Tigers can't keep pace with high-powered Prosser

Ephrata hosts West Valley-Spokane in Tuesday play-in contest

EPHRATA - With the Central Washington Athletic Conference title on the line Thursday night, the Ephrata Tigers attempted to do what no other team has been able to come close to doing this season: Defeat the top-ranked and undefeated Prosser Mustangs on the football field.

Midway through the first quarter of a game most thought Ephrata had little chance of winning, the Tigers were trailing 7-3 and had the ball on the Prosser 28-yard line with a chance to put the Mustangs behind on the scoreboard for the first time this season.

An interception on a deep pass down the left sideline, one of four first-half turnovers by the Tigers, ended both the scoring threat and any chance Ephrata may have had of pulling off a nearly unthinkable upset. In the end, Ephrata fell to Prosser 56-3, giving the Mustangs the CWAC championship, while Ephrata finished in a tie for second place in the standings with the Othello Huskies.

"We were trying to get a shot (at the end zone) and we misread it," Ephrata head coach Jay Mills said of the play, on which wide receiver Derrick Webb ran a hitch-and-go that Prosser covered effectively.

The scoring opportunity, set up when Ephrata's Kip Swem recovered a Prosser fumble on the Mustangs' 28-yard line, was one of several chances the Tigers had to put points on the board, as their offense was able at times to move the ball on a Prosser defense that had given up only 5.2 points per game entering Thursday's contest.

After the Mustangs took just 69 seconds to march down the field for a touchdown on the game's opening possession, Ephrata countered with a solid drive of its own.

"I was pleased with the way we moved the ball and drove the ball on them," Mills said of the Tigers' offense. "We converted third downs."

Ephrata began on its own 24-yard line, and drove deep into Prosser territory using a good mix of running and passing plays. A third-and-13 pass completion to CJ Curnutt and a third-and-6 reception for 25 yards by Webb got the Tigers down to the Mustangs' 6-yard line.

The Tigers couldn't punch it in from the 6, so they settled for a 26-yard Eric Hensley field goal. It was just the second time this season the Mustangs had allowed an opponent to score in the first half.

While Ephrata had its moments, the night belonged to Prosser. After allowing the field goal to Ephrata, the Mustangs got back to doing what they have done all year long - scoring points.

Prosser put up five straight touchdowns to take a 42-3 lead at halftime, and added two more scores in the second half.

Despite a rough end to the season, the Tigers finished the year with an 8-2 overall record, their best mark since the 1992 season in which the Tigers last qualified for the state football playoffs.

"Eight and two hasn't been done around here in a long time," Mills said when asked about his team's season.

The Tigers aren't done yet, as they finish the regular season as the No. 3 seed out of the CWAC due to their 34-7 loss to Othello early in the season.

For its efforts, Ephrata earns a chance to play their way into the state playoffs this Tuesday. The Tigers will host the West Valley Eagles of Spokane at Kiwanis Field on Tuesday, with the winner moving on to the state tournament and the loser's season coming to an end.

While the Tigers have little time to game plan for Tuesday's matchup with West Valley, Mills feels his team should be prepared for the Eagles and their passing attack.

"We've played against a lot of throwing teams this year," Mills of his team's experience with teams similar to West Valley.

"They have a really good quarterback," Mills said of the Eagles' Bryan Peterson. "He might be the most talented quarterback we see this season."

Tuesday's state tournament play-in game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff.