Red-hot Ephrata prevails over Red Devils

Tinnell comes up with huge all-around game for Tigers

EPHRATA - Any high school football fans left who don't think the Ephrata Tigers are for real?

There aren't many, if any, after the Tigers got their most important victory of the season on Friday, a 10-7 triumph over the East Valley Red Devils at Kiwanis Field.

The victory not only extended Ephrata's winning streak to four games, but at 5-1 overall, 4-1 in Central Washington Athletic Conference play, the Tigers are now in serious contention for a state playoff spot.

"Our kids just battled and battled and battled," Tigers head coach Jay Mills said. "We're 5-1 now, so it's an exciting time for our program. Hopefully we get people's attention - I think we will."

Ephrata received some huge contributions from its defense, which limited East Valley quarterback Kevin Komstadius - one of the conference's better throwers - to 8 of 24 passing for 83 yards.

The Tigers also got an unexpected boost from backup signal-caller Eric Tinnell, who replaced injured starter Kory Frank in the second quarter. Tinnell completed 5 of 7 passes for 46 yards, rushed 17 times for 50 yards, and made other key plays on defense and special teams.

Tinnell led an 81-yard march that gave Ephrata the lead with less than 11 minutes to go. Tryston Mann had a 14-yard run and Tinnell hit Derrick Webb for 12 yards on third-and-6, allowing Eric Hensley to hit a 28-yard field goal.

Mann fumbled on Ephrata's next possession and EV eventually reached the Tiger 15. But senior linebacker Mike Castillo and a swarm of Tigers stuff the Red Devils on a fourth-and-2 run with 4:30 to play.

Mills then made a calculated risk and elected to keep his offense on the field for a fourth-and-inches play at Ephrata's 25. Tinnell picked up the first down on a sneak. EV was forced to use its final two timeouts, and when the Devils finally got the ball back after a 56-yard Tinnell punt, it was on their own 13 with 32 seconds left.

Ryan Hoskins and Ryan Lutz broke up a pair of desperation passes, and Blake Jensen sacked Komstadius on the game's final play.

The Red Devils had a plus-3 margin in the turnover department, but didn't cash in once. Credit a smart and physical Tiger defense.

"We've got a bunch of seniors over there on defense," Mills explained, "and it starts with our inside linebackers just playing disciplined football. Our guys are in the spots they need to be in, know the schemes, then make the plays when it comes to them."

Ephrata used a 94-yard drive late in the first quarter for the game's first points. Frank, who had eight carries for 45 yards before leaving, led the march alongside Mann, who capped it by breaking two tackles and rumbling in from 14 yards out.

EV responded on its next series, mixing some strong runs by Matt Orthmann and Miguel Valencia. On third-and-goal from Ephrata's 5, Valencia barreled up the gut and was barely touched as the Devils tied the score.

Ephrata's defense showed its moxie moments later after EV's Cam Muggleton picked off Frank. Three plays netted just nine yards, and the Tigers dumped Orthmann on fourth down to retain possession at their own 22.

The Devils had another chance to take the lead later in the second quarter, but Muggleston missed a 32-yard field goal.

Frank was helped off the field on Ephrata's next series with a separated left shoulder. Mills said after the game he wasn't sure of Frank's status, but said he felt good about the team's prospects should Tinnell need to take the quarterbacking reins for an extended period.

"You saw tonight he made plays and he can make throws," Mills said of Tinnell. "If we have to throw the ball, he can do it."

The Tigers didn't have to throw the ball much on Friday because of a successful running game. Mann had 66 yards on 10 carries and Kip Swem went for 44 yards on 15 tries.

Prior to the Tigers' fourth-down stand late in the fourth quarter, Tinnell made an equally important play when he climbed the ladder to swat away a pass for EV's Michael Rogstad in the end zone.

"Eric is one of our better athletes in our program," Mills said. "We've tinkered with him on offense, at receiver.

"I think (tonight is) just a testament to Eric being a prepared backup, and mentally working every week, knowing he's one play away (from coming in at quarterback)," he added. "He's a very steady kid mentally and nothing rattles him. Tonight that really came through for him."

Ephrata will try to improve its CWAC standing this Friday, hitting the road to take on the Ellensburg Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. Mills is trying to avoid complacency, something he addressed immediately after the game when he told his players that the targets on their chests just got a little larger.

"That's a big step for our progress as a football program," Mills said of the win over EV. "The thing we're trying to do is just make ourselves better this week."