Ellensburg handles Ephrata

EPHRATA — The young and inexperienced Ephrata Tigers had their work cut out for them during their homecoming game Friday night when they hosted the undefeated and top-ranked Ellensburg Bulldogs at Ephrata High School.

Ellensburg senior quarterback Ethan Sterkel threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns to keep Ellensburg unbeaten on their way to a 61-0 victory over winless Ephrata.

Ephrata fell to 0-7 in Central Washington Athletic Conference play and 0-8 overall while Ellensburg improved to 7-0 in conference play and 8-0 overall.

The Bulldogs scored on a one-yard touchdown run by Connor Meehan early in the first quarter and that would be all Ellensburg would need to hold off Ephrata.

Ellensburg scored in every quarter Friday night and kept Ephrata out of the end zone to record their third shutout of the season. Friday marked the second time the Tigers failed to get into the end zone.

While Ellensburg dominated the Tigers offensively and defensively, Ephrata’s best scoring opportunity came on special teams.

The Tigers fielded an Ellensburg kick off and returned it to the Ellensburg four-yard line.

Although Ephrata began their possession four yards from paydirt, the Tigers offense struggled. Ephrata was unable to get into the end zone on three consecutive plays and the Tigers were unable to successfully convert their field goal attempt and Ellensburg preserved the shutout.

Ephrata’s Trevor Flint led the Tigers offense Friday night with 58 yards rushing on just four carries and Travis Flint ran for 54 yards on 10 carries.

Quarterback Bryce Beavers was 2-of-6 passing for four yards and Alex Harvill was 1-of-5 passing with two interceptions.

Ephrata’s quest for their first win of the season doesn’t get much easier Friday night when they travel to defending Central Washington Athletic Conference champion and 2008 Washington Interscholastic activities Association 2A state runner-up Prosser before returning home to host their season final against archrival Quincy in the annual Battle of the Basin rivalry game.

Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Grandview 22, Quincy 12

GRANDVIEW, Wash. — Quincy managed just five first down Friday night and the Jackrabbits were unable to slow down Grandview running back Jacob Massey on the road and the Greyhounds held on for a 22-12 Central Washington Athletic Conference victory.

Quincy senior running back Breck Webley scored the Jackrabbits’ first touchdown on a 15-yard run in the second quarter, but Massey rushed for 239 yards on 35 carries and two first-half scores to help Grandview to a 14-6 halftime advantage.

Grandview opened the second half with a 42-yard touchdown run from running back Jose Lara for a 22-6 lead and the Greyhounds held off a late Quincy rally to earn the Central Washington Athletic Conference victory. Quincy fell to 1-6 in conference play and 2-6 overall with the loss. Grandview improved to 4-3 in conference play and 5-3 overall.

With Quincy trailing in the second half of Friday night’s contest, the Jackrabbits threw more against Grandview than they had all season.

Quincy quarterback Jackson Hodges threw 15 times, but completed just two passes — both to wide receiver Trevor Hyer — for 16 yards and a touchdown.

Hodges connected with Hyer for a four-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to catch the Greyhounds.

Quincy returns to action this Friday night when they host the East Valley Red Devils at 7:30 p.m.

Othello 70, Wapato 0

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies scored early and they scored often Friday night, rolling to a 70-0 victory over visiting Wapato to stay unbeaten in Central Washington Athletic Conference play.

Othello scored eight first-half touchdowns to cruise to a 56-0 lead at halftime to improve to 7-0 in conference play and 7-1 overall.

Othello’s only loss of the season came on the road in their season opener to the 1A classification’s second-ranked team — the Connell Eagles.

Othello capitalized on big play after big play to build their early lead and the Huskies never looked back. Only one of Othello’s 10 touchdowns came on a play of fewer than 10 yards.

The Huskies jumped on the Wolves early in the first quarter when running back David Charles scored on a 56-yard touchdown run to spark Othello’s rout.

Othello’s defense was impressive during the victory, keeping Wapato scoreless.

After Othello’s first score of the game, the Huskies defense shut down the Wapato offense, setting the table for another Huskies score.

Othello took a 14-0 lead on their next possession when senior quarterback threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Matt Jensen.

Wapato found little breathing room on their next possession when senior defensive back and wide receiver Devon Lind intercepted a pass from Wapato quarterback Cody Nickoloff and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown and Othello led 21-0 after just 12 minutes of play.

After Wapato fell behind 21-0 heading into the second quarter, things continued to get worse for the Wolves. The Huskies scored five times in the second quarter, building an insurmountable 56-0 halftime lead.

Othello started the second quarter scoring with Cerrillo’s second touchdown pass of the night when he connected with senior wide receiver Chris Brunetti from seven yards out and Othello led 28-0.

Following another defensive stop from the Othello defense, Cerrillo and the Huskies offense went back to work. Cerrillo gave the Huskies a 35-0 advantage when he found Lind open for a 45-yard score.

Othello added another touchdown on their next possession when Cerrillo broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run and a 42-0 Othello lead.

While Othello’s offense was potent and their defense was imposing, perhaps no individual was more impressive than Lind.

After Lind returned an interception for a score and hauled in a touchdown pass for another, Lind returned a Wapato punt 40 yards for his third touchdown of the game and a 49-0 lead before halftime.

Othello added another score on their next possession — a 10-yard touchdown run from Cerrillo — and the Huskies led big at the break.

Othello scored again in the third quarter and added another in the fourth to close out Wapato 70-0.

The Huskies will travel to Selah, Wash., Friday night to take on the third-place Vikings at 7:30 p.m.

Selah enters Friday night’s matchup with Othello at 6-1 in conference play after eliminating Prosser from the postseason for the first time since 1986.

With a win on the road over Selah, the Huskies could face conference co-leader and top-ranked Ellensburg at home Nov. 6 with a possible Central Washington Athletic Conference championship on the line.

Othello would need to knock off Selah and Ellensburg would need to fend off Toppenish Friday night to set up a showdown for the conference championship.

The winner of the Nov. 6 showdown will likely be the conference’s top seed heading into the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association 2A playoffs.