The Richland Bombers have earned the opportunity every one-loss team in the country hopes for: the right to play the only team that beat them in a game for all the marbles. In this case, the Richland Bombers will take on the Gonzaga Prep Bullpups for the second time this season for the 4A Eastern Washington State Championship or as others might call it the State 4A Semifinals for the chance to play in the state championship on December 5th at the Tacoma Dome.

**************************

For decades, Richland football has adhered to the motto, "Respect All, Fear None." But what about a team that lost its first game to one of your league's worst teams, Southridge, and then stopped one of the Seattle-Tacoma metro area's best running backs to reach the quarterfinals? Fear and respect aside, what can a team expect? The Moses Lake Chiefs started out their season with a loss, and then proceeded to get it together, losing again only to a top five Idaho team, and holding three 1,000 yard Big Nine Conference rushers to under 100 yards and only allowing one team to reach 20 points. Their defensive line was highly touted in the CBBN and seemed to live up to the hype.

Lakota Wills ran 72 yards for a touchdown on the second play from scrimmage. Stunned silence from the home crowd, elation from the packed visitor's side. The Bomber crowd was predicting a blowout, and it seemed at that point to be the likely outcome. The Chiefs proved otherwise, recovering from the initial shock and using their misdirection offense and excellent fake hand-offs to fight their way through the other highly touted defense on the field. Alternating between quarter back and running back, they darted up the middle for medium gains for ten plays until they crossed the goal line for a one yard score. To make a game of it, Moses Lake recovered a Griffey March fumble and settled for a field goal after being stopped by the Bomber D. Going into the second quarter down three points was an unfamiliar feeling for the Bombers.

Pinned at their own goal line after a Moses Lake punt and anti-gravity bounce, Richland used Kyle Whitby and Lakota Wills to make some ground, along with a 22 yard keeper by Paxton Stevens. With the Chiefs fortifying against the run, the underrated Bomber O line held the defense back to allow Stevens to connect with Alex Chapman, who used laser focus and will power to pull in a 50 yard pass to get inside the 5 yard line. After taking a rare sack on the left sideline, Stevens, throwing from the left hash mark, found a streaking Ryan Wolski in right corner of the end zone, who grabbed the pinpoint pass over the defender to take a 14-10 lead. With the Bomber D still adjusting to the Chiefs' tricky offense, Moses Lake was able to push themselves into Richland territory, but Wills, fellow end John Hardy, tackle Brigham Whitby, and, on this drive, tackle Adam McShane stuffed the run enough times to force a turnover on downs with halftime approaching. Mirroring each other, Moses Lake forced a turnover on downs, Richland forced another turnover on downs, and then, with 10 seconds to go, Moses Lake had Richland at fourth down and two at the Richland 25 yard line. Wolski's punt went to the left hash mark, the Chiefs' playmaker Isaiah Thomas receiving. Initially going to his right, he ducked out of the grasp Richland tackler Victor Strasser and changed directions, darting left and leaving diving tacklers in his wake, he went down the left sideline, time expired, the crowd roaring, dread filling the Richland fans as they saw him zooming toward the endzone. It was an electric run, but it ended at the 10 yard line when Strasser had the last say by dragging him out of bounds.

Richland adjusted for the second half, stopping the big runs up the middle, and forced a punt from the 50. The Chiefs then caused a Kyle Whitby fumble at the 35. Richland's D forced another punt from the 50, and then used the passing game to get back to midfield. Using another massive effort by the O line and scrambling right, Stevens drew the defense up, and saw March 20 yards downfield. March saw the play developing and ditched his man. Catching the ball at the ten, he dragged the DB into the endzone with him. 21-10, Richland.

Things looked good for the Bombers as they continued to stymie the running game and forced another punt with three to go in the third quarter, but the Chiefs wouldn't give up, also forcing a punt. On fourth down and 8 to go at the 31, the bag of tricks came out. A fake reverse flea flicker and the left side receiver running a deep curl into the end zone gave Moses Lake some much-needed hope and seven points with a minute left in the quarter. They seemed to be on a roll, forcing the Bombers into another punt. Four plays later, due to the D line's continued pressure, Moses Lake went to the passing game to gain some ground. Alex Chapman grabbed a high pass and returned it from the 40 to the 5. Down four points with less than eight minutes to go, Moses Lake was still determined to pull off a win. A mob of Chiefs tackled Whitby and punched the ball out of his arms, returning it to the 40 yard line. The next play, Brigham Whitby popped the ball from the runner for his cousin Kyle to scoop up for a short return, but Moses Lake was not feeling defeated yet. Forcing yet another punt, they went back to run, but Brigham Whitby was not done wreaking havoc. This time the fumble was recovered by Hardy. After a turnover on downs, Moses Lake got the ball back. Having lost the run and with time running out, they went to the air, only to have Chapman deliver a hard hit to the receiver, which popped the ball into the air and into the hands of Brecken Galliher, who, for the second straight game, rumbled 25 yards to the endzone.

Moses Lake was now down eleven points, 28-17, with two minutes to go. On the kickoff, and still trying to stay alive, the Chiefs' Thomas made a good return but was taken out of bounds by Braden Powell and linebacker Tait Gillespie. Starting from their 45, they didn't waste time, throwing a long ball down the left sideline for a 55 yard score. The Bomber coverage was good, but the pass was better. The two-point conversion failed, intercepted again by Galliher. Needing to burn 1:47, the Bombers kept the ball on the ground, with Stevens scrambling for a long first down and Wills burning up the rest of the clock with short runs.

The Chiefs were determined to win and never gave up, scoring more points on one of the state's top defenses than any other opponent this year. Still, Richland kept Moses Lake to 142 yards rushing and 156 yards passing and forced four turnovers in the fourth quarter to prevent a comeback win. It was one of very few games the Bombers didn't have wrapped up by the half. The tenacity of Moses Lake tested the Bombers' mettle, and proved they can keep their heads, make plays, and win games under pressure.

Tri-City Herald: Bombers rumble into semifinals

Go Bombers!