Gar-Pal, S.J.E. to meet Friday in key game

The St. John-Endicott Eagles host Gar-Pal in a key 1B football game Friday night.

The Eagles at 2-3 on the year -- after a winless 2012 season -- are 0-2 in league.

Gar-Pal is 0-4 on the year, also needing league wins to have hope of getting into the playoffs.

Both teams are coming off of losses last Friday, when St. John played Touchet at home and Gar-Pal hosted Liberty Christian, the defending state 1B champions.

Touchet 58

S.J.E. 6

The St. John-Endicott Eagles played at home against Touchet last Friday and went down 58-6.

Running back Wade West led the team with 154 yards rushing and a touchdown on 15 carries. In addition, freshman Adam Blakely carried five times for 56 yards.

Trailing 12-0 early in the game, interim quarterback West took the ball on an option right and kept it, going 76 yards for the touchdown.

It was the Eagles’ only score on the night.

"Touchet just kept pounding away on us," said S.J.E. Coach Steve Selk.

It was 42-6 at halftime.

In the second half, S.J.E. put together a six-minute opening drive before turning it over on downs.

Last year, the Eagles lost 70-0 at Touchet.

"I am proud of our guys, we played them real tough," said Selk.

The Eagles played without starting quarterback Weston Whinery who was out with a concussion.

He is expected to be back Friday for a home game against Gar-Pal.

Selk told his team this week that with two league wins, if they want to get into the playoffs, every game is key.

"It’s a must-win every week now," said Selk.

Friday’s game against Gar-Pal starts at 7 p.m.

LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 46 Gar-Pal 8

Gar-Pal went down 46-8 to Liberty Christian at home last Friday, although Coach Scott Thompson liked what he saw.

"I was really pleased because I thought our kids played the best game we’ve played all year, it just so happened to be against the defending state champs."

The Vikings scored on an 8-yard run by Cole Sanderson in the fourth quarter.

The team played without senior running back/linebacker Kevin Knauff, who is expected to be back from injury this week against St. John-Endicott.

"We’re not percent sure but we’re hopeful," Thompson said.

The coach said that every game is key from here on out for the 0-4 Vikings.

"We did move the ball better (against Liberty Christian), we blocked better. We just haven’t quite put it all together yet."