Wahluke wins 63-39
While the rest of the backfield runs one way to set up a mis-direction ruse, Jose Alejo (4) catches a toss and goes around the other end for a long gain.
MATTAWA — Wahluke High School (1-2) will visit state-ranked Connell (2-1) Friday, and the Eagles will be favored by everyone. Maybe even Warrior fans.
But don’t bet the farm. Wahluke could win this game by controlling the ball on the ground with its bruising run offense and working the defense hard at practice this week.
The edge the Warriors have is physical. Their offensive line is bigger than the Connell defensive line. If they’ll impose their will and the ball carriers will protect the ball, they’ll have a chance.
Warden, which had vanquished Tonasket and Chewelah, learned just how powerful Wahluke can be. Instead of folding at the end as they did against Kittitas and Cle Elum, the Warriors pounded and pounded the Cougars on the ground for 32 points in the fourth period.
After a penalty, the Warriors even scored a 2-point conversion on a 17-yard run to the left on which ball carrier Jason Cruz got a perfect wall of blocking.
Wahluke led, 31-26, starting the fourth period. Warrior fans were excited, but they had to be remembering all of the bad fourth quarters last year and two so far this year.
The Warriors would have none of that. Strictly on the run, they rumbled for a score that made it 39-26. They stopped Warden, got the ball right back and scored to make it 47-26.
Warden scored on a drive that started near mid-field to close the gap to 47-33. Then the Cougars kicked an onside kick that was plucked out of the air by Eric Valdovinos and run back to the Warden 24.
The Warriors bulled right in on consecutive runs to the make the score, 55-33. Warrior coach Mike Foristiere then made a move he may never make again in his career. He sent out and all-freshmen team to execute a squib kick on the kickoff.
Instead, the Warriors executed a sidewinding on-side kick that Warden picked up and ran in for a score that made it 55-39.
No problem, the bruising Warrior offense rolled to another score and put the game away.
“We’ve been working on the battle between the ears,” Forisiere said by way of explaining this fourth quarter compared to others. “Never give up, never surrender, four quarters.”
The Warriors scored a touchdown and 2-point conversions all four times they had the ball in the fourth quarter. They have scored 119 points in three games for an average of 39.67 points a game. Connell averages 34 points per game.
The Warriors rolled to 512 yards of total offense. Not a single pass was tried except for a 2-point conversion that was successful.
The Warrior running corps, which is really a stable of bruisers, was led by Jason Cruz, a small but hard-hitting ball carrier. He carried 14 times for 187 yards, three touchdowns and one 2-point conversion.
Running for 124 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries was David Pineda. He ran three 2-point conversions into the end zone.
The third ball carrier to total more than 100 yards was Jose Alejo, who ran for 124 yards on 13 carries. He scored three 2-point conversions.
Others to carry the ball for the Warriors were: Daniel Corrales, 8-47-2TD and Daniel Miron, 4-11.
Defensively, Eathan Kinney, Marco Guerro and Charlie Garza all had one interception.
Leading tacklers were Felix Jimenez with six tackles, David Pineda with five tackles and three sacks, Dan Corrales with eight tackles, Eathan Kinney with six tackles and Jason Cruz with five tackles.