Lack of offense cost Riverhawks the game

Miners 24 Riverhawks 8

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Riverhawks defense stepped up with improved play, but the team's offense, sputtered costing the game with the State Line Miners Saturday.

State Line outscored the Riverhawks to win 24-8 in the Evergreen Football League game.

"The defense played pretty good in the second half, but the offense just disappeared," said Riverhawks coach Jim Whitaker. "(The Miners) did some of the same things to us that Spokane did. We seemed to have forgotten what they were."

In the team's fifth game, not counting a scrimmage against the Okanogan Commandoes, Whitaker said the Riverhawks are learning to play more as a team and with less errors.

"Because we're new and getting organized, we are getting the learning curve along the way," he said.

Each week the team shows improvement, and Whitaker said the defense did an exceptional job against State Line, despite the score.

"I think it was the best we've seen all year," Whitaker added.

The first quarter looked good for Columbia Basin after stopping the first State Line drive. But a holding penalty during a Riverhawks offensive series moved the chains backward to first down with 20 yards to go, ending their momentum. The first quarter ended with State Line kicking a field goal.

In the second quarter, State Line scored a touchdown after a pass was stripped from Riverhawk Emerson Ferguson after he and a cornerback hit the ground. The side judge called it an interception of a Riverhawks' pass, setting up a touchdown for the Miners. The score was 10-0 at the half.

State Line ran in another touchdown early in the third quarter to add to their lead, 17-0.

The Riverhawks offense stepped up as Ferguson found revenge for the stripped pass by catching a long pass from Czac Conley for the sole Riverhawks touchdown. It took two plays. Spencer Larson caught a two-point conversion pass to close the gap to 17-8.

State Line scored another touchdown during a run at the end of the third quarter, widening their lead to 24-8.

The Riverhawks stepped up the defense, and facing a different State Line quarterback, managed to keep their opponents scoreless for the final quarter. The only real chance for a field goal was missed.

"This is the best our defense has played," said Whitaker. "State Line is a much better team than Spokane or Palouse."

On offense, the Riverhawks made only two first downs in the second half, and about 100 yards of offense for the game, Whitaker said.

Whitaker said fewer errors and a much improved defense helped against the Miners, but missed assignments, poor blocking and lack of ball security hampered the team this week. He stressed the team still needs to work on their rhythm.

"When you can't control the line of scrimmage, there's not a lot you can do," said Whitaker.

The Riverhawks head to Yakima next Saturday to play the Mavericks starting at 7 p.m.