Game Recap October 20, 2012
History was made tonight as the home standing Hanford Falcons defeated the visiting Richland Bombers in Fran Rish Stadium 31-14, thus becoming the first Falcon squad to win a football game against their cross-town rival. Of course, this is only the seventh game in the series so it is not long-standing futility on the field but I bet if you quiz your local Hanford alum you would realize it is a pretty big deal.
The Falcons really had only one game plan. Give the ball to Jalen DeVine which is exactly what they did on the first drive of the game. Nine out of Hanford's first 11 plays featured DeVine behind a monster line as the Falcons marched 75 yards and scoring on a 7-yard run to take a 7-0 lead.
The Bombers then got the ball on their second drive and duplicated that effort though nine out of their twelve plays were through the air. Richland's scoring drive started on their own 32-yard line and featured the air game because senior running back Cameron Simpson was out with an injury. Zach Whitby found Cody O'Toole in the end zone for the touchdown and the game was tied at 7-7.
In the second quarter, the Bombers started with a short field on the Hanford 45 yard line. Whitby peppered the Falcon defense culminating in a 5-yard touchdown pass to Sheldon Liikala and the lead at 14-7.
At this point in the game, the Bomber defense was bending but stiffened up the closer the Falcons got to the end zone. Hanford finished the second half with a 27 yard field goal from Will Bishop to make the halftime score Bombers 14, Falcons 10.
The second half of the game was like a bad episode of Twilight Zone. I have used the old cliche before but tonight, Hanford proved that the best defense is a good offense.
I've been going over the stats for the six previous games and the Bombers have only managed 13 points in the third quarter. Hanford must have seen the same stat because after the Bombers were forced to punt, the Falcons simply did not let Richland have the ball.
The Falcons took over at their own 20-yard line with 10:14 remaining in the third quarter. Jalen DeVine got nine yards on his opening run and then the Bomber defense shut him down. Forced to punt on fourth and two at their own 29-yard line, Hanford took a huge gamble and ran the fake. Malik Slack took off for the sideline for three yards and a first down. The Falcons then proceeded to take the rest of the third quarter and 37 seconds of the fourth (over ten minutes) to cover the remaining 69 yards. A 20-play drive capped off by Jalen DeVine's second touchdown run from five yards out and the Falcons took the lead for good at 17-14.
The Bomber offense finally got back on the field but their drive ended at the 50-yard line. The Falcons took the ball back and methodically marched down the field again, chewing up time and yardage until they found themselves inside the Bomber 10 yard line with a first down. But despite the fact that they had been on the field almost the entire half, the Bomber defense stoned the Falcons and got the ball back on their own 6-inch line.
Key the Rudy music, bring up the orchestra with Rocky runnnig the back streets of Philadelphia as Richland found itself 99.5 yards away from a go ahead score. The Bombers behind wildcat quarterback Mason Baird were able to quickly get the ball out to safer territory at the 10 yard line. But as luck would have it, the Bomber ball carrier fumbled. The Falcons Joe Douglas played footsies with the ball until he finally got a good grasp on it and rumbled the last seven yards into the endzone for a heartbreaking touchdown and a 24-14 Falcon lead.
The Bombers next drive ended when Slack intercepted a Zach Whitby pass at the Bomber 35-yard line. DeVine put the Bombers out of their misery with a 30 yard touchdown run that put the game out of reach at 31-14 and sent the Falcon student body into utter frenzy.
Well, the Bombers live another day. Next Friday night, the Bulldogs from Pasco come for a visit and the Richland faithful can take their rightful spot back on the home side for Senior Night. By next week we should have a better idea of where the Bombers will be playing on November 2 in the traditional GSL Crossover series. It looks at this point like Gonzaga Prep and Mead will be the 4A representatives from Spokane but with these crazy 4A/3A leagues your guess is as good as mine.
Hope to see you next Friday night.
Go Bombers!
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October 19, 20121234Final
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Hanford Falcons7371431
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Richland Bombers770014
- 1st Quarter
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Touchdown: Jalen DeVine 6 yard run (Will Bishop kick)
Hanford 7, Richland 0 -
Touchdown: Cody O'Toole 6 yard pass from Zack Whitby (Garza kick)
Richland 7, Hanford 7 - 2nd Quarter
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Touchdown: Sheldon Liikala 5 yard pass from Zack Whitby (Garza kick)
Richland 14, Hanford 7 -
Field Goal: Bishop 27 yard field goal
Richland 14, Hanford 10 - 3rd Quarter
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Touchdown: DeVine 2 yard run (Bishop kick)
Hanford 17, Richland 14 - 4th Quarter
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Touchdown: Joe Douglas 5 yard fumble return
Hanford 24, Richland 14 -
Touchdown: DeVine 30 yard run (Bishop kick)
Hanford 31, Richland 14
