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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2019)
A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2019 HeraldSports Follow sports on Twitter @HHeraldSports Kamiakin shuts down Dawgs By ANNIE FOWLER STAFF WRITER Hermiston was worried about Kamiakin running back Tuna Alta- hir going into Friday’s game, but it would be the Braves’ defense that gave the Bulldogs fits. Kamiakin held Hermiston to 121 yards of offense en route to a 40-7 Mid-Columbia Conference victory on a chilly night at Lamp- son Stadium. “It was a tough night,” said Hermiston assistant coach Rich- ard Wells, who filled in for coach David Faaeteete, who was serv- ing a one-game suspension. “They are a very good foot- ball team. Coach (Scott) Biglin could have made it worse than what it was. They are a class organization.” Sophomore Sam Cadenas said it was tough not having Faaeteete on the sidelines. “It was hard without him,” Cadenas said. “He helps us on defense, and when we do some- thing good, he gets up. His pres- ence wasn’t there, and I felt we needed it.” The Bulldogs (1-7 MCC), who missed the playoffs, will host an MCC/GSL crossover game at 5 p.m. next Friday against North Central. “Tears will be flowing,” senior receiver and defensive back Gar- rett Walchli said of the final game of the season. “We’ve worked our tails off for 4-plus years. This is not the season we wanted, but we are with our brothers every day. Who wouldn’t want that?” The Braves (6-2 MCC) scored early and often in the first half, taking a 37-0 lead at the half. Kelen Rutz scored on a 13-yard pass play from Henry Mercado, and on a 53-yard run. Woodley Downard high- lighted the second quarter with an 86-yard scoring pass from Mer- cado to make it 37-0 with 3:45 left to play in the first half. “We want to make sure we are playing our best football right now,” Biglin said. “Our kids were focused. Defensively, they were flying around and having fun.” Braeden Staniszewski kicked a 28-yard field goal less than five minutes into the third quarter to bring about the running clock. It’s the first time since Sept. 11, 2015, that Hermiston has been on the wrong side of the running clock. That game was also against Kamiakin. Walchli put the Bulldogs on the board with 3:40 left in the game, hauling in a 12-yard touch- down pass from Sam Schwirse. Altahir, who averaged more than 150 yards a game heading Staff photos by Ben Lonergan Hermiston defensive back Trevor Wagner (20) brings down Kamiakin quarterback Henry Mercado (2). The Kamiakin Braves defeated the Hermiston Bulldogs 40-7 at Neil F. Lampson Stadium in Kennewick, Wash., on Friday night. Kamiakin wide receiver Woodley Downard (15) hauls in a pass during the first half against the Bulldogs. into the contest, had 111 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown for the Braves, as the Bulldogs kept him in check. “We tried to tackle him high Hermiston quarterback Sam Schwirse (1) runs the ball during the second half against the Braves.. and that didn’t work,” Cadenas said. “He’s a good player.” Defensively, the Bulldogs had a productive night. Cade- nas and Junior Sepeni had quar- terback sacks. Cadenas also had eight solo tackles and two assists, while Trevor Wagner had eight solo tackles, and Koi Mikami five solo tackles and four assists. BOX SCORE Hermiston 0 0 0 7 — 7 Kamiakin 16 21 3 0 — 40 SCORING K — Kelen Rutz 13 pass from Henry Mercado (Braeden Staniszewski kick) K — Safety, Kale Crawford tackles Daniel Faaeteete in end zone K — Rutz 53 run (Staniszewski kick) K — Tuna Altahir 20 run (Staniszewski kick) K — Luis Salgado 25 interception return (Stanisze- wski kick) K — Woodley Downard 86 pass from Mercado (Staniszewski kick) K — FG Staniszewski 28 H — Garrett Walchli 12 pass from Sam Schwirse (Trevor Wagner kick) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Passing – H, Schwirse 17-24-1-1165-1; K, Henry Mer- cado 5-7-0-70-1, Lucas Castilleja 2-3-0-100-1, Payton Graham 0-2-0-0-0. Rushing – H, Daniel Faaeteete 6-16, Guiomar Garay 5-9, Trevor Wagner 2-2, Garrett Walchli 1-(- 2), Schwirse 4-(-20); K, Tuna Altahir 15-111, Gilbert Marquez 4-9, Lucas Castilleja 4-10, Henry Mercado 3-18, Kelen Rutz 1-53, Woodley Downard 1-13, Isaac Friese 1-6, Jarrett Crawford 1-0. Receiving – H, Broc Remmer 5-62, Wagner 6-32, Walchli 3-11, Faaeteete 1-12, Spencer Juul 1-3, Trent Pitney 1 (-4); K, Woodley Downard 1-86, Kelen Rutz 2-35, Messiah Jones 2-25, Alex Swaney 1-20, Gilbert Marquez 1-4. Dawgs to finish season against North Central Injuries plagued Hermiston in what could have been a productive season By ANNIE FOWLER STAFF WRITER There was so much promise at the start of the season for the Hermiston football team. Strong senior class, good lead- ership and a grasp of what it takes to be successful in the Mid-Co- lumbia Conference. The Bulldogs were on top of the world heading into their first game at Pasco. Then sophomore quarterback Chase Elliott broke his leg, and running back Guiomar Garay was out several games with an ankle injury. And the hits just kept coming. Defensive lineman Sean Stew- art missed the better part of two games with injuries, linebacker Nathan Wheeler suffered a hand injury last week, and linebacker Ryan Arnold, the team’s leading tackler, is likely to miss his second game Friday with an injury when the Bulldogs host North Central at 5 p.m. in an MCC/GSL crossover game at Kennison Field. “It’s a pride thing,” Hermiston coach David Faaeteete said. “We have had a sour taste all year. We have a chance to be 1-0 in Novem- Staff photo by Ben Lonergan Hermiston wide receiver Garrett Walchli (5) runs the ball during the first half against Kamiakin in their Nov. 1 game at Neil F. Lampson Stadium in Kennewick, Wash. The Braves defeated the Bulldogs 40-7. ber. It’s always different with these crossover games. They (GSL teams) are well-coached and deep. We have to do our thing and play as a team.” As to the injuries, every one of the aforementioned play- ers is questionable for Friday, except Elliott, whose injury was season-ending. “Ryan will do anything in his power to play,” Faaeteete said. “Sean is sore, but he should be good to go. G (Garay) will do any- thing to play, but you never know with ankle injuries. Wheeler did not practice Monday, so we will see.” Hermiston senior wide receiver/ defensive back Garrett Walchli, who has been able to stay healthy, has not been looking forward to this game. “As a senior, this is our final game,” he said. “The last time we will suit up in football pads. The last time we will play together. A lot of us have been together since Grid Kids. It’s bittersweet, but you get to spend the game with the boys around you.” The Bulldogs (1-8) are coming off a 40-7 loss to Kamiakin. Their one win came came in Week 5 with a 37-7 victory over Southridge. North Central (1-8) lost its first eight games of the season before beating Rogers 26-3 on Hallow- een night. “They are a lot like us,” Walchli said. “Struggling to find chemistry. We will take it one play at a time.” Walchli is disappointed that the season did not go as planned, but there were lessons to be learned along the way. “Football teaches you a lot about life,” he said. “In a sense, everyone’s goal is a state cham- pionship, or a league title. It’s the process, not the product — that’s when you find out who your team- mates are.”
