2023 Bomber Football
BOMBERS OUTSHINE SUNS
2023 GAME 1: Saturday September 2, 2023
Game Recap September 5, 2023
By Bella Bunnage
Read the story in the Atomic Times
The Richland Bombers took on the Southridge Suns for a spectacular season opener last night. The Bombers made a complete turnaround from last year's game with a 35-14 win. When playing the Suns last year, the Richland Bombers were down at half and scored 17 points in the second half to return and win. I talked to head coach Neidhold about his thoughts on that particular game and how he will carry the lessons he learned into this game.
During our discussion, Coach Neidhold shared with me a tradition he has been holding on to called "the Bonefrog." This Bonefrog represents the Navy seals in combat, through which Neidhold encourages his team to never give up under any circumstance. Neidhold stated, "When we are in that locker room, we establish our identity of never quitting." The Bomber men look at the Bonefrog as a representation of persevering through the hardest of times. The lessons taught were evident during last night's game against the Suns.
Southridge started out strong and looked like it would have been a similar game to last year's. In the first drive alone, Southridge ran the ball eight times. Eight successful rushes until the Bomber's defense adapted and shut their run game down, forcing the Suns to throw the ball. It appeared as though they would find the end zone on their opening drive until they were stopped on three consecutive plays behind the line. As the crowd waited for the field goal unit to come out, the Suns decided to go for it on fourth down. The defense prevailed and shut down any hopes of an opening drive touchdown, and the Bombers offense took over possession.
Richland's first drive of the game was misleading; a missed snap prevented a successful Bomber drive, and the game remained scoreless until the Bombers got the ball back on Rayce Reeves' impressive one-handed interception. After this interception, the Bombers found success during their next drive. Reeves was targeted for a 35-yard reception for the Bombers. The Bomber's success in the air continued as Josh Woodard connected with Junior receiver Colson Mackey for a seven-yard receiving touchdown. After a successful PAT, the Bombers led 7-0.
Following the Bomber touchdown, a series of penalties prevented the Suns from moving the ball. After a fourth down incompletion to Gavin Allen, the very next play, the Bombers got the ball back, and Woodard connected with Mackey for the second time with a 63-yard touchdown. I had a chance to talk with the Bomber's returning quarterback Josh Woodard, who is entering his senior season. When asked how it feels to be a senior, Woodard stated, "I feel like I have grown as a quarterback and am excited to step up in a leadership role". Woodard is excited to go into this season with a group of guys he has played with for four years.
The Bombers started the second half strong with a 50-yard rushing touchdown from first-year running back John Simons. After having an opportunity to talk to John Simons, senior running back, I asked him how changing from a three-year wide receiver to a running back in one season was. Simons responded by saying, "I really like the change of position. I feel more comfortable back there and confident when I get the ball. In response to Simon's rushing touchdown, the Bombers scored another spectacular touchdown in the 4th quarter off of a Southridge penalty. Brody, a returning sophomore, catches a 42-yard pass from Woodard.
Southridge, in response to the Bomber touchdown, threw a long third down conversion to the two-yard line for a touchdown. The Suns have a lot of talent on the field, including a returning quarterback Austin Guier and a returning wide receiver/tight end, Gavin Allen. Gavin Allen is who the Suns want to find any chance they get, and he's a spectacular player for the Suns and a crucial player in games like these. Finally, as the sun would set on the field, so did the possibility of a comeback for Southridge as senior running back John Simons garnered one more touchdown for the Richland Bombers.
There's one more undeniable factor that made last night such a fantastic game: the atmosphere. After talking to some fans at the game, they said the environment was "encouraging and loud." The Richland Bombers have always been notorious for having such a widespread community come together for these types of games. There were all sorts of fans at the game, from Bomber alums to Bomber students, making the games worth the watch.
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September 2, 20231234Final
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Richland Bombers01471435
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Southridge Suns007714
- 2nd Quarter
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Touchdown: Colson Mackey 7 Yd Pass From Joshua Woodard (Jason Slack Kick) (9:08)
Richland 7, Southridge 0 -
Touchdown: Colson Mackey 63 Yd Pass From Joshua Woodard (Jason Slack Kick) (3:24)
Richland 14, Southridge 0 - 3rd Quarter
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Touchdown: John Simons 49 Yd Run (Jason Slack Kick) (9:53)
Richland 21, Southridge 0 -
Touchdown: Koven Burke 8 Yd Pass From Austin Guier (Kick) (1:10)
Richland 21, Southridge 7 - 4th Quarter
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Touchdown: Brody Bocek 42 Yd Pass From Joshua Woodard (Jason Slack Kick) (7:05)
Richland 28, Southridge 7 -
Touchdown: David Sinyuk 1 Yd Run (Jackson Williams Kick) (3:31)
Richland 28, Southridge 14 -
Touchdown: John Simons 6 Yd Run (Jason Slack Kick) (0:53.7)
Richland 35, Southridge 14
- News/Media
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Week 1 Game Stats @ Southridge
bomberfootball.org: Saturday September 2, 2023
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Bomber Football Media Guide @ Southridge
bomberfootball.org: Saturday September 2, 2023
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Stellar performances in Mid-Columbia Conference football action
Tri-City Herald: Tuesday September 5, 2023
Article by Jeff Morrow in the Tuesday, September 5, 2023 edition of the Tri-City Herald covering week one football action in the Mid-Columbia Conference.
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