Scary, that was the word of the game. Scary bad in the first half. Scary good in the second half and a fourth quarter that was just downright scary. The fans who braved $4 a gallon gas, travelled to East Wenatchee and watched the Bombers defeat the Eastmont Wildcats 35 to 24 got every penny's worth and then some.

The first half was all Eastmont, all the time. The Wildcats marched the opening kickoff down to the eighteen yard line against a sometimes shaky Bomber defense finally settling for a 30-yard Devon Sanders field goal and a 3-0 lead. The Bombers opening drive looked to equal the Eastmont effort but was thwarted by a stiff defense and a hometown spot at the Wildcat 15-yard line. After swapping punts with the Bombers, the Wildcats upped the ante when Jordon Osborn connected with Malachi Roberts for a 28-yard touchdown. After holding the Bombers three-and-out and witnessing an amazing run-for-your-life 20 yard left-footed punt by Cody Shepard, the Wildcats wasted no time. Osborn and Roberts connected using the same play for a 36-yard touchdown and a 16-0 Eastmont lead. Scary bad, indeed.

At this point, Bomber fans were just hoping for any break to start coming their way. Five quarters into the season and the boys in green and gold were down 38 to 7. As the old saying goes, there's only one way to eat an elephant...one bite at a time.

Richland's first bite came on the next drive. Faced with a daunting third and 17, Hayden Hilty pulled of a magical 24 yard run for a first down. He then hit Jamison Rowe for a 17-yard pass that brought the Bombers to the Eastmont 17-yard line. Hilty finished off the drive by connecting with Brett Jacobs for a 7-yard touchdown pass. The first half ended on a huge sigh of relief and the Wildcats leading 16- 7.

I can only imagine what Coach Neidhold told his troops in the locker room at halftime but he needs to bottle it and keep it for the rest of the season because the second half saw both offense and defense playing with a confidence that was definitely lacking. Scary good woke up.

The Bombers scored quickly on their first possession featuring a 22-yard catch by Brett Jacobs, a 19-yard run by Hunter Olveda, and capped off by a Hayden Hilty to Jamison Rowe 47-yard touchdown pass. Wildcats 16, Bombers 14.

Then the defense took over. The Wildcat offense that had looked superhuman in the first half met up with an equal and opposite force in the second half in the form of Jacobs. Brett and Dan Jacobs to be exact. The cousins had Jordon Osborn seeing double and ended the next two Eastmont possessions with interceptions. Richland took full advantage of the situation and facing a 4th and 6 on the Wildcat 36-yard line, Hayden Hilty tossed the ball over a defender and into the waiting arms of Jamison Rowe for a touchdown and their first lead of the season. Bombers 21, Wildcats 16.

The scary stuff wasn't exactly over, though. After sharing punts on the next two drives, Eastmont was faced with their own 4th down and 10. Osborn then connected on his fourth touchdown pass of the game, this time to Matt Huyler for a 38-yard score and a 24-21 lead. Unfortunately there were two enemies in the way of a Wildcat upset: too much time on the clock, and too much Brett Jacobs.

After the Eastmont defense stopped the Bombers next drive at the 50-yard line, it looked like they would be able to run out the clock and savor their victory. But one, ill-advised pass later and Jacobs was running away with that victory in the form of a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown. The next Wildcat drive ended in a similar fashion when Gage Reynolds intercepted another Osborn pass at the Wildcat 46. Hunter Olveda then capped off the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run and the score was final. Richland 35, Eastmont 24.

Congratulations to Mike Neidhold on getting his first win as the Bombers head coach, scary as it was. If this game is any indication, his teams will feature a fighting spirit that keeps on trying to find a way until they get the win or go down trying. That's Bomber football.

Next week, West Valley invades the friendly confines of Fran Rish Stadium for the earliest Homecoming game in recent memory. For your dining pleasure, may I suggest you make your first stop at the Christ the King Sausage Fest for a sausage and a corn-on-the-cob before coming out and cheering on the hometown Bombers as they go for two in a row against the Rams. See you then!

Go Bombers