Nighthawks nudge Jags, host defending champs

Craig Nelson’s 85-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter capped a number of big plays made by Tekoa/Oakesdale/Rosalia gridders and sealed a 32-27 SE2B league win at Tri-Cities Prep last Friday.

“Definitely, that was the final nail in the coffin,” said TOR Coach Kaleb Madison.

With just over four minutes left on the clock, Nelson took the kick-off, dodged a pair of tacklers and blew past the Jaguar coverage team for paydirt.

TOR used a number of big plays to put down the Jags.

The Nighthawks’ first score came on a 81-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Maley to wideout