Game Recap November 28, 2017

The Tacoma Dome. For those living in it's shadow, it is a harbinger of severe traffic gridlock. To the Richland Bombers and Central Valley Bears, it is the promised land.

Recent history had not been kind to the Bears as the Bombers have ended their season each of the last two years by a combined score of 67-3. But this year's Bears were coming in on a roll having won ten in a row including a sweep of the Greater Spokane League and huge wins over two powerhouse programs in Camas and Skyline.

But sometimes history repeats itself.

The Central Valley Bears came out with their fur on fire holding the Bombers to -7 yards and forcing a punt on the first possession. After the punt, the Bears made three first downs in their first five plays using quick screen passes. Once inside the 10 yard line, though, the Bomber defense clamped down, leaving Central Valley with three points from a 22 yard Landon Rehkow field goal. 3-0 Bears.

Richland's next possession started at their own 35 and had a promising start on two runs by Parker McCary but just like that, two penalties and a negative pass pushed the Bombers back to the 25. Cade Jensen then found Josh Mendoza streaking down the sideline for a 41 yard strike that put the Bombers on the Central Valley 36. Two McCary runs got the ball to the 24 yard line but Jensen was then sacked, losing 14 yards and the Bombers were faced with a third and 24. No problem. Cade connected with Cody Sanderson on a 38 yard touchdown pass and Richland led 7-3.

The Bomber defense worked quickly, hitting quarterback Grant Hannan and causing a fumble that was recovered by Jax Lee on the Central Valley 31 yard line. Five plays later, Parker McCary punched the ball in from the 4 yard line and the Bombers started the second quarter with a 14-3 lead.

At this point, Central Valley had no answers to the relentless Bomber defense, forcing consecutive three-and-outs. The second negating a Bear interception. With the ball on their own 37, McCary found an opening and ran for 39 yards into CV territory. Jensen then finished it off on a 27 yard pass to Adam Weissenfels in the endzone, putting the game further out of reach at 21-3 Bombers.

After another three-and-out, Richland received the ball at their own 19 yard line and embarked on a nine-play scoring drive. Jensen finished off the drive passing the ball to Ryan Piper from 24 yards out. Piper made a spectacular catch, tipping the ball to himself, then catching it for the touchdown. The Bombers looked to be cruising into halftime with a sizeable 28-3 lead.

Central Valley was able to sustain a little more offense on their next drive but only on a strange roughing the punter call. Austin Tomlinson attempted a running rugby kick but his shoe fell off, sending the ball 10 yards and the errant shoe another twenty. Unfortunately, Tomlinson's momentum brushed him up against a Bomber and the yellow flags extended the Bear drive. The Bomber defense did not budge, though, and quickly forced another punt.

With the ball on their own 21 yard line, the Bombers were content with going to the locker room. After two runs rendered nothing but time off the clock, Cade Jensen took a knee on third down with 20 seconds remaining. Central Valley coach Ryan Butner was having none of it and called a timeout. With two CV timeouts remaining, the Bombers were forced to punt and Central Valley received the ball at the 45 yard line with 12 seconds left in the half. Grant Hannan heaved a Hail Mary in the direction of Michah Mason but the ball was about five yards short. Two Bomber defenders tried to knock the ball away but inadvertantly popped the ball into Mason's awaiting arms and suddenly, the Bears were able to breath a little easier and entered halftime trailing only 28-10 with the added bonus of receiving the ball after halftime.

Central Valley received that second half kickoff and again were able to penetrate Richland territory down to the 23 yard line. The Bomber defense stiffened once more and forced the Bears out on downs. The Bombers fumbled on the first play of the ensuing drive and kept Central Valley's hopes alive.

Alas, the Richland defenders were in no mood to foster hope. Each Central Valley drive was snuffed out and the third quarter ended with no change in the score.

Cade Jensen started the fourth quarter by tossing a jump ball into the endzone. Sammy Cervantes leaped over two CV defenders and pulled it down for a 22 yard touchdown and a 35-10 lead. The Bombers next drive ended in bookend fashion when Jensen tossed another jump ball to Cervantes from 17 yards out for another Bomber touchdown. Richland 42, Central Valley 10.

For the third year in a row, the Richland Bombers have ended the Central Valley Bears season and for the second straight year, the Bombers are headed to Tacoma for a chance to bring home 4A State Championship trophy, this time against the Woodinville Falcons.

This is the moment these players have been working for since the last seconds ticked off the clock against Camas in 2016. It's a very rare thing in life to get a second chance and the Bombers are poised to take advantage. One thing that stands out about this squad is how much fun they have playing football whether that be in tight games like Bellevue, Chiawana, and Gonzaga Prep or one of the many games that ended with a running clock. These 2017 Bombers really love playing for each other and playing hard up to the final whistle. Very reminiscent of the 1981-82 team that won the first Bomber state championship.

Please consider joining the fun and we hope to see you next Saturday night at 7:30pm in the Tacoma Dome!

Go Bombers!

  • November 25, 2017
    1
    2
    3
    4
     
    Final
  • Central Valley Bears
    3
    7
    0
    0
     
    10
  • Richland Bombers
    7
    21
    0
    14
     
    42
  • 1st Quarter
  • Field Goal: Landon Rehkow 22 yard field goal (6:16)
    Central Valley 3, Richland 0
  • Touchdown: Cody Sanderson 38 yard pass from Cade Jensen (Adam Weissenfels kick) (2:30)
    Richland 7, Central Valley 3
  • 2nd Quarter
  • Touchdown: Parker McCary 4 yard run (Weissenfels kick) (11:53)
    Richland 14, Central Valley 3
  • Touchdown: Weissenfels 27 yard pass from Jensen (Weissenfels kick) (5:18)
    Richland 21, Central Valley 3
  • Touchdown: Ryan Piper 24 yard pass from Jensen (Weissenfels kick) (1:36)
    Richland 28, Central Valley 3
  • Touchdown: Micah Mason 45 yard pass from Grant Hannan (Rehkow kick) (0:00)
    Richland 28, Central Valley 10
  • 4th Quarter
  • Touchdown: Sammy Cervantes 22 yard pass from Jensen (Weissenfels kick) (11:09)
    Richland 35, Central Valley 10
  • Touchdown: Cervantes 17 yard pass from Jensen (Weissenfels kick) (3:54)
    Richland 42, Central Valley 10

Tuesday October 31, 2023 Fran Rish Stadium

  • Big 9/GSL/MCC Week 10 Crossover Play-In

    • Central Valley
      Bears
    • 14
    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 47
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

Friday November 5, 2021 Neil F. Lampson Stadium

  • GSL Crossover / Winner to State 4A Playoffs

    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 21
    • Central Valley
      Bears
    • 10
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

Saturday November 25, 2017 Edgar Brown Memorial Stadium

  • 4A State Semifinal Game

    • Central Valley
      Bears
    • 10
    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 42
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

Friday November 4, 2016 Neil F. Lampson Stadium

  • 4A Regional Play-in Game

    • Central Valley
      Bears
    • 0
    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 37
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

Friday November 13, 2015 Neil F. Lampson Stadium

  • State 4A First Round

    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 30
    • Central Valley
      Bears
    • 3
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

Friday November 7, 2008 Fran Rish Stadium

  • Greater Spokane League Regional Playoffs

    • Central Valley
      Bears
    • 35
    • Richland
      Bombers
    • 20
  • Head Coach: Mike Neidhold

Central Valley High School
Central Valley High School
821 S Sullivan Road
Spokane Valley, WA
Mascot: Bears
  • Bombers v. Bears
  •  
    Games
    Bombers
    Bears
  • Wins
    5
    177
    37
  • Losses
    1
    20
    35
  • Overall
    6
    197
    72
  • Records by Head Coach
  •  
    Wins
    Losses
    Ties
  • Mike Neidhold
    5
    1
    0
Central Valley High