crushed Asotin on the road 50-0 in Northeast 2B League play on Sept. 18. Kettle Falls is up next for Northwest Christian on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at Riverside High School. Springdale moved to 2-1 on the season with a 50-20 home win over Curlew on Sept. 18. The Chargers travel to Odessa on Friday, Sept. 25, for a Northeast 1B matchup with the Tigers at 7 p.m.