Kennewick atop MCC football standings after tough win over Kamiakin. Where the rest sit
The best way to keep Kamiakin’s offensive unit from scoring is to hang onto the football.
The visiting Kennewick Lions figured that out early on Friday night, beating their crosstown rivals 20-14 in a big Mid-Columbia Conference matchup at Lampson Stadium.
Randy Affholter’s Lions now sit atop the MCC standings alone, sporting a 3-0 conference record (4-0 overall).
Staring up at them, just a half-game back with 3-1 records, are three other teams: Chiawana, Hermiston and Richland. One full game back with a 2-1 MCC record is Kamiakin.
For Kennewick to be sitting on top, it wasn’t easy for the Lions to get there Friday night.
Go it started out well.
On the game’s second play, junior Alex Roberts took a handoff, made a few quick cuts, and raced 69 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 Lions’ lead.
“Our offensive line just really sealed the edge, and then they were kicking out,” said Roberts.
On the next Kennewick series, this time the Lions used a methodical, time-eating drive. Using 11 plays to march 72 yards, Roberts again found the end zone on a 5-yard run and a 13-0 lead.
The Braves would respond this time, using a 38-yard pass from Trent Woodhouse to Gavyn Buchanan down to the 1. Makram Altahir bulled into the end zone for a 1-yard drive to cut the deficit to 13-7.
But again, the Lions answered by chewing more clock, marching 80 yards on 11 plays and finishing with a 6-yard TD pass from Ambrose Driver to David Wacenske for a 20-7 lead.
That’s the way it stood at halftime. Kamiakin coach Scott Biglin was not happy.
“At halftime, the defense had to make adjustments. And on offense, we had a lot of dropped passes in the first half,” said Biglin.
The biggest problem was that Kamiakin just didn’t get enough chances on offense with the football.
In the end, Kennewick ran 67 offensive plays and had the ball for 32 minutes and 37 seconds.
Kamiakin had the ball for just 31 plays and 15 minutes, 23 seconds.
The Braves weren’t done though. They found a way to stop the Lions’ offense in the second half.
“Defensively, we stayed home,” said Biglin. “In the first half we were blowing to the contain side and we didn’t cover the back side.”
Affholter agreed.
“Kamiakin did better in the second half defensively,” he said. “They packed the box. Offensively, we also stubbed our foot in the second half. We’ve got to get better.”
Woodhouse would find Altahir for a 23-yard TD pass to cut Kennewick’s lead to 20-14 in the fourth quarter.
But when the Lions’ offense started to falter, it was Kennewick’s defensive unit that stepped up.
Three times, Kennewick stopped Kamiakin drives with interceptions — two by Dane McClure and one by Damian Cervantes.
McClure’s were huge. His first one, he read a bubble screen and cut in between the QB and receiver. Had he kept his balance, it would have been a pick-6.
“We knew that in that formation they would throw a screen. When I saw the bubble screen I moved to the ball,” McClure said.
The second pick ended the game, as he played back and saw the pass easily for the interception. He played it like a baseball center fielder — which, ironically, he is for the Lions baseball team.
Affholter was proud of his D.
“Our defensive unit had a bend-but-don’t-break type of performance,” said Affholter.
Considering his team’s fight, Biglin liked what he saw too.
“I was proud of the way they battled in the second half,” Biglin said of his team. “They gave us a chance to win the game, and we knew we had to take some chances.”
There are still plenty of big games scheduled, so no one is running away with the MCC title just yet.
But for now, the Lions, as of Week 4, are sitting on the throne.
“I like our team,” said Roberts, who finished with 138 yards rushing on 20 carries. “I think it’s been the team chemistry. We’ve bonded together. We have great team defense. And on offense we never get down on each other.”
Kennewick 20, Kamiakin 14
Kennewick 13 7 0 0 — 20
Kamiakin 7 0 0 7 — 14
SCORING PLAYS
Ken — Alex Roberts 69 run (pass failed)
Ken — Roberts 5 run (Tanner Chavez kick)
Kam — Makram Altahir 1 run (Carter Poland kick)
Ken — David Wacenske 6 pass from Ambrose Driver (Chavez kick)
Kam — Altahir 23 pass from Trent Woodhouse (Poland kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Ken, Roberts 20-138, Canaan Hays 15-81, A.Driver 8-41, Totals 43-260. Kam, Altahir 8-15, Poland 3-11, Camden Schmidt 1-5, Gavyn Buchanan 1-2, Woodhouse 1-0. Totals 14-33.
PASSING — Ken, A.Driver 12-24-0-117. Kam, Woodhouse 13-16-4-125, Poland 1-1-0-44.
