At the start of every prize fight each boxer starts slowly, dancing and jabbing, measuring the opponent in preparation for a long, 12 round bout. The Richland Bombers must not watch a lot of boxing. One play was all the dancing and jabbing the Bombers cared to do against the West Valley Rams.

Jamison Rowe opened the game by returning the opening kickoff 34 yards to the 44 yard line. He then lined up in the quarterback spot and finished off the drive with a 56 yard touchdown run. Twenty-some seconds into the first quarter and the Bombers were ahead 7-0. To bookend the first quarter, Jake McKinney rumbled for 5 yards to make it Richland 14, West Valley 0.

The rest of the game was not much better for the visiting Rams. Their lone bright spot, and their only adventure beyond the 50 yard line, was the touchdown Joe Fuerst scored at the start of the second quarter. After that, the Bombers' Homecoming crowd was treated to a complete domination of West Valley on both sides of the ball.

The Bombers scored on their next three possessions of the second quarter: Hayden Hilty to Brett Jacobs for a 15 yard touchdown; to Jamison Rowe for 20 yard touchdown; and back to Brett Jacobs who hauled in another 23 yard touchdown pass with an incredible circus catch. Richland 35, West Valley 7.

West Valley did have one play that was quite interesting. At the end of the half, quarterback Joe Wallace lined up to punt instead of the usual punter Michael Waytuck. With the crowd anticipating a fake punt, Wallace took two steps to the right and shanked the ball. This wasn't your usual shank, this was a Kevin Costner in Tin Cup sort of shank and it went...backwards! Apparently there is an obscure football rule. If a punt doesn't go beyond the line of scrimmage it is a live ball. The only person in the stadium who had actually read that section of the rule book was Joe Wallace. He calmly ran after the ball, picked it up and rumbled for 12 yards and a West Valley first down. There was a debate in the coaches box on whether it was a called fake punt or just a heads up play by a senior quarterback. In my book, it was sheer genius on the part of head coach Scott Ditter!

Unfortunately for West Valley, it was the last highlight of the night for the Rams. After the long Homecoming halftime show the Bombers came out firing on all cylinders and shut the Rams down completely. The defensive star of the game was Quinn Zorich who set up a lawn chair and a cooler in the West Valley back field and shuttered any thoughts the Rams had of running the ball.

Richland rounded out the game with an 8 yard touchdown run by Hayden Hilty, a 3 yard touchdown run by Jake McKinney and a 3 yard touchdown run by sophomore Chris Hayes in the fourth quarter. McKinney's touchdown was set up by a 52 yard interception return by Jamison Rowe.

Overall, the Bombers held West Valley to 132 total yards while amassing 238 yards rushing and 184 yards passing for a total of 422. Looking at the stats, I've never seen a more evenly distributed running game: Jamison Rowe with 56, Jake McKinney with 55, Hayden Hilty with 28, and Hunter Olveda with 26 yards rushing. Brett Jacobs was the star of the receiving corps with 103 yards. The JV was also well represented with sophomore Brad Baird scorching the West Valley fourth quarter defense for 48 yards rushing.

Not to be outdone by the rest of the offense, Jacob Moreno tied a school record with a perfect 8 for 8 in the extra point department. Gotta love the kickers, of course!

Next week, the boys take the drive up Interstate 82 to Zaepfel Stadium and a date with Eisenhower. Please consider taking the short drive to Yakima and rooting on the Bombers. We had a great crowd in East Wenatchee against Eastmont and I would love to see a packed house for the Cadets.

Go Bombers!