Huskies unbeaten in league, ramble, 31-7, at Toppenish
OTHELLO – With leading rusher Reese Jones nursing a high ankle sprain, it was time for the Othello Huskie football team to find another player or another path to victory at Toppenish last Friday.
The Huskies found another player in tailback Asai Villarreal and another path via the air. But it was Othello’s defense that secured the 31-7 victory.
Jones saw limited play, carrying 12 times for 24 yards in the first half. Villarreal replaced him at tailback and rambled 106 yards on 15 carries to pace a Huskie ground attack that racked up 212 yards.
Quarterback D.J. Guzman completed seven of 15 passes for another 187 yards of offense.
A balanced run and pass attack helped the Huskies to move the ball and put points on the board. But it was the Huskies’ ability to create turnovers – two fumbles, one interception – that was the key to victory.
“That was the difference-maker in the game,” Huskie coach Roger Hoell said.
Collin Freeman came up with the interception. Linebackers Abel Gomez and Tyler Wagner recovered the Toppenish fumbles.
“Credit to the defense for creating those turnovers,” Hoell said. “You talk about making your own breaks all the time, and our defense did do that. The kids did a great job of ball hawking.”
Guzman hooked up with senior tight end Mike Garcia for a 36-yard scoring strike to open the scoring in the second quarter.
Kyler Villarreal, a 6-2 junior wide receiver, who caught four passed for 113 yards, jumped high to bring down a pass for a 40-yard gain to the 2-yard line. Trevor Hilmes finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, and the Huskies were up 14-0.
Toppenish answered with its only scoring drive of the game to cut the half-time lead to 14-7.
Othello’s defense not only pitched a shut-out in the second half, it added to the Huskies’ final score.
On Toppenish’s opening drive of the second half, Trevor Hilmes hit Toppenish quarterback Adonis Shaul, spinning Shaul around and causing him to fumble the ball. Huskie linebacker Tyler Wagner pounced on the ball in the Toppenish end zone for a touchdown.
Soccer goalie-turned-placekicker, Jose Chairez, nailed a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter to put the Huskies up 24-7. Hilmes finished the scoring with a one-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Othello’s victory coupled with Ellensburg’s big 35-12 win over Prosser leaves the Huskies and Bulldogs tied with 3-0 records in the CWAC.
The Huskies hope to continue their unbeaten tour through the league Friday when they travel to Grandview.
“It is just about being consistent,” Hoell said. “To be a force to be reckoned with, you have to be consistent in the things that you do. That is game 4. Our goal has to be to get better every week.”