Wahluke Warriors edge Ki-Be, 10-8, improve to 3-1

MATTAWA - Wahluke's defense stopped Kiona-Benton at the 1-yard line three times with time running out Friday night to register a 10-8 high school football victory at Wahluke.

That victory gave the Warriors a 1-1 record in the South Central A Conference East and a 3-1 mark overall. It sets up exciting homecoming possibilities for the Warriors this Friday against Warden.

"This was a big game for our team for many reasons," coach Brycen Bye said. "The biggest reason was our team played with the amount of heart, emotion and effort you must play with for an entire game to win a close game."

Indeed.

After battling for the lead, the Warriors had to hold off one last advance by the Bears. Ki-Be got the ball with two minutes left, 90 yards from the Warrior goal line, and made it to the one-yard line.

"They ran three plays, which we stopped as time expired," Bye said.

This was a battle for the entire game. Wahluke scored on its first possession to make the score 7-0, which held up to the third quarter. In the middle of the fourth, Alan Caro hit a 31-yard field goal to put the Warriors ahead, 10-8.

"We made plays when we needed to make plays and did not lose focus when things weren't going our way," Bye said.

Bryan Anaya played his best game of the season, running for 109 yards on 15 carries. Alex Anaya and Martin Tello combined to run for 105 yards from their fly sweeper position. Tello, Juan Mendoza, and Michael Coulson each played extremely hard on defense, recording 9 tackles each.

"This was a big win for us," Bye said.