Warriors' season ends in semifinal Cusick turnaround

CHENEY - Three weeks ago the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors football team put its stamp on the 1B Northwest League dominance by crushing previously unbeaten Cusick 54-6 in the league title game.

Now, ACH would probably trade that trophy for a chance to play one more game after Cusick decided to exact its revenge at the most inopportune time for the Warriors.

On Saturday, Cusick (12-1), went on a second-half run of 22 unanswered points, and held on to win their Class 1B state semifinal game at Eastern Washington University, 36-28, and dash the Warriors' hopes for a second state title in four years.

"It's certainly a disappointing end to a great season," ACH head coach Brandon Walsh said. "We had high hopes going into the year, and into this game and there's a certain level of let down because we didn't quite achieve the goals we set for ourselves. But, I couldn't be more proud of the way that our kids battled all season long and Saturday was no different. Unfortunately it didn't go our way."

The teams battled to a low-scoring 8-8 halftime tie.

ACH (11-1) got on the board first as quarterback Derek Isaak broke free on an 80-yard touchdown run and that was followed by a Colin Deyarmin two-point conversion run to make it 8-0 in the first quarter.

Cusick answered with a 25-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion of its own in the second quarter to tie the game.

Part of the reason for ACH's struggles on offense was the venue and climate.

"The weather and field conditions didn't help out our cause either," Walsh said. "We have an explosive, up tempo style of offense and playing on the snow kind of slowed that down."

ACH came out of the locker room and scored on Isaak's 35-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Boutain and they led 14-8.

Cusick would answer and after a missed conversion of their own, the game was tied once again at 14-14.

The Warriors took their final lead of the game on Isaak's 20-yard run and subsequent two-point pass to Deyarmin for ACH to go up 22-14 late in the third quarter.

Then came the decisive Cusick run.

Three scores of 45, 80, and 35 yards came in a flurry and before ACH could respond again, they trailed 36-22 late in the fourth quarter.

"Cusick is a good football team and they executed their game plan very well," Walsh said. "It's not so much that we played poorly either, because we didn't, We just didn't quite get it done."

ACH scored once more when Isaak connected on a 20-yard touchdown strike to Thunder Wellhausen but they couldn't get any closer as Cusick advances to the Tacoma Dome.

Cusick outgained ACH 427-404 in total offense while the Warriors were led by the running of Isaak (17 carries, 150 yards) and Deyarmin (10,50).

Isaak also threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions on 12-for-25 passing.

Deyarmin caught five passes for 72 yards and Boutain hauled in three for 73 yards.

"I'm proud of the boys for all they did achieve and I hope they can look back on the season before too long and be proud of it as well," Walsh said.