Game Recap September 4, 2009
If you attended the game between the Richland Bombers and the Pasco Bulldogs tonight, you got your money's worth because you got to see two games for the price of one admission ticket.
Pasco roared out of the gate scoring on their first posession when Josh Morris hit Brandon Search on a 19-yard pass for a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. They moved the ball well and the Bombers seemed to be a step behind and were having a difficult time getting in sync. A fumble combined with an ill-timed illegal procedure call led to a second Bulldog touchdown when Search scampered 5 yards for another score.
Richland then had another three-and-out series followed by a 14 yard punt and five playes later Morris hit Jacob Price on an 8 yard touchdown pass and a 21-0 Bulldog lead. Seemingly the rout was on and it was just a matter of time before it got silly.
After the kickoff the Bombers went on a drive starting at their own 20. It looked like Richland would have another three-and-out but Hayden Hilty recovered from a high snap on the punt and was able to get the kick off right before a Bulldog player tackled him. Fifteen yards, a new set of downs, and the mood in the stadium took a decided 180 degree turn. Jake McKinney then embarked on one of the greatest nights in Bomber history snapping off runs of 22 and 15 yards respectively down to the Bulldog nine. While the series ended on a missed 29 yard field goal, there was something definitely different about this club.
Down 21 to 0, the Bombers wasted little time in the second half. After Pasco punted the first posession, McKinney started back in and pounded the Bulldogs over a nine-play drive that ended on an 8 yard run and cut the lead to 21 to 7. The Bomber defense showed, too, that it had finally awoken and had pretty much solved the Pasco offense sacking Morris for a 10 yard loss and forcing a punt and a new set of downs on the Pasco 45 yard line. Eight plays, including another 23 yard run by Jake, and the Bombers crept back into the game, 21 to 14.
At this point, the wheels were starting to come off the Bulldog bus. Pasco got a nice 42 yard pass play from Morris to Marques Avery but two straight illegal procedure penaties and an 8 yard sack left them with nothing after a 50 yard field goal attempt failed. The Bombers were now in control but it was the fourth quarter and time was running out.
Once more, Jake McKinnney was a man posessed. 17 yards. 15 yards, 18 yards. The Bombers were marching down the field like an army through France but after a few attempts at firing up the non-existent passing game, they found themselves with a fourth and four on the Bulldog 18 and 3 minutes and 40 seconds remaining. Hilty dropped back and tried to loft a short pass in the flat but the ball flew over the receiver's head and fell harmlessly to the ground. Now, you'd think the story would end their but Richland's defense had some more magic remaining.
Pasco was hit immediately with two straight delay of game penalties and Richland pestered Josh Morris into an intentional grounding call. Tack on another twelve yards and the loss of a down and the Bulldogs were at their own 5 yard line. After a very short punt Richland took over on the 36. One play later, Jake McKinney pounced across the goal line for his third touchdown after a 36 yard run. The improbable comeback had happened and Richland was poised to send a dagger through the heart of the Bulldog faithful.
The saying goes that you go for the tie at home and the win on the road so Mike Neidhold and the boys went with this convention and decided to go for two points and why not? Pasco hadn't had any success in stopping the Bombers for well over a half so the odds were pretty good that they could get the last three yards. Unfortunately for Richland, the defense that had bent like a willow for the entire second half, found the strength they needed when it counted and stopped McKinney on the two yard line and preserved the win.
This was a great game for the Bombers. They never gave up. They just kept attacking the Bulldogs and after the dust settled, Jake McKinney had racked up 291 yards on 28 carries. The Bomber defense was amazing in the second half and I don't think the coaches or the fans could be any prouder of the boys in green and gold tonight.
Please come out next Friday night at Fran Rish Stadium as the Bombers home opener features the Eastmont Wildcats from East Wenatchee. I hope to see you there.
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September 4, 20091234Final
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Richland Bombers20
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Pasco Bulldogs21
