Game Recap November 8, 2017

Bomber fans, if you weren't at Edgar Brown Stadium for the district playoff game, you missed a memorable one. The Richland Bombers knocked off the the Greater Spokane League third place Mead Panthers in convincing fashion, 62-7. That score isn't exactly new territory for the Bombers, having scored over 60 points in the first half twice already this season, but the way they did it was different.

Snatching six interceptions from two of the three Mead QBs who saw action, three of them going back for scores. Not only that, but the first three interceptions were the second, third, and fourth touchdowns of the first quarter for Richland. Adam Weissenfels and Josh Mendoza dominated the quarter, Weissenfels with two scores and Mendoza with three, to put the Panthers on the ropes early and prevent any semblance of hope for the visitors. The offense contributed six of the nine touchdowns, but this game was a display of defensive force by the Bombers.

When Richland's first possession stalled out on consecutive long passes, the punt rolled down to the four yard line. Seemingly in a bad place, the Panthers showed heart and made headway and got to their 35 but decided to sneak a punt rather than risk handing the ball to the Bomber offense so close to the endzone. Didn't matter. Parker McCary convinced the Mead defense to stay honest against the run with a 6 yard gain, and then Mendoza caught the safety flat-footed, splitting the gap between the cornerback, who snuck up to cover the screen pass, and safety, catching Cade Jensen's pass at the 40, spinning out of a tackle, and then outrunning pursuers to the endzone for the first points of the game. Mead, still in the game, tired what most other teams have tried in order to avoid an aggressive defensive line and a ball-hungry secondary, which is short passes. Weissenfels compensated for that by baiting the QB into thinking he was dropping into deep coverage, but popped back just in time to snag the pass out of the the receiver's outstretched arms, taking it 30 yards untouched for 6 more points. 

It's worthy of note that the Mead QB was tossed to the ground by D line linchpin Jax Lee just as he threw the ball. Mead's next offensive play was a pass for a loss of 1 yard. On second down from their own 25, short passes were still the play of choice. Seeing a receiver crossing the middle, the QB threw the ball to avoid another oncoming D lineman, this time Cubby Stanfield. The pass was high and tipped by the receiver, and Mendoza was there to gather it in and speed, again untouched, to the endzone for the second pick 6 in less than one minute. After taking the short kickoff at the 40, the Panthers advanced to midfield in four plays. The fifth play was a perfect microcosm of Richland's defense for the game. Just before being pummeled by Lee, the desperate QB got off a quick pass to a receiver cutting across the middle. The pass was high and tipped, again, by the receiver as he braced for a huge hit by returning linebacker Victor Strasser. There for the catch, again, was Mendoza, and the only player close enough to stop him was leveled by Stanfield. Mendoza cut a sharp angle to the endzone, accompanied by a formidable outer shell of Lee, Casey Perryman, and Jared Whitby. Three picks for scores in less than three minutes and a 27-0 score with 3:30 left in the first quarter left the Panthers visibly deflated, despite blocking Weissenfels' PAT. 

Mead's ensuing possession ended with a long punt. Unfortunately for them, it was taken on a bounce at the 40 by Weissenfels, who ran up the left sideline before cutting to the middle and then upfield at the other 40, before being brought down at the 10. Jensen then found Weissenfels running a classic Weissenfels route—coming from the right slot, cutting across the middle, then taking the ball to the left pylon for a TD. 34-0 at the end of the first quarter isn't bad.

The second quarter featured more punishing defense and touchdown passes to Sammy Cervantes, Cody Sanderson, and Ryan Piper, along with a TD run by McCary, running behind a seldom seen double tight end formation. Perryman joined the fun by grabbing another interception from an errant pass as the Mead QB avoided a second sack by Stanfield, although he was still brutally hit on the play. The last kickoff of the half, with 20 seconds left, was popped out the return man's hands by Weissenfels and recovered by Perryman.

With the running clock rule in effect, the third quarter breezed by with little significant action aside from a fake punt run by Mendoza to keep a clock-burning drive alive. Cervantes, filling in for Piper at safety, grabbed another INT in the fourth quarter, and Mead finally put points on the board with two minutes left when a receiver took advantage of a young and inexperienced DB to haul in a 53 yard score.

The Bombers had only 70 rushing yards, including Mendoza's fake punt, but really had no need to wear out their running backs in a blowout. Jensen threw for a relatively paltry 228 yards, but really had no need to wear out his arm. Mendoza had only one reception, but really had no need for more since he had three total TDs. The Bomber D held Mead to 135 total yards, 53 of which were on the fourth quarter touchdown pass. It was an impressive effort from both sides of the ball. 

