Warriors improve to 2-0 with win over Garfield-Palouse

COULEE CITY – The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors defeated Garfield-Palouse 54-28 on Saturday to improve to 2-0 to begin the season, holding the Vikings to just six points until the third quarter and intercepting three passes in the win. 

The win follows a 60-8 win over Cusick the week prior. 

“Going into Week 2 we knew we had a little bit of a tougher opponent, so we were excited to see how we were progressing, and it went really well on Saturday,” ACH head coach Brandon Walsh said. “Our kids played well, so that was exciting.” 

Saturday’s game saw the Warriors rack up just under 500 yards of total offense, including a 264-yard day in the run game. Junior Caden Correia led the Warriors with 109 yards on 11 carries, scoring two touchdowns in the win. Senior Carter Pitts ran for 48 yards and a score on nine carries while sophomore Brody Pitts carried the ball 11 times for 41 yards. Junior Harvest Parrish rounded out the scoring in the run game with three carries for 36 yards and a touchdown. 

“We executed really well, and at this stage of the season that’s kind of a big deal,” Walsh said. “We’re still learning a little bit; we’ve got kids in some new roles. To see it all coming together is pretty fun.” 

Normally fielding an offense that is dangerous in the rushing game, ACH found plenty of success through the air as well on Saturday. Correia completed 10-of-15 passes for 230 yards and four touchdowns, as senior Jameson Conley, Carter Pitts, senior Denim Kenney and junior Brady Roberts all caught touchdowns in the win. The passing offense had a mix of deep receptions and yards after the catch, Walsh said. 

“We’re usually a run-first team, but right now with the way our team’s built, we’ve got the right athletes to make the passing game a bigger part of our offense,” Walsh said. “It’s fun to see that, and the kids are excited about it.” 

ACH opened the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run by Carter Pitts, taking an 8-0 lead after converting on the two-point conversion. Garfield-Palouse responded with a score of their own but failed to convert on its two-point conversion. The Warrior defense then shut the Vikings out of the end zone until the third quarter. 

“Our kids really buckled down after the first possession (where) they marched it on us and scored,” Walsh said. “After the first possession, we buckled down defensively and kind of took that part of the game away from them and forced them to pass.” 

Many of the Warriors from the 2023 team returned this season, though there were spots needing to be filled in the trenches. On the offensive line, the unit of senior Grayson Beal at guard, sophomore Tucker Bayless at center and the duo of juniors Luke Goetz and Mason Maes splitting time at the other guard position has been a positive unit through the first two games. 

“It’s only two weeks so far but based on those two weeks we’re seeing growth each week,” Walsh said. “They’re executing well and getting more comfortable. As long as that continues to happen throughout the season, it hopefully translates to our whole team doing the same thing and getting better.” 

Pittz carried the bulk of the Warrior offense in 2023, amassing 1,450 yards while scoring 21 touchdowns in just the run game alone. This year, Walsh said the team is spreading the ball out more; seven Warriors had at least two touches in Saturday’s win, and eight players had at least two touches in the win over Cusick. 

“It’s exciting that we can spread the ball around a bit, take some of the load off of him and everything still keeps clicking really well,” Walsh said. “That balance is going to force teams to play a little more honest I hope.” 

Up next for ACH is a road game against Liberty Christian, the No. 4 seed at last year’s 1B State Football Tournament. The Patriots defeated Neah Bay 60-16 last week. 

“It’s going to be a great test for us to see where we’re at in terms of matching up with a top-ranked team,” Walsh said. “We’re excited for it.” 

Box score: 
GFP: 6-0-18-0 24
ACH: 16-20-18-0 54 

    Almira/Coulee-Hartline quarterback Caden Correia, holding the ball, slips through an attempted tackle during Saturday’s game against Garfield-Palouse. Correia threw for 230 yards and four touchdowns in the win.
  

    The ACH offense works to push forward during Saturday's match-up against the Garfield-Palouse Vikings.