Game Recap November 10, 2024
By Tyler Wicke - Tacoma News Tribune
Richland receiver Colson Mackey dashed for the endzone, looked over his shoulder, and there it was — a beautifully-placed ball by QB Jackson Woodard into the bread basket. The 6-3 Mackey secured the perfect, 17-yard pass from a crowded pocket, tapped the required one foot on the turf, and jumped with two hands to the sky.
A pair of endzone referees conferred and eventually agreed: Mackey came down with the catch (and throw) of the game. “I’ve got to give props to No. 2 on that one,” Mackey said, a nod to his QB. “We had that planned out. We wanted to target the guy who was guarding me. He knew it was going to be there, I knew it was going to be there. That chemistry (made) something special happen.”
Mackey was Woodard’s favorite target on Friday night, the go-to playmaker in the game’s biggest moments. And he wasn’t done — the senior wideout finished the night with two touchdowns, scampering some 64 yards in the third quarter for another score on a catch-and-run over the middle.
“Colson’s a hard-nosed player,” Richland head coach Josh Jelinek told The News Tribune. “I think some people underestimate what he can do. “He played like a dawg tonight, that’s for sure.” Mackey caught both of Woodard’s two touchdown passes, RB Jakob Brannon erupted for a 34-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and Richland’s defense rejected a Tornados comeback effort as time expired for a dramatic, 24-20 road win in Friday night’s 4A Round of 32 at Yelm High School.
Consider Richland’s state ticket punched. The Bombers, in Jelinek’s first year at the helm, are dancing.
“Hats off to Yelm,” Jelinek said. “They played all night long… that’s a dang good football team led by a quarterback that can’t be stopped.” Tornados QB Parker Myers rushed for three touchdowns, a dynamic dual-threat in the huddle — but Richland’s late splash plays were the difference.
And perhaps lost in their lethal second-half offense was a Richland defense that constantly forced Myers outside of the pocket. Yelm’s freshman RB Marcus Ronquillo (25 carries, 160 yards) moved the sticks and WR Jay Sumich busted Richland coverage for a 60-yard catch in the third quarter, but never did the Tornados regain their early lead.
“Its just so special because people are finally seeing us for the whole picture,” Mackey said. “It’s really been Richland-offense this, Richland-offense that in the past. Now, it’s Richland, the football team that came up to Yelm after a seven-hour bus ride and won a game to (get) to state.”
Mackey secured seven catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Yelm’ Myers completed 12-of-25 passes for 133 yards (no touchdowns or interceptions) and carried 17 times for 73 yards and three touchdowns. When Richland’s defense forced a late Yelm turnover on downs, the Bombers needed one first down to ice the game with under two minutes in regulation. They couldn’t convert on three runs, leading to 4th and 3 on Yelm’s side of the field.
Instead of going for the win, Richland punted for a touchback. Yelm, without timeouts, needed to drive 80 yards in just under 90 seconds for a heroic comeback. Myers and Co. reached midfield, and with only one play before time expired, the signal-caller’s pass between the hashes fell short. Cue the Richland field-storming.
“It means more than you know,” Mackey said. “We were doubted in this game. We were the underdogs. It means a lot, because usually when you think of schools from the east side, you don’t think of them as highly with the talent here (out west). “But I promise you… we’re going to make a run, man. We’ve got a special team. We’ve got guys all across the board that played their hearts out tonight. I’m just so proud of everyone that made this happen.”
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November 8, 20241234Final
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Richland Bombers01014024
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Yelm Tornados077620
- 2nd Quarter
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Touchdown: Parker Myers 3 yard run (Sterling Temple kick) (11:56)
Yelm 7, Richland 0 -
Field Goal: Samuel Amaya 27 yards (8:57)
Yelm 7, Richland 3 -
Touchdown: Colson Mackey 17 yard pass from Jackson Woodard (Amaya kick) (4:35)
Richland 10, Yelm 7 - 3rd Quarter
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Touchdown: Parker Myers 8 yard run (Temple kick) (9:06)
Yelm 14, Richland 10 -
Touchdown: Jakob Brannon 34 yard run (Amaya kick) (5:26)
Richland 17, Yelm 14 -
Touchdown: Colson Mackey 64 yard pass from Jackson Woodard (Amaya kick) (3:04)
Richland 24, Yelm 14 - 4th Quarter
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Touchdown: Parker Myers 1 yard run (kick failed) (11:46)
Richland 24, Yelm 20
- News/Media
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Game Stats @ Yelm
bomberfootball.org: Friday November 8, 2024
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Bomber Football Game Notes @ Yelm
bomberfootball.org: Friday November 8, 2024
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High school football scores, roundup: Richland outlasts Yelm to clinch 4A state berth
Tacoma News Tribune: Saturday November 9, 2024
Article by Jon Manley, Tyler Wicke and Doug Drowley in the Saturday, November 9, 2024 edition of the Tacoma News Tribune.
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