RECEIVING — Ken, Wacenske 8-84, Dane McClure 2-19, Kyler Witkowski 1-7, Dylin McIntyre 1-7. Kam, Buchanan 4-96, David Kuku 3-26, Altahir 2-26, Poland 3-23, Robert Julima 1-1, Kyler Rutz 1-minus 3.
FIRST DOWNS — Ken 19, Kam 9. FUMBLES-LOST — Ken 1-0, Kam 0-0. PENALTIES-YARDS — Ken 10-98, Kam 6-52.
DEFENSIVE LEADERS — Ken, Damian Cervantes 2 tackles, 2 pass breakups, interception; Canaan Hays 5 tackles (1 for loss), Dane McClure 1 tackle, 2 interceptions. Kam, Carter Poland 8 tackles, 1 cover; David Kuku 2 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 1 cover, 1 forced fumble; Zae’Vion Gladney 6 tackles, 1 hurry; Jackson Russell 6 tackles, 1 QB sack.
Hermiston 35, Southridge 20
The host Bulldogs won their Homecoming game, scoring two fourth quarter touchdowns to pull away.
Trailing 21-20 heading into the final quarter, Hermiston got a 2-yard TD run by quarterback Issac Corey, followed by a 60-yard touchdown romp by Ben Larson late in the game.
Larson finished with 5 carries for 101 yards, while Ami Tuia added 75 yards rushing on three carries — including a 64-yard TD run.
Corey finished with 15 completions against 26 attempts for 173 yards and a TD toss. Austin Bledsoe was the Bulldogs’ top receiver, catching 4 passes for 96 yards.
Gavin Allen was the Suns’ top offensive player, catching 6 passes for 138 yards receiving.
Southridge QB Austin Guier was 12 for 31 passing for 192 yards and a TD pass. David Sinyuk added 117 yards rushing on 20 carries.
Pasco 28, Walla Walla 26
The host Bulldogs won their Homecoming game and improved to 2-2 on Friday night.
Devon Valdivia rushed 22 times for 136 yards, while Anthony Lopez added 8 carries for 80 yards.
Pasco quarterback Junior Olvera had a strong game running the offense, going 12 for 22 for 122 yards passing. Olvera scored on a 1-yard run and tossed two TD passes — a 25-yarder to Joey Goin, and an 8-yard strike to Jake Raymond.
Max Valencia was the top Bulldogs receiver, catching 4 passes for 59 yards.
Defensively, defensive end Damian Taveres led Pasco with 8 tackles (one for loss) and two quarterback sacks; linebacker Anthony Lopez added 7.5 tackles (one for loss), while Raymond, also at linebacker, had 6 tackles (one for loss).
DB Jael Valle intercepted a pass for the Bulldogs.
For the visiting Blue Devils, QB Rayden Reibel fired TD passes of 6, 9 and 10 yards to keep Wa-Hi in the contest. He finished the game completing 15 of 23 attempts for 120 yards.
Carter O’Dell rushed 11 times for 99, including a 64-yard touchdown run.
Mountain View 37, Hanford 31
Eli Perkes was the standout for visiting Hanford, which fell on the road in Vancouver on Friday.
The Falcons quarterback had a hand in all five Falcons touchdowns. Perkes was 20 for 37 for for 357 passing yards.
He also rushed 14 times for another 104 yards. That included a 75-yard TD run. Perkes also rushed for two more TDs, and had two touchdown passes.
Preston Bryant had the biggest day for the Hanford receivers, catching 7 passes for 169. Martel Coffman added 5 receptions for 85 yards.
Mid-Columbia Conference
Kennewick 3-0 MCC, 4-0 overall
Chiawana 3-1, 3-1Hermiston 3-1, 3-1
Richland 3-1, 3–1
Kamiakin 2-1, 2-2
Pasco 2-2, 2-2
Hanford 0-3, 0-4
Walla Walla 0-3, 0-4
Southridge 0-4, 0-4
Thursday, Sept. 21: Chiawana 27, Richland 13.
Friday, Sept. 22: Hermiston 35, Southridge 20; Kennewick 20, Kamiakin 14; Mountain View 37, Hanford 31; Pasco 28, Walla Walla 26.
Friday, Sept. 29: Hanford at Kamiakin, Lampson Stadium, 7 p.m.; Hermiston at West Valley-Yakima, 7 p.m.; Kennewick at Chiawana, Edgar Brown Stadium, 7 p.m.; Pasco at Richland, 7 p.m.; Southridge at Walla Walla, Borleske Stadium, 7 p.m.
Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.
