Game Recap September 26, 2023
Kevin Anthony; Herald staff writer
In reality, it was over before it ever began.
Over before Davis - with its 26 players, six cheerleaders and 35 extraordinarily dedicated fans - even took the field.
Over before the first of four three-and-outs the Richland defense laid on the visiting Pirates in the first half.
Over before Marcelino Morales scored the first of the Bombers' five first-quarter touchdowns in what was little more than a scrimmage for Richland on Friday night in a 51-0 rout of Davis at Fran Rish Stadium.
"Don't let them stick around with you," Morales said of the coaches message. "Punch them in the mouth right away."
A punch wouldn't have been as painful for the Pirates, who are working on a sixth straight season of going winless in league play, dating back to 2001. The string has reached 48 in a row for Davis, coming off an 80-7 loss to Wenatchee last week.
Richland remained tied with Wenatchee, which routed Pasco 47-21 on Friday night, atop the CBL 4A at 4-1. The Bombers finish their league schedule next week at Pasco before heading into the postseason for the first time since 2003.
The gist of the first half was this:
-- Richland scored on all seven if its first-half possessions -three runs by Morales, a 53-yard gallop by fullback Quinn Zorich, a 46-yard hookup between Jamison Rowe and quarterback Jake Haworth, Jonathan Miller's 16-yard run and, finally, Jacob Moreno's 21-yard field goal.
-- The Bombers outgained the Pirates 198 to minus-7 in the first quarter and, after calling off the dogs in the second quarter, 240-10 at the half.
-- Davis only "threatened" twice to move the ball against the Richland defense. The first time, a pass interference penalty moved the ball from their 20 - where they started the four times Cody Shepherd sent the kickoff into the end zone with a stiff breeze at his back for touchbacks - out to the 35. The second time, they started at the 35 thanks to a kickoff out of bounds.
As far as drama, that was it until the Pirates moved to the Richland 3 with 3 seconds left in the game. But on the final play, quarterback Ben Jach fumbled the snap and then threw into the ground under heavy pressure as the Bombers bench preserved the shutout.
Defense certainly set the tone from the start. On the third play of the game, Peter Girgis hammered Jach on a keeper. The ball popped loose, and Glenn Richmond fell on it at the Davis 15 to set up the first score.
Aaron Sevigny's sack on third down of Davis' next possession kept field position in Richland's favor. The Bombers scored on the next play, and the rout was on.
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October 19, 20071234Final
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Davis Pirates0
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Richland Bombers51
