Late score propels Cougars to pivotal win

LAKE ROOSEVELT - A little bit of heart can go a long way to support an upset stomach.

Just ask Warden head football coach Erik Skone who watched his team battle back-and-forth against host Lake Roosevelt on Friday before winning in the waning seconds, 30-28, in a key Central Washington South 2B league contest.

Starting at the Lake Roosevelt (2-5, 2-2) 45-yard line with 88 seconds left, the Cougars (4-4, 3-1) marched down the field and capture the win when quarterback Trent Bates rolled left, found no receivers open and darted into the endzone from 12-yards out to give Warden the 30-28 lead.

Lake Roosevelt had a chance to run one play after the ensuing kickoff but were denied any chance of victory.

"We were calm under pressure and executed very well," Skone, who admitted he was quite nervous down the stretch of the game, said. "It was really fun to watch. It was too bad Lake Roosevelt had to lose because it was a hard-fought battle and a smash mouth football game."

Warden led 14-6 at halftime when with a bit of foreshadowing they scored with four seconds left before halftime on a Bates to Garritt Marks four-yard touchdown pass.

Earlier, in the first quarter, Warden scored on a Ty Jesse 65-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Lake Roosevelt trailed 21-12. when Bates hit Conrad Ruge on a 25-yard pass play in the third quarter, before mounting a rally of their own behind the running of 6-0, 240-pound running back, Tommy Lee Turner (18 carries, 137 yards, three touchdowns).

The hosts built up a 28-24 lead before Warden's last minute Cardiac Kid heroics.

"The biggest thing was that they had a running back who was an absolute animal and as the night went on he got stronger," Skone said. "As far as him he was a hard running kid and our first guy to the ball would be there but not quite get the tackle and that was a killer. But they only broke one big play but they consistently maintained possession the whole time."

Bates finished 8-for-11 with 131 yards passing, while Marks led the Cougars with four receptions and 57 yards.

Adam Hansen rushed for 143 yards on 15 carries for the Cougars, who also got a 31-yard field goal from Osvaldo Alba.

The win ensures Warden of no worse than second place in the league and a crossover playoff game with the North Central 2B league's No. 3 seed - either Manson or Pateros - next week.