Warden gets first league win

WARDEN - Osvaldo Alba ran for 192 yards on 25 carries, and Orlando Alba booted field goals from 35 and 46 yards to lead the Warden Cougars to a much needed 13-11 home league win over Wahluke Friday.

"It was a heck of a win for us," coach Erik Skone said. "The boys turned in an outstanding effort on both sides of the ball. We were playing without a couple of O linemen and Adam Hansen, our starting running back the past three years and Garrett Marks volunteered to fill in and did a great job in the trenches."

Hansen's move to the offensive line gave Osvaldo Alba a chance to carry the rock and he came threw with flying colors for the Cougars.

Warden got on the board first with a 29-yard TD run by Osvaldo Alba (PAT) to put the Cougars up 7-0. Wahluke got two points back on a safety to round out the first quarter scoring. The Warriors took their first lead 8-7 in the second quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by Alex Anya (kick blocked). Warden answered back with a 35-yard field goal by Orlando Alba to put the Cougars back on top, 10-8 to end the first half scoring.

"We didn't have to say too much to the kids at halftime," Skone said. "The guys knew what it was going to take to win the game and they came out with a solid effort in the second half and made a stand defensive-wise to close it out."

Wahluke put the only points on the board in the third quarter of action on a Misael Sanchez 42-yard field goal to take an 11-10 lead. But Warden answered back with a 46-yard field goal by Orlando Alba in the fourth quarter to retake the lead 13-11 and held on for the win.

"It was a real back and forth battle that fell on Orlando's shoulders," Skone said. "He has a strong leg as he's played soccer all his life and had plenty of room to spare when he drilled the kick from 46-yards out for the win."

The victory over the Warriors improves the Cougars to 1-2 in the 1A SCAC East standings and 1-4 overall. Warden is back in action Friday when the team travels to Connell to face the Eagles.

"Connell is an historically incredible ball club," Skone said. "They are down a bit this year, but still run and pass the ball well, so we are going to have to be at our best to beat them."