Late score propels Wahluke past Warden

WARDEN — Wahluke has a run-heavy offense.

But it was a pass that allowed the Warriors to score the go-ahead touchdown in a 28-20 win against Warden.

Oscar Rodriguez completed a 20-yard pass to Gerardo Ledezma to get inside Warden’s red zone, setting up a six-yard touchdown by Juan Silva. Rodriguez’s completion to Ledezma was his first of the night and only his second attempt.

“We just did our job,” Ledezma said. “Made sure we finished strong.”

It was a game with serious playoff implications as Wahluke (4-1, 4-2) vaulted into third place in the South Central Athletic Conference East. Warden (2-3, 3-4) will now likely have to win its final two games — at River View and home for Kiona-Benton — to reach the crossover round.

“This was huge and we needed to get this one,” Warden head coach Robert Arredondo said. “Beating College Place and Burbank was big... This was tough tonight, but if we win out we’re still OK.”

Warden’s homecoming game began unceremoniously as the opening kickoff was fumbled, allowing Wahluke to score its first touchdown in three plays. Rock Foristiere churned his legs for 13 yards to get the ball to Warden’s five yard line. Daniel Ayala capped the drive with a five-yard score.

Undaunted, a strong return by Tito Rodriguez and two penalties allowed Warden’s first drive to start on Wahluke’s 38. Ryan Arredondo, in his first home game back from injury, evened the game with a 19-yard strike to Zach Richins.

Wahluke’s run-first style answered with a 75-yard drive that included a conversion on fourth-and-1. The Warriors ground the ball all the way to the one yard line before Foristiere dove into the end zone.

Despite the early success, Wahluke was held scoreless for two straight quarters.

“Once you hold that kind of offense that they run it just immediately sparks the whole thing,” Robert Arredondo said. “This is my third time playing these guys and each time it’s just tough with those guys.”

The defensive stand allowed Warden to find its footing offensively late in the third quarter.

Holden Haworth took a sweep 20 yards to score and Ryan Arredondo tossed a two-point conversion to Kaden Skone to tie the game, 14-14.

However, Wahluke chewed up several minutes of the game clock on its go-ahead drive. The Warriors converted three third downs before Silva scored his second of three touchdowns with 4:08 to play.

Warden turned the ball over on downs on its ensuing drive. Silva completed his hat trick after the sudden change with a 20-yard touchdown run.

“For the most part, I think we played well enough to win, I really do,” Robert Arredondo said. “It’s just unfortunate things. It seemed like a couple of plays with the opening kickoff fumble and then the third-and-20 completion?”

Score by quarter

WAR — 6 0 8 6 20

WAH — 14 0 0 14 28

Scoring

WAH — Ayala 5 run (kick no good)

WAR — Richins 19 pass from Arredondo (2-pt failed)

WAH — Foristiere 1 run (2-pt good)

WAR — Haworth 20 run (2-pt good)

WAH — Silva 6 run (2-pt good)

WAH — Silva 20 run (2-pt good)

WAR — Skone 5 pass from Arredondo (PAT blocked)

Moses Lake 21, Sunnyside 14

SUNNYSIDE — Moses Lake clinched a state playoff berth after its win over Sunnyside 21-14.

The Chiefs led 21-7 at halftime and improved to 4-0 in the Columbia Basin Big Nine

Selah 56, Ephrata 49

EPHRATA — Ephrata lost a shootout to Selah 56-49.

Zac Berryman tied the game, 49-49, after a three-yard touchdown run. Jake Weber scored the go-ahead four-yard rushing touchdown for the Vikings.

Berryman passed for three touchdowns and rushed for three more.

The Tigers fell behind by 15 points before tying the game three separate times in the second half.

Weber led Selah with 142 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Zak Donato passed for 321 yards and threw four touchdowns.

Ellensburg 35, Othello 17

OTHELLO — Ellensburg outscored Othello 28-7 in the second half to win 35-17.

Isaiah Perez had an eight-yard touchdown run for the Huskies.

Logan Mallick scored three rushing touchdowns for the Bulldogs.

Quincy 27, East Valley 21

QUINCY — Tyson Thornton hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Kade Schutzmann to put Quincy ahead for good against East Valley.

Thornton’s TD grab erased a 21-19 deficit and the Jacks won 27-21.

Thornton had touchdown receptions of 10 and 27 yards,

Lind-Ritzville/Sprague 33, Mary Walker 16

SPRINGDALE — Lind-Ritzville/Sprague overcame a 16-14 halftime deficit to beat Mary Walker 33-16.

The Broncos scored 19 points in the third quarter to pull away.

Bryce Kelly threw three touchdown passes and Mason Brausen rushed for two touchdowns.

Lake Roosevelt 26, Soap Lake 14

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake was unable to overcome a 14-0 halftime deficit and lost to Lake Roosevelt 26-14.

Dallas Dull caught a 60-yard touchdown from Klayten Northup. Dull also returned a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown.

Almira/Coulee-Hartline 66, Wellpinit 0

WELLPINIT — Almira/Coulee-Hartline scored 40 points in the first quarter and routed Wellpinit 66-0.

The Warriors combined to score six rushing touchdowns and two defensive touchdowns. Payton Nielsen and Gage Burchill caught touchdown passes of 14 and 10 yards, respectively, from Maguire Isaak.

Hayden Loomis had touchdown runs of three and five yards.