Wahluke obliterates River View, 52-0

MATTAWA — The Wahluke High School team has to win only one of its last two games to make the post-season, but it could secure a better position in the playoffs by winning both.

All of this good fortune was made possible by Wahluke’s 52-0 thumping of River View last Friday in a game that featured milestones for the program.

It was the first shutout by the Warriors in coach Mike Foristiere’s two years at the helm. It was the first SCAC victory on the road.

The outcome left the Warriors at 2-1, tied with Kiona-Benton for third place. The winner of that match-up this Friday at Wahluke will finish third and get SCAC West No. 3 in the SCAC cross-over play-in games.

The loser will have to win its final game to get a shot at West No. 1 in the cross-overs. Wahluke will close at Burbank, which lost to River View.

“Our goal is to get after Kiona-Benton and make the playoffs now,” Foristiere said.

The Warriors have a good chance of wining Friday if they play their best. The defense played well against River View with three interceptions. One of those was returned for a touchdown by Jose Alejo in the first defensive series of the 2nd half.

Charlie Garza also had an interception. Daniel Miron led in tackles with five.

Wahluke dominated on offense, as well. The Warriors did not have to punt. They rushed the ball for 470 yards and completed 3-3 passes for 51 yards.

Wahluke got control of the contest with 12 points in the first quarter and put it away with 32 in the third. The Warriors led 20-0 at the half.

The big play in the third quarter explosion was the 20-yard interception return by Alejo. River View crumbled after that.

Daniel Corrales started the scoring with a one-yard run in the first quarter. Jason Cruz followed up with a three-yard run. Both 2-point conversions failed

David Pineda scored on an 8-yard run in the second period. Madrigal passed to Alexis Fernandez for the conversion, and the halftime score was 20-0.

Pineda started the third quarter scoring barrage with a 6-yard scoring run, and he added the two points. Alejo scored on his interception, and Pineda added the two points.

Then it was Madrigal with a 1-yard run and 2-point pass to Alexis Hernandez. The scoring closed with 5-yard run by Brandon Anaya with a 2-point run by Jason Cruz.

Jose Madrigal, the diminutive Warrior quarterback, completed the three pases. He also ran the ball twice for five yards and scored a touchdown. Eathan Kinney caught one pass for 40 yards.

The offensive work horses were Cruz and Anaya. Cruz carried 18 times for 180 yards. Anaya covered the same distance in eight carries. Both scored a touchdown and each had a 2-point conversion.

The rest of the rushers were: David Pineda 8 carries for 70 yards and two touchdowns; Alejo, 60; Daniel Corrales 5-30-TD and Juan Silva-15.

Alexis Fernandez had two catches for two 2-point conversions.