Ephrata still searching for that first win
EPHRATA - Ephrata had the situation it was looking for.
The defense stopped Tonasket with 4:52 remaining in the fourth quarter with the Tigers trailing 17-14 on their own 31 yard line. Except, the Tigers fumbled on their fourth play of the drive, handing the ball back over to Tonasket with a little over three minutes remaining in the game. The Tigers of Tonasket went on to win 17-14, preventing Ephrata from seeking that first win of the season.
Ephrata had put the ball on the ground three times before that incident in the fourth quarter and recovered each fumble. The turnover was the second committed by the Tigers at that point in the game.
"We felt like we were moving the ball well and the bottom line is turnovers kill you," said Ephrata head coach Jay Mills. "We had plenty of time and momentum on our side and that turnover wasn't good."
Reid Forrest led the Tigers offensive attack, throwing two touchdown passes in the game, a 45-yarder to Kai Hirz and a 3-yarder to Mike Ratigan. Forrest was picked twice in the game, the second coming with the time running out on a hail-mary pass to the middle of the field.
Forrest also ran the ball 10 times for eight yards, while starting running back Thomas Bossert rushed nine times for 59 yards. Bossert was eclipsed by counterpart and Tonasket running back Jett Attwood, who ran for 190 yards on 22 carries. Setting up each of Tonasket's scoring drives.
Mills said Attwood's 190 yards of rushing offense was due to the fortitude of the Ephrata defense, who prepared all week to face the running back and the running game, which allowed 247 rushing yards on 39 carries.
"For as many times as they ran the ball, I am pleased with how are defense did," Mills said.
Ephrata took the first lead of the game with 6:09 to play in the first quarter, when Forrest hit Ratigan from the 3-yard line into the middle of the endzone. The Tigers had previously been shutout the first four quarters of the season.
The Tigers opened the door for Tonasket late in the first quarter when Forrest's punt sailed to midfield and Kevin Mitchell returned the ball to the Ephrata 38-yard line.
Cody Kramer and Attwood hit the Tonasket holes on four carries for 38 yards, before Kramer ran the ball in from the 7-yard line to tie the game at 7-7 with 11:05 remaining in the second quarter.
After a defensive stop, Ephrata punted the ball two yards, presenting Tonasket's offense 34 yards to travel to the endzone. Attwood broke free for two carries for 24 yards and Kramer ran nine yards to put the ball on the 1-yard line, setting up Tonasket quarterback Quanah Redtail for a scrum into the endzone and a 14-7 Tonasket lead.
On Ephrata's next possession, Tonasket's Mitchell intercepted Forrest that set up a 23-yard field goal for Mitchell with 3:40 remaining in the third quarter.
The Tigers sparked life with a 72-yard drive, setting up a 45-yard touchdown from Forrest to Kai Hirz streaking down the sideline, closing the Tonasket lead to 17-14 with the fourth quarter to play.
"We faced a lot of adversity in this game and we saw guys rise up and make plays," Mills said.
Ephrata's defense fed off the previous scoring drive, forcing Attwood to fumble, which was recovered by Kory Judkins on Ephrata's 39-yard line. Tonasket forced the Tigers to punt and Ephrata's defense stood its ground, allowing one big play from Redtail to Jeremy Lusk for 29 yards.
The Tigers' ensuing drive was the momentum capper, according to Mills. Bossert rushed for 19 yards on two straight plays, moving the ball to midfeild, before fumbling the ball to Tonasket, guaranteeing the visiting Tigers a 17-14 win.
"We need to win, bottom line we need to win," Mills said. "We need to win and get that confidence going."