Othello Huskies football wins way to post-season
Bob Barrett Photo - Isaiah Perez, shown here against Quincy, gives the Huskies another option at fullback.
Bob Barrett Photo - Othello's Reese Jones scores to give Othello a 7-6 Kansas City tie-breaker victory over Selah at Grandview on Saturday.
Bob Barrett Photo - Trevor Hilmes has been an effective receiver out of the backfield for Othello this year.
OTHELLO — It took the Othello Huskies just two days to experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat on the football field.
As a result, they are back in the post-season for the first time in three years. A 7-6 win over Selah in Grandview on Saturday gave Othello the second seed from the CWAC.
The Huskies will host the second-place Great Northern League West Valley Eagles at Huskie Field tonight at 6 p.m. to decide a berth in the state 2A playoffs.
West Valley is coached by an Othello alumnus Craig Whitney. The Eagles beat Othello in a state quarter-final game in 2009.
“They are well coached, and they throw a lot of stuff at you,” Huskie coach Roge Hoell said. “I am really happy for the kids. We get to be at home.”
The winner of tonight's cross-over game will be the district's third seed into the state playoffs and will face Franklin Pierce in the opening round of the 2A state tournament.
On Thursday of last week at Ellensburg, Othello experienced the agony of defeat during a 48-0 shellacking by the No. 4-rated 2A team. On Saturday at Grandview, the Huskies beat Selah 7-6 Kansas-City tie-breaker to experience the thrill of victory.
Ellensburg's Mason Sherwood ran all over the Huskies, rushing 35 times for 216 yards and four touchdowns. The loss coupled with Selah's 39-36 upset victory over Prosser created a three-way tie between Othello, Prosser and Selah for the second place in the CWAC.
“I was upset with how we played Thursday night,” Hoell said. “I was immensely disappointed. I didn't see that coming.”
Ellensburg is undefeated in CWAC play the last three years. The Bulldogs have bounced back from a non-league season-opening loss to returning state 1A champion Royal to finish unbeaten in league.
“They are good,” Hoell said. “Their offensive line is fast and athletic, and they get guys on you and then they run north and south.”
Othello was unable to get any offense going at Ellensburg. The Bulldogs were up 21-0 at the end of the first quarter and 34-0 at the half.
Othello's loss at Ellensburg and Selah's victory over Prosser left Othello, Prosser and Selah all tied at seven wins and two losses.
Only three CWAC teams qualified for post-season play so the three teams tied for second, third and fourth journeyed to Grandview for a Kansas City tie-breaker.
As determined by the athletic directors pre-season draw, the top two seeds – Selah and Othello – would play first, with the winner earning the second seed. The loser would face Prosser for the third seed.
The senior Huskies traveled to Grandview to play in their fourth straight tie-breaker situation. They were ready.
“They were a totally different group than the group that played on Thursday at Ellensburg,” Hoell said. “They did a nice job of recovering. They were faster and more physical and they knew their season was hanging in the balance.”
Each team would have two offensive possessions, if necessary, beginning 1st and 10 on the 25. Othello stopped Selah on its first possession.
On Othello's first play, Huskie senior tailback Reese Jones threw a sweep pass to wide receiver Kyler Villarreal for an apparent Othello touchdown. The play was called back on a holding penalty.
“Watching the game film preparing for the tie-break, we felt we could run the counter,” Hoell said.
Facing a fourth and 11 from the 26, Hoell called the counter, and Reese Jones delivered.
“We took a shot with it, and Reese took it for 17 yards,” Hoell said. “He ran hard. He really ran hard.”
Three plays later Jones scored and Jose Chairez kicked the PAT and Othello was up 7-6. Selah scored on its second possession.
“They scored, but everything was contested,” Hoell said. “We were in (the quarterback's) face. Every pass was contested.”
After Selah's touchdown, it came down to the extra point for the Vikings to extend the game. Selah's kicker missed, and Othello celebrated.
“We had two guys breaking in clean on the PAT,” Hoell said. “It would have been blocked if he kicked it straight.” He saw them and shanked it. When he missed, it was just bedlam.”
Senior Huskie football players had lost in tie-breakers the past three years. They were entitled to enjoy the thrill of victory.