Game Recap September 26, 2015
I have been watching Bomber football since I was in junior high so I have learned a few things. Foremost in my knowledge is this: don't schedule Richland for your homecoming game.
A raucous crowd of Richlanders invaded both sides of the stadium in the now annual contest between the Hanford Falcons and the Richland Bombers. Both teams trying to answer the same question: How good are they?
The Bombers entered the contest within one blemish inflicted by the number four team in the state (Gonzaga Prep). Hanford came in undefeated with a high powered offense and a quality win against the defending Oregon 5A champion Hermiston Bulldogs. As with all hypotheticals, speculation only gets you so far, you have to see concrete facts in order to determine the true answer.
Richland answered all of the questions, baraging the Hanford Falcons 45-7 and spoiling an otherwise beautiful evening of fun, pagentry, and fireworks. The Bombers scored in every conceivable aspect of the game, offense, defense, and special teams.
Hanford's opening drive ended on the third play of the game with a fumble and foreshadowed a long evening for the Falcon faithful.
The Bombers got on the board early in the first quarter when Griffey March returned a Garret Werner punt 48 yards for the first touchdown and a 7-0 lead. On the next drive, the Hanford special teams once again had problems when the snap sailed over Werner's head and was recovered by Lakota Wills. That drive ended with Ryan Wolski nailing a 35 yard field goal and the Bombers were up 10-0.
Richland got the ball back on their own 19 yard line on their next drive and with Lakota Wills leading the way, the Bombers quickly marched the remaining 81 yards in a 7-play drive capped by Lakota's 37 yard run, futher distancing them from their hometown bretheren, 17-0.
After stopping the Falcons next drive, the Bombers once again had the ball at their own 18 yard line and methodically marched down the field to another score. Lakota Wills once again, scored on a 19 yard run to make it 24-0.
Hanford special teams failed one more time with another errant punt snap, giving the Bombers a first down on the Falcon 9 yard line. Kyle Whitby got the call and in two plays rumbled in from 4 yards out to give Richland a halftime lead of 31-0.
Even the stadium electronics were giving the Falcons fits. First the scoreboard stopped keeping track of time, and eventually the PA system went on the fritz for the entire homecoming halftime show and third quarter. There may have been more than one eye pointed toward Foxboro, Massachussetts trying to blame Bill Bellichick.
The Falcons weren't giving up by any means, forcing the Bombers to punt on their first posession of the second half. Ryan Wolski boomed a perfect punt that pinned Hanford down to their own 3 yard line. The offense for the Falcons started to click with Desmond Samples connecting on two long passes, 40 yards to Kedrick Skinner and 22 more to Kevon Skinner. Coupled with holding and pass interference penalty and the Falcons had a first down on the Bomber 11 yard line. But the Bomber defense stiffened and took over on downs at the 16 yard line.
Richland then embarked on a long 13 play 86 yard drive highlighted by a 48 yard pass from Paxton Stevens to Griffey March, and topped off with another Stevens to March strike for an 18 yard touchdown pass and a 38-0 Bomber lead.
Hanford finally avoided the shutout late in the fourth quarter when backup quarterback Joshua Fonner connected with Gavin Slack for a long 52 yard touchdown pass to make it 38-7.
The Falcons quickly got the ball back when Kevon Skinner intercepted a Cade Jensen pass and returned it 20 yards to the Bomber 3 yard line.
Elation quickly turned to deflation. Fonner's next pass was intercepted by Ryan Piper at the 1 yard line and, accompanied by a squadron of Bombers, Piper rambled 99 yards for the touchdown and a final score of Richland 45, Hanford 7.
All told, this was a beautiful night of football in Richland and not because the Bombers won big. It was very heartwarming to see a very large crowd enjoying our two local high school football teams and our brand new visitors facility at Fran Rish on a perfect night in September.
Next up for the Bombers are the ever-dangerous Walla Walla Blue Devils who will be haunting Fran Rish Stadium next Friday night at 7:05pm. I hope to see you there!
Tri-City Herald: Bombers rout Falcons (9/26/2015)
Go Bombers!
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September 25, 20151234Final
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Hanford Falcons00077
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Richland Bombers102101445
- 1st Quarter
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Touchdown: Griffey March 45 yard punt return (Ryan Wolski kick)
Richland 7, Hanford 0 -
Field Goal: Wolski 35 yards
Richland 10, Hanford 0 - 2nd Quarter
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Touchdown: Lakota Wills 37 yard run (Wolski kick)
Richland 17, Hanford 0 -
Touchdown: Wills 19 yard run (Wolski kick)
Richland 24, Hanford 0 -
Touchdown: Kyle Whitby 4 yard run (Wolski kick)
Richland 31, Hanford 0 - 4th Quarter
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Touchdown: March 17 yard pass from Stevens (Wolski kick)
Richland 38, Hanford 0 -
Touchdown: Gavin Slack 52 yard pass from Joshua Fomar (Woody Page kick)
Richland 38, Hanford 7 -
Touchdown: Ryan Piper 99 yard interception return (Wolski kick)
Richland 45, Hanford 7
- News/Media
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Bombers' strength of Wills
Tri-City Herald: Friday September 25, 2015
Excellent article from the Tri-City Herald by Jack Millikin on Air Force Academy-bound Lakota Wills. September 25, 2015.
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Bombers rout Falcons
Tri-City Herald: Saturday September 26, 2015
Tri-City Herald, September 26, 2015 with a story by Jack Millikin.
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