Richland takes on the West Valley Rams from the Big 9, at 7:00 at Edgar Brown Stadium on Friday, November 10th. The Rams bring a high scoring offense to challenge a defense that has given up only 90 points in 10 games. Come cheer the Bombers on to a victory in the opening round of the state playoffs.

Go Bombers!

  • November 3, 2017
    1
    2
    3
    4
     
    Final
  • Mead Panthers
    0
    0
    0
    7
     
    7
  • Richland Bombers
    34
    28
    0
    0
     
    62
  • 1st Quarter
  • Touchdown: Josh Mendoza 69 yard pass from Cade Jensen (Adam Weissenfels kick) (7:08)
    Richland 7, Mead 0
  • Touchdown: Weissenfels 28 yard interception return (Weissenfels kick) (6:05)
    Richland 14, Mead 0
  • Touchdown: Mendoza 21 yard interception return (Weissenfels kick) (5:14)
    Richland 21, Mead 0
  • Touchdown: Mendoza 58 yard interception return (kick blocked) (3:31)
    Richland 27, Mead 0
  • Touchdown: Weissenfels 8 yard pass from Jensen (Weissenfels kick) (0:17)
    Richland 34, Mead 0
  • 2nd Quarter
  • Touchdown: Sammy Cervantes 19 yard pass from Jensen (Weissenfels kick) (8:51)
    Richland 41, Mead 0
  • Touchdown: Parker McCary 8 yard run (Weissenfels kick) (5:00)
    Richland 48, Mead 0
  • Touchdown: Cody Sanderson 2 yard pass from Jensen (2:51)
    Richland 55, Mead 0
  • Touchdown: Ryan Piper 10 yard pass from Jensen (Weissenfels kick) (0:21)
    Richland 62, Mead 0
  • 4th Quarter
  • Touchdown: Lucas Bacon 53 yard pass from Ryan Blair (Joe Heitman kick) (2:30)
    Richland 62, Mead 7

Friday October 8, 2021 Union Stadium

    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 14
    • Mead
      Panthers
    • 12
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

Friday November 2, 2018 Neil F. Lampson Stadium

  • 4A Regional Playoff Game

    • Mead
      Panthers
    • 35
    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 21
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

Friday November 3, 2017 Edgar Brown Memorial Stadium

  • 4A Regional Playoff Game

    • Mead
      Panthers
    • 7
    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 62
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

Friday November 2, 2012 Fran Rish Stadium

  • 4A Eastern Regional Playoff

    • Mead
      Panthers
    • 17
    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 0
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

Friday November 3, 2006 Joe Albi Stadium

  • GSL / Big Nine Crossover

    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 20
    • Mead
      Panthers
    • 25
  • Head Coach: Garrick Redden

Tuesday November 11, 2003 Joe Albi Stadium

  • Class "AAAA" State Playoffs Regional Preliminary Round

    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 7
    • Mead
      Panthers
    • 27
  • Head Coach: Lonnie Pierson

Saturday November 13, 1999 Neil F. Lampson Stadium

  • Class "AAAA" State Playoffs First Round

    • Mead
      Panthers
    • 10
    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 42
  • Head Coach: Lonnie Pierson

Saturday November 23, 1996 Joe Albi Stadium

  • Class "AAA" State Playoffs Quarterfinals

    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 34
    • Mead
      Panthers
    • 27
  • Head Coach: Lonnie Pierson

Saturday November 17, 1990 Joe Albi Stadium

  • Class "AAA" State Playoffs Quarterfinals

    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 47
    • Mead
      Panthers
    • 28
  • Head Coach: Lonnie Pierson

Saturday November 11, 1989 Fran Rish Stadium

  • Class "AAA" State Playoffs First Round

    • Mead
      Panthers
    • 21
    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 63
  • Head Coach: Lonnie Pierson

1982

    • Mead
      Panthers
    • 13
    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 19
  • Head Coach: J.D. Covington

Friday October 2, 1981 Joe Albi Stadium

    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 33
    • Mead
      Panthers
    • 0
  • Head Coach: J.D. Covington

Mead High School
Mead High School
302 W Hastings Road
Spokane, WA
Mascot: Panthers
  • Bombers v. Panthers
  •  
    Games
    Bombers
    Panthers
  • Wins
    8
    314
    118
  • Losses
    4
    48
    104
  • Overall
    12
    362
    222
  • Records by Head Coach
  •  
    Wins
    Losses
    Ties
  • Lonnie Pierson
    4
    1
    0
  • J.D. Covington
    2
    0
    0
  • Mike Neidhold
    2
    2
    0
  • Garrick Redden
    0
    1
    0
Union Stadium