Game Recap November 21, 2017

Dreams can come true, but unfortunately for the West Valley Rams, putting a solitary L on the undefeated Richland Bombers was the not the dream that would become reality in the first of the state playoffs. The dream belonged to a couple of Bombers who have been trying for big defensive plays and coming up just short for a while now.

West Valley, the number two team from the Big 9 had a good year, put up a lot of points during the season, and then ran into the Bomber buzzsaw. Teams undoubtedly get hyped up before games against Richland and make themselves believe they can follow their game plan, execute, and eventually beat a team that has triggered the running clock rule in over half of its games. Sometimes that hype lasts longer than the first possession. Even though the Bombers scored on their first offensive series, and scored the first six touchdowns of the game, the West Valley players kept their hype longer than most teams do, and it earned them the distinction of putting more points on the board against Richland than any other team has this season. That's probably small consolation after a 62-28 loss.

Richland's took the opening kickoff and proceeded to use Parker McCary to bash their way toward the first 7, punctuated by an occasional pass. McCary rolled up 48 of his 112 rushing yards, plus 8 receiving yards, before Adam Weissenfels came out of the left slot, did a little curl five yards deep in the endzone, and caught a 17 yard pass to start the onslaught.

What happened next shouldn't have been a surprise to the Rams, because they must have seen some film from the previous week when Richland's secondary returned three interceptions for touchdowns. Nevertheless, West Valley averaged almost 35 points and close to 300 passing yards per game. They are who they are. After six plays, the QB's high pass to the right side of the defense was easily snagged by Ryan Kriskovich at the Richland 40. Kriskovich ran straight down the sideline behind Victor Strasser and a great block by Caled Chapman, and had what looked like an easy line to the endzone with Strasser, Chapman, and Cubby Stanfield escorting and only two men to beat, but he took the road less traveled and gave the spectators a good show. Cutting left behind Chapman's fallen victim, Kriskovich cut left at the West Valley 35, juked a man to the ground, dodged three more by weaving through the hash marks, and followed Josh Mendoza's block to the corner pylon for his first pick six, and the first of three for the second straight game.

On the following kickoff, rather than opt for the safety of a fair catch, the return man tried to make something happen. Jared Whitby would have none of it and tossed the man to the ground at the 5 yard line, followed quickly by a host of Bombers. The next few plays featured a lot of going nowhere. Caleb Chapman (filling in for the injured Jax Lee) and Strasser stuffed the run, Casey Perryman and Braden Powell sacked the QB near the goal line, and the same three made a pile on top of the poor guy for what looked like a safety on third down, but it was spotted just outside the endzone, forcing a punt. McCary went for another 21 yards on two plays before Connor Faucheaux popped out of a double tight end formation and caught a four yard touchdown, his second of the year. 20-0 with time left in the first quarter. West Valley's next attempt was just more going nowhere thanks to continued pressure from the D line and a sack for a 10 yard loss by Mendoza. Weissenfels returned the punt to the line of scrimmage but a penalty put Richland at mid-field. A 15 yard Weissenfels catch down the middle and 35 more yards from McCary finished the first quarter and opened the second with McCary pounding into the endzone for the last play of the drive.

More tough D gave the Rams' punter another chance to show his stuff, and the resulting offensive possession started with Jared Whitby handing out headaches as he ran the ball. A great touchdown run was called back on last minute holding, so Cade Jensen went to Mendoza for the third TD pass on the night, bringing the score to 34-0. After having their run stuffed yet again by Perryman and Stanfield, the Rams gave the air attack another shot. The QB eyed a receiver cutting left across the middle but failed to notice Strasser backpedaling out of his blitz look. All Strasser had to do was reach up, pluck the ball out of the air, and see the green in front of him. Chapman provided the only block Strasser needed and the linebacker's first pick six was on the books.

Kickoff details are generally boring, but one important detail on the one following this score was the kicker. Ryan Piper stepped in to make the kick as Weissenfels stayed on the sideline getting an ankle re-wrapped. This minor detail showed its importance on the next play when a desperate West Valley went to the air again. A long heave from the 20 was tipped over a slowed down Weissenfels by the receiver and finally brought in at the Richland 45, and there was no one left to stop him. A 74 yard scoring play isn't bad, especially against a defense that doesn't like to be scored on. The mad rush at the kicker on the PAT gave a little consolation and kept the score at 41-6. McCary ran for a couple dozen yards, Perryman provided another 15, Faucheaux slipped an ankle tackle on a screen pass for 25 yards to set up Mendoza's second score. 48-6, Bombers.

Mendoza put his mark on the scoreboard again almost immediately on the following defensive series, popping out from behind the intended receiver to take the pass near the Richland 10 and zoom past his teammates on the sideline to go up 55-7. A score like that means the backups filter in, and the Rams took what advantage they could by gaining a few yards on the ground. Emboldened by this small success, they went for some razzle-dazzle and scored again on double pass to the back corner of the endzone. The catch was a nice looking one-handed grab over the head of Kriskovich, with a little extra height on the leap provided by the other hand boosting off Krisko's shoulder. When the score is 55-14 you don't complain much.

A sack for a 10 yard loss by Stanfield kicked off the second half, followed immediately by a 57 yard Tsega MacDuff run. MacDuff took a screen pass the remaining 8 yards for his first touchdown of the year and Richland's last of the game. 62-14 with a quarter and a half or running clock to go. West Valley would score twice more in the fourth quarter against a battling second team. Connor Smith, who filled in the season for Strasser, had tackles for loss ion the half, Drew Daves batted a pass down in the endzone, Sammy Cervantes had an interception (yes, he's the backup safety), and Steele Roberts busted through his blocker to nail the QB as he dropped back to pass.

It was fairly complete game for the Bombers, with plenty of passing, running, and another flurry of defensive scoring didn't hurt either. Richland looks to advance to the semi-final for the third straight year with a win over their Spokane rival, the Gonzaga Prep Bullpups, next Saturday. Be there to cheer them on!

Go Bombers!

  • November 10, 2017
    1
    2
    3
    4
     
    Final
  • West Valley Rams
    0
    14
    0
    14
     
    28
  • Richland Bombers
    20
    35
    7
    0
     
    62
  • 1st Quarter
  • Touchdown: Adam Weissenfels 17 yard pass from Cade Jensen (Weissenfels kick)
    Richland 7, West Valley 0
  • Touchdown: Ryan Kriskovich 55 yard interception return (Weissenfels kick)
    Richland 14, West Valley 0
  • Touchdown: Conner Faucheux 4 yard pass from Jensen (run failed)
    Richland 20, West Valley 0
  • 2nd Quarter
  • Touchdown: Parke McCary 5 yard run (Weissenfels kick)
    Richland 27, West Valley 0
  • Touchdown: Josh Mendoza 12 yard pass from Jensen (Weissenfels kick)
    Richland 34, West Valley 0
  • Touchdown: Victor Strasser 44 yard interception return (Weissenfels kick)
    Richland 41, West Valley 0
  • Touchdown: Dallin Cluff 74 yard pass from Brandon Battle (pass failed)
    Richland 41, West Valley 7
  • Touchdown: Mendoza 11 yard pass from Jensen (Weissenfels kick)
    Richland 48, West Valley 7
  • Touchdown: Mendoza 96 yard interception return (Weissenfels kick)
    Richland 55, West Valley 7
  • Touchdown: Cluff 18 yard pass from Jack Vanderbrake (Spencer Jolley pass from Vanderbrake)
    Richland 55, West Valley 15
  • 3rd Quarter
  • Touchdown: Tsega Macduff 8 yard run (Ryan Piper kick)
    Richland 62, West Valley 15
  • 4th Quarter
  • Touchdown: Reggie Harris 14 yard pass from Battle (Colby Kitt kick)
    Richland 62, West Valley 22
  • Touchdown: Harris 1 yard run (Kitt kick)
    Richland 62, West Valley 29

Friday November 10, 2017 Edgar Brown Memorial Stadium

  • 4A First Round Playoff

    • West Valley
      Rams
    • 28
    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 62
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

Friday September 18, 2009 Clasen Field

  • 400th Bomber Victory

    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 21
    • West Valley
      Rams
    • 13
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

Friday September 19, 2008 Fran Rish Stadium

  • Homecoming 2008

    • West Valley
      Rams
    • 7
    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 56
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

West Valley High School
West Valley High School
9800 Zier Road
Yakima, WA
Mascot: Rams
  • Bombers v. Rams
  •  
    Games
    Bombers
    Rams
  • Wins
    3
    139
    48
  • Overall
    3
    139
    48
  • Records by Head Coach
  •  
    Wins
    Losses
    Ties
  • Mike Neidhold
    3
    0
    0
Clasen Field