Wolves forced to overtime for 18-12 win over Spartans
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
The Goldendale Timberwolves took an important step forward in their quest to make the state playoffs, by defeating the Granger Spartans 18-12 in overtime. For three quarters, it was clear that Goldendale was the superior team, although the Spartans made the Wolves earn every yard on the ground.
Each team had the ball three times in the first quarter and only two first downs were gained, both by Goldendale, once on a 26 yard pass from Ty Cronin to Dobson, and the other on six and seven yard runs by Justin Garrigus, who led the Wolf rushers with 79 yards on 19 carries.
The Wolves finally got a drive to click on their first possession of the second quarter with a nice mix of plays including passes to J. D. Moss, Dobson and Cody Herin. Herin set up a touchdown on a play where he peeled back from his slot position and ran up the middle for 12 yards. On the next play, Cronin hit a streaking Moss in stride down the right sideline for six.
The Spartans got into Goldendale territory late in the first half, but the drive stalled at the 14 yard line. The teams traded interceptions, and the half ended with Goldendale leading 6-0.
Granger fumbled on their first two possessions of the third quarter, leading to Goldendale's second score. JimJack Davenport, seeing his first action after missing three games to injury, scored from seven yards out with 6:50 left in the third quarter. The point after was blocked.
The Timberwolves looked well on their way to a shut-out, leading 12-0 as the teams switched ends for the fourth quarter. But, the fourth quarter has been unkind to the Timberwolves lately. Naches Valley scored 13 in the fourth to break open a low scoring game the previous week. Granger's rally began with a "roughing the punter" call on the second play of the quarter. Spartan quarterback, Francisco Morales made the Wolves pay by hitting Matt James over Chase Wing for a touchdown on one of just two fourth quarter completions by the Spartans. Wing wouldn't let it happen again, but circumstances were beyond his control.
Goldendale went three and out, and Granger couldn't move the ball on their next turn. However, a taste of what was to come occurred when James tried to set up Wing on a jogging sideline pattern, but Wing played it perfectly and the ball was overthrown. Granger gave the ball back to Goldendale, but the Wolves had another three and out, punting to Granger who would start at their own 37 with 2:49 left in the game.
Chase Carpenter the Spartan's leading rusher, finally broke loose for a big run, picking up 29 yards to Goldendale's 26 yard line with 1:45 left in the game. It was Carpenter's only carry for more than 9 yards in the game. Granger decided to go after Wing again with James jogging down the sidelines, then sprinting after the pass. Again Wing played it perfectly. As the ball sailed over both players' heads, James ran into the back of Wing and a flag flew. The official mistakenly called defensive pass interference, putting Granger on the Wolves' 13 yard line. Two plays later, James out-jumped Anthony Dobson for the tying touchdown in the opposite corner.
Suddenly Goldendale was looking at a stunning loss, but Billy Monroe pushed his way up the middle and blocked the kick to preserve the tie. Monroe was a rock on the defensive line all night and was credited with a second quarter sack of Morales.
Goldendale won the toss for overtime and chose to go on defense. Granger took the first shot from the 25-yard line running Carpenter twice and Julio Cortez once, bringing up fourth and six. Morales looked to James again in the end zone, but this time Dobson got a bit of revenge, picking off the pass, his second of the night, to end the Spartan drive.
Coach Don Strother chose to keep the ball on the ground for Goldendale's try from the 25. It began with a 10 yard Herin run from the slot, the second time that play fooled the Spartans for good yardage. The next three carries were by Davenport, who finished it off with a 9-yard run around left end for the overtime win.
The game was a revival for the Wolves in several ways. Most important of all was getting back on the winning track. There was also the reemergence of their passing game and the return of Davenport and Garrigus, who sustained a concussion in the second quarter against Naches Valley. The game wasn't pretty. Goldendale was flagged eight times for 79 yards and Granger was penalized seven times for 53 yards. In a battle of defenses, the Spartans were held to 227 yards of offense and Goldendale gained 265. The Wolves had 142 yards on the ground and 123 in the air, the kind of balanced offense that has helped the team go 3-1 in the SCAC.
The Timberwolves travel to Zillah this Friday to try and knock the highly regarded Leopards from the top of the division. It should be another battle of lines, as Zillah has relied on the running of two backs, Cameron Bounds and Chris Castillo and a good defense to go 4-0. Goldendale has the added dimension of a passing game and their defense is also stout. The Wolves will also be at full strength, for the first time this year. Goldendale's defense has given up just 13.75 points per game and Zillah has given up 13 per game in league games. Game time is 7 p.m.
Klickitat and TLG heading for Gorge league showdown
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
The Bickleton Pirates had a tall mountain to climb when they hosted Klickitat last week, with Star Kibby sidelined with a sprained ankle and middle hitter Katelynn Clinton, obviously hindered by an injured right elbow. They made a spirited effort, but Klickitat had too much fire power and won the match 25-21, 25-12, 25-15 to stay undefeated in league play.
The Vandals' Ashley Meeks dished up tall sets that allowed Samantha Brewer to get full torque on her booming kills that nobody could return. The combo tallied three straight points in the final set. Lara Parsons served up nine of the Vandals' points in the final set, including two aces.
Both teams had occasional problems with their serves, but Tia Spino and Zoe Lindner gave Klickitat nice runs in the second set and Jamie Venema brought the Pirates back in the first set with hard, accurate serves. Venema, a freshman, also filled the void on Bickleton's offense with three kills in the final set and plenty of hard shots that tested the Vandal defense.
Clinton blocked out the pain to fire jump serves and pound the ball at the net in the first set, but she was clearly in pain as she tried to maneuver to hit balls with her left hand. The loss was a let down after a great performance against the Riverside Christian junior varsity two days earlier, in what Coach Kim Clinton described as the team's best match of the season. Serves and passes were on target, and Clinton was able to hit the ball hard.
A crucial match was played Tuesday against TLG, fresh off a sweep of Sunnyside Christian. The winner will be in the driver seat to challenge Klickitat. The second half of league play starts with Sunnyside Christian in Bickleton on Oct. 23. Klickitat traveled to Stevenson for a return match against the 1A opponent, and will get down to business against TLG on Oct. 23, in the first of two battles, likely for the league title.
TLG
It seems like it was a long time coming, but the Mustang-Eagles finally got going with league play when they took on Sunnyside Christian twice last week, winning both matches. A clearer picture of the Gorge League will emerge this week, as TLG played Bickleton Tuesday and will have their first showdown with Klickitat on Oct. 23, at Klickitat.
The first match will the Knights took place in Glenwood and went four sets with the final scores 18-25, 25-15, 25-17, 26-24. Coach Angie Cox credited Dana Kavanagh witth keeping the team together after the first set loss. Kavanagh was good on 29 of 30 serves and had seven kills and five digs. Krissy Yarnell also had seven kills up front with Liz Vogt, who had 12. Freshman, Chelsea Cox served up 12 assists.
The meeting of the two teams in Sunnyside was over in three sets, 25-21, 25-21, 25-15. Cox had 13 more assists and was 15-15 on serves. Vogt stepped up her game and logged 18 kills and seven blocks. Veronica Glenn and Kavanagh each had four aces and Tasha Johnson came through with five digs from the libero position.
Lady Timberwolves even the score with Granger's Spartans
A sign of a good team is that they are always looking to improve, so that each time out you perform better than the time before. Last week, Goldendale was on the road at Granger, the only team to defeat them in league play this year, and they took the Spartans down in four sets, 25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22 to pull even at the top of the SCAC standings. They did it by improving on key stats and with solid team play.
Hitting percentage, a key indicator, jumped five percentage points above what the Wolves have managed through most of their matches this year. Sadie Shattuck spanked the ball for 15 kills, while fellow front liners, Alex Counts and Lexi Cameron scored six and five kills, respectively. Haley Hoffman was on the mark with 30 sets and Shattuck was credited with 12.
The Timberwolves were almost perfect from the serve line, in fact seven of the eight who contributed with serves were a perfect 73-73, led by Cameron's 22, Hoffman's 15 and Shattuck and Cassie Kelly who each had 13 perfect serves. The Spartans found it difficult to get the ball to the floor against Goldendale, thanks to 32 digs by Cameron, 24 by MoniQue Scherf and 20 by Tayler Bradley.
Granger and Goldendale are tied with 7-1 records, ahead of Naches Valley (6-3) and Zillah (5-4) as of Monday. Zillah played at Granger on Tuesday and Goldendale will get the Leopards in Zillah on Saturday. Cle Elum was in Goldendale on Tuesday.
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