Othello escapes Ephrata with win
Miles Douglass/Columbia Basin HeraldEphrata and Othello football captains listen to instructions prior to kick off of Friday night's contest between the Tigers and the Huskies.
EPHRATA - The second week of the Washington state high school football season saw Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) rivals Othello and Ephrata take to the field in a game with playoff implications.
The visiting Othello Huskies defeated the Ephrata Tigers 27-7. The victory gives the Huskies a perfect 2-0 record and a share of first place in one of the states toughest leagues.
The defeat puts the Tigers at 0-2.
Led by senior Quarterback Marc Garza, the Huskies drew first blood early in the second quarter. After the point after attempt was good, the Huskies led the Tigers 7-0.
The Huskies added another touchdown two minutes later in the second quarter when Aaron Simmons scored on a rush up the middle to give Othello a 14-0 lead.
The Tigers struggled on offense the entire evening and scored their only touchdown with two seconds left in the first half.
In the second half the Huskies scored on their first possession to extend Othello's lead to 21-7.
The Othello Huskies clinched the game when they recovered an Ephrata fumble during the Tiger's attempt to return a punt in the third quarter. The fumble gave the ball back to the Huskies. Othello controlled the ball during most of the fourth quarter and scored late in the game. The Huskies missed the point after attempt to give Othello a 27-7 victory.
Huskies running back Aaron Simmons felt satisfied after the conference victory and his ability to protect the football.
"I finally got a handle on the ball and didn't drop the ball this week," Simmons said.
Othello takes on conference powerhouse and defending state champion Prosser Friday in Othello.
Ephrata travels to Yakima to take on East Valley Friday night.