Game Recap October 4, 2008
The phrase, "I'd rather be lucky than good," is an apt response from any Bomber football player after a tense, sloppy 21-20 win over cross-town rival Hanford. The Falcons went toe-to-toe against the Bombers and if not for a missed two-point conversion attempt, this game may have never ended.
For the second time in three years, the Hanford Falcons struck first, scoring on a 12 yard touchdown run by Kody Winsor for a 7-0 lead. The Bombers quickly evened the score on Hayden Hilty's 32 yard touchdown pass to Jamison Rowe. Hanford then fumbled, leaving the Bombers with a fresh set of downs at the Hanford four yard line. After four tries, Hayden Hilty was finally able to punch the ball in from the one yard line but those four plays were indicative of how hard the game was going to be for the Bombers and just how ready the Falcons were to play ball. The first half ended with Richland ahead 14-7.
The second half found the Bombers moving backward more often than they did forward. Every drive seemed plagued with penalties or mishaps that put Richland in first and 15's instead of the much more friendly first and 10.
Hanford quickly tied the score at 14 in the 3rd quarter on a 36 yard touchdown run by quarterback Travis Chalk. Richland had many opportunities to blow the game wide open but could just not get enough of a momentum shift to get the job done. Every time the Bombers looked like they had it going, a penalty would knock them back a step and cut the drive short.
The Bombers last score came at the start of the 4th quarter. Hayden Hilty ran in for another 1 yard touchdown set up by a very athletic 18 yard run by Jamison Rowe. The 21-14 score gave the Bombers the lead but the sigh of relief didn't last long. On the next drive, Hanford decided to go for it on a fourth and 2 at the Bomber 32 yard line. They got the first down and a little more after Kody Winsor took the ball and gobbled up the remaining 32 yards in one bite, making it Bombers 21, Falcons 20. Unfortunately for the Falcons they failed to make the extra point after Brad Elzie's pass attempt was dropped in the end zone.
Richland had a one point lead but they also had almost 8 minutes left on the clock. The next drive looked very promising, chewing up 58 yards on catches by Quinn Zorich and Brett Jacobs and a nice run by Jamison Rowe. Unfortunately, it ended when Hanford's Kyle Wagar intercepted a Hayden Hilty pass at the Hanford 20 yard line.
Hanford's last ditch effort hinged on a 4th and one at the 39 yard line. Considering that Kody Winsor and Travis Chalk had already compiled over 200 yards rushing, the task looked pretty easy. It wasn't. Quinn Zorich flew through the Falcon line and pinned Chalk 5 yards deep and the hopes of a historic Hanford upset went down as well.
This was a crazy, frustrating game to watch and I'm hoping I don't have to see a game like this for a very long time. I don't mind a good, close game, but this could hardly have been labeled good by either team. On thing it did prove to me was that Hanford is starting to get comfortable against the 4A portion of the league and I won't be surprised if they knock off a couple more teams before this season is done. I'm just glad the Bombers weren't one of their victims.
Next week is another home game, this time against the Kennewick Lions so come out at 7:30 next Friday night at Fran Rish Stadium and cheer the Bombers to victory! Go Bombers!
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October 3, 20081234Final
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Hanford Falcons707620
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Richland Bombers770721
- 1st Quarter
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Touchdown: Kody Winsor 12 Yd Run (Joe Clements kick)
Hanford 7, Richland 0 -
Touchdown: Jamison Rowe 32 Yd Pass from Hayden Hilty (Jacob Moreno kick)
Richland 7, Hanford 7 - 2nd Quarter
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Touchdown: Hilty 1 Yd Run (Moreno kick)
Richland 14, Hanford 7 - 3rd Quarter
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Touchdown: Travis Chalk 36 Yd Run (Clements kick)
Richland 14, Hanford 14 - 4th Quarter
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Touchdown: Hilty 1 Yd Run (Moreno kick)
Richland 21, Hanford 14 -
Touchdown: Winsor 33 Yd Run (kick failed)
Richland 21, Hanford 20
