ACH bags Lions

HUNTERS - The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors capitalized on two second-half touchdowns from Shawn Dahlenburg to defeat the Columbia High School Lions 38-32 Friday night.

Grayson Sizemore got the Warriors on the board first when he scored from the 2-yard line. Dahlenburg caught the two-point conversion attempt from quarterback Matt Gregson to give ACH an 8-0 lead in the first quarter.

The Lions responded with a score of their own to erase the ACH advantage.

The Warriors recaptured the lead when Gregson threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to give ACH a 14-8 advantage. The successful two-point conversion attempt gave the Warriors a 16-8 lead.

Columbia scored two more touchdowns before halftime, the two-point conversion attempts on both scores failed and the Lions had a 20-16 advantage over the defending 1B Washington state champions.

As the Warriors entered halftime with a four-point deficit, ACH head coach Brandon Walsh addressed his team.

"I told them we had let down in the first half and allowed the other team to dictate the flow and pace of the game," he said. "We needed to go out and take control."

The Warriors did.

ACH scored 14 third-quarter points to take a 10-point advantage over the hometown Lions. The first score came when Dahlenburg caught a 40-yard pass from Gregson. The two-point conversion attempt failed and ACH led 22-20. The Warriors scored again when Gregson ran into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run.

The successful two-point conversion attempt gave ACH a 30-20 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Columbia cut the ACH lead to 30-26 following a 1-yard Lions touchdown run.

With a four-point advantage over the Lions, Dahlenburg scampered 25 yards for another Warriors touchdown to give ACH a 38-26 lead. Columbia would score again, but it would not be enough to overcome the Warriors.

ACH improved to 2-0 with the 38-32 win over Columbia.

Before the game Walsh told his players to prepare for a battle.

"I told them that Columbia was going to come out and punch them in the mouth," he said. "I encouraged them to find a way to match that intensity both physically and mentally."

Following the road victory Walsh said his team is moving in the right direction.

"I think right now we are getting closer to becoming very good," he said. "We are still searching for an identity a little bit as a group, but I think we're getting close."

Odessa 60

Inchelium 14

The Odessa Tigers raced out to a 22-0 first quarter lead and a 38-14 halftime advantage to knock off Inchelium on the road Friday night.

The Tigers added 22 more third quarter points to earn the 60-14 victory.

Odessa first got on the scoreboard following a 14-yard touchdown run from senior quarterback Ryan King.

Royal 41

Omak 6

The Royal Knights took advantage from four touchdowns from Blair Collins to distance themselves from visiting Omak.

Collins returned three Omak punts for touchdowns, including two in the game's first quarter as the Knights jumped out to a 20-0 first quarter lead. Royal's Jace Christensen also returned a blocked punt for the Knights as Royal held a 27-0 halftime lead.

Collins returned another punt for a score in the third quarter and caught an 85-yard touchdown from Connor Paysse to give the Knights a 41-6 win.

Royal head coach Wiley Allred was impressed with his the performance from his special teams.

"We played a lot of defense with the returns," he said. "I have never seen a game like that."

The Knights travel to Wahluke Friday night.

Okanogan 35

Warden 0

Okanogan's Jordan Thomas rushed for more than 200 yards and four scores to hold off the Warden Cougars Friday night.

The Cougars were held scoreless and earned only seven first downs in the losing effort.

Warden travels to Burbank Friday night.