| Friday, September 7, 2007 |
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Forget about learning curves this season. Senior-laden University had enough of that last year.
U-Hi quarterback Danny Jordan fought off two would-be tacklers and plunged into the end zone on a 3-yard run with 15 seconds remaining Thursday night to lift the Titans to a 14-13 victory over Shadle Park in a Greater Spokane League football game at Joe Albi Stadium.
U-Hi improved to 2-0, mirroring a similar strong start to the Titans' 2006 campaign when they won their first two GSL contests. U-Hi faded down the stretch last year, however, and narrowly missed a postseason berth. Jordan, for one, doesn't think his team requires another lesson about finishing strongly, particularly with 23 seniors on the roster.
Three plays after Clark's reception, Tyler Carlson rushed for a 19-yard gain to advance the ball to the Highlanders' 2. Jordan scored on the next play when he wiggled free from one tackle, ran off the right side and lurched forward between two more Shadle defenders to stretch the ball across the goal line for the final touchdown.
"I ran over to Coach (Mike Ganey) and said, 'If we run 12 Wedge, I'm going to get in,' " Jordan said. "He said, 'OK, well get in then.' ... I got stuffed at first, but I told myself I wasn't going to go down."
Carlson was named a first-team All-GSL player last year at running back, but he didn't start for a second consecutive week while he nurses a hamstring injury. His impact was considerable, though, when he stepped on the field.
With the Titans pinned back on their 3 to start the second quarter, Carlson found a crease in the Highlanders' defense and raced 97 yards to the end zone to knot the score at 7. He finished with 174 yards on 14 carries.
"The offensive line has really stepped up," Carlson said. "Last year they were good, but this year they've really stepped up."
Shadle capitalized on an edge in field position in the first half en route to a 10-7 lead at intermission. Ian Carlson finished a 40-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Evan Little for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, and place-kicker Wyatt Evenson booted a 39-yard field goal with a minute left before halftime.
Evenson added a 31-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, but Shadle's offense sputtered thereafter and generated just one more first down.
Ian Carlson completed 8 of 11 passes for 78 yards for the Highlanders, who showed remarkable improvement following a season-opening 52-6 loss against Mead last week.