Greater Spokane League football: Luke Abshire’s arms and hearts lead the Central Valley over Mead

Luke Abshire has waited for it practically his whole life. He’s got some big shoes to fill in the Central Valley, and so far, so good.

Aside from the heroics on the field, the junior quarterback rushed up and down the sideline several times, pumping his teammates up while the bears were on defense. He is now the undisputed leader of this group – physically and emotionally.

“I don’t know, I was just trying to do my thing, you know?” Abshire said. “Try to get the guys going and just do what I can to help us win.”

Abshire went 20 of 34 for 261 yards, rushed for two touchdowns and had several long deals to score – and the Bears defense did the rest during a 23-0 win over Mead in a Greater Spokane League 4A game / 3A Friday.

“I’ve played with one of my recipients, Aaden Anderson, since I was 6 years old,” Abshire said. “And so I have a lot of good connections and good camaraderie with (the recipients).”

“We’ve known (Abshire) for a while,” said CV trainer Ryan Butner. “From middle school on, he even disguised himself as a newbie and stood on the sidelines and looked at it. He’s been waiting for his opportunity and it definitely deserves it. “

Butner was also pleased with his defense, which limited the Panthers to a total of 83 yards.

“Our defenses, especially in a short season like this, will take us up,” said Butner. “But boy, they played those last two games really well.”

“We knew they walked hard,” said Sam Brown of Mead. “Stop the run first and then play in your backfield. Turn them off from there. “

After two weeks, players are still being adjusted to all COVID-19 protocols.

“I mean, it’s weird,” said Brown. “But when you’re on the field, it’s football.”

“It feels really good, really good to get out of here,” Abshire said. “Come through all that COVID stuff and finally play and get under the light again.”

CV (2-0) opened quickly, and Abshire linked up with Justin Finn on game three for a 34 yard win. Six games later, Abshire broke the containment on the left sideline and went 15 yards for a score.

Hunter Myers added a 29-yard field goal on next possession. Then an eight-game drive that started at the 50 ended in Abshire with a clever fake ball to shoot 3 yards around the left end and get a score.

In the middle of the second quarter, Finn scored a 36-yard hit on the right sideline for Mead 7, but the journey stalled and Myers drilled a 37-yard field goal for a 20-0 lead at halftime.

Finn finished with six catches for 115 yards while Brandon Bruegeman added five catches for 93 yards.

Mead (1-1) put it on the grass in his first possession in the second half with 36. Myers added a 33 meter field gate to the ledger.

“I want to say I treat every game the same way, but I never beat (Mead),” Brown said. “I started playing sophomore and I never beat them so I just wanted to finish on a high grade, you know, last year.”

All about the GSL

Gonzaga Prep 48, Lewis and Clark 7: Ryan McKenna rushed for 146 yards with touchdowns of 49 and 41 yards, added a 39-yard touchdown pass and host Bullpups (2-0) defeated the Tigers (0-2) in a GSL 4A / 3A game. Jaden Ortega added 85 yards racing on 10 carry with two TDs for the bullpups.

Ferris 20, University 18: Paxton Page went with three touchdowns for 163 yards to 12 of 22 and the visiting Saxons (1-1) defeated the Titans (0-2) in a 4A / 3A game. Jide Olajoyegbe had five catches for 92 yards and two TDs, one of 65 yards, for the Saxons. Malaki Miller rushed for 156 yards with three TDs for U-Hi.

Mt. Spokane 17, Cheney 0: Tyler Alm rushed a touchdown for 61 yards over 10 runs and the Wildcats (1-1) defeated the Blackhawks (1-1) in a GSL 4A / 3A game at Union Stadium. The mountain. The Spokane Defense limited Cheney to a total of 75 yards.

Shadle Park 49, Rogers 0: Ryan Schmidt ran for two touchdowns, passed for two and kicked off a score back and the Highlanders (2-0) defeated the Pirates (0-2) in the 2A game at Union Stadium. Schmidt finished 7 of 11 for 139 yards.

West Valley 26, Othello 7: Treden Davis-Reed picked up a touchdown pass from Nick Toole and the visiting Eagles (2-0) defeated the Huskies (1-1) in a GSL 2A game.