Game Recap October 22, 2011
The Richland Bombers came out of the chute with their hair on fire but it was the Eisenhower Cadets who were able to finish his horse race, disappointing the homecoming crowd with a 40-31 win.
Elijah Gardaya got the Bombers started with a 48 yard kickoff return to open the game returning the ball to the Eisenhower 41. BK Robinson then ran for 25, Zack Whitby threw to Connor Egbert for 10, and Cameron Simpson completed the job with a 6 yard run and a 7-0 Bomber lead.
The Richland defense then took over and forced the Cadets to punt on its first two posessions. The Bombers were able to answer each punt with a field goal from Q Taychack. The first from 32 yards and the second from 33. They were definitely crusing with a 13-0 lead.
It didn't take long for the Cadets to awake from their slumber. After the kickoff quarterback Jason Easter handed off to wide receiver ridge Harmon who then proceeded to pass the ball to Denzel Jones for a 65 yard touchdown. The Cadet defense was finally able to stiffen and forced a Bomber punt. Four plays and a missed extra point later and the fast start was eliminated and the game was tied at 13-13.
The Bombers took posession again after another excellent kickoff return. Starting on the Cadet 45, the offense made short work of those yards thanks mostly to a 17 yard pass from Whitby to Egbert and an Eisenhower late hit penalty. Whitby then found Elijah Gardaya for a 9-yard touchdown pass.
The defense then forced another Cadet punt but an ill-fated fake attempt fell one yard short. Q Taychack then hit his third field goal of the first half, this time from 35 yards. I haven't been able to check my history records but I cannot remember another game in recent Bomber history with three field goals on one half. It's got to be some sort of record anyway.
Eisenhower then finished off the first half with an 11-play, 61 yard drive that ended when Jason Easter found Denzel Jones in the end zone for a touchdown, making the halftime score Richland 23, Eisenhower 20.
As luck would have it, after a long homecoming halftime highlighted by a firework show, Eisenhower was the first up with the ball to start the second half. The Cadets then chanelled the playbook of Bill Parcells New York Giant teams and simply took their time. Eighty-three yards and 13 plays later Trevon Harris scored the first of his three touchdowns on a 3-yard sweep into the endzone. With half the third quarter consumed, the Cadets had their first lead at 27-23.
Not to be outdone, the Bombers then embarked on their own 12-play drive but unfortunately their journey ended with a fumble on the Eisenhower 10. After sharing punts on their next two posessions, the Cadets then started another methodical journey to the endzone. The drive actually almost didnt get started. After a false start on first down, Easter threw a pass right into the waiting arms of a Bomber defender but it just slipped through his hands and Ike had new life. Ten plays later Easter found Jones for their third touchdown pass together and Eisenhower's lead increased to 34-23.
The Bombers were far from done, though. Starting at their own 30, they marched down the field, highlighted by a 53-yard pass from Whitby to Egbert. Robinson scored three plays later on a 2-yard run. Whitby then passed to Gardaya for the two point conversion and Richland was within a field goal at 34-31.
The next Cadet drive started out with shaky intentions. First, the Cadets were lucky to recover a very effective Bomber onside kick. Then a holding penalty dropped them ten yards in reverse followed by Easter being sacked for another 9 yard loss. But Denzel Jones ripped through the Bomber line for 24 yards and on third and five a Bomber defender jumped off sides and the Cadets had a fresh set of downs on the Richland 42 yard line. Four plays later, Jones scored his hat trick with a 1 yard run and Ike had a 40-31 lead.
The Bombers tried their best but simply ran out of time. Fortunately, losing this game didn't necessarily know them out of playoff contention. Davis lost their third game in a row, this time to Wenatchee. The Panthers, while they have only two league losses, finish up their schedule against a well-rested Chiawana team coming off a bye and playing at home. Therefore, if the Bombers get a win next week against the Moses Lake Chiefs, and depending on math, there could be a tie for the last playoff spot coming out of the Big Nine.
Therefore, I expect all of you to make the trek to Fran Rish Stadium next Friday night to celebrate Senior Night and to root on the Bombers against the visiting Moses Lake Chiefs. It's almost Halloween so make it special and dress like your favorite Bomber fan! See you next week!
Go Bombers!
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October 21, 20111234Final
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Eisenhower Cadets40
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Richland Bombers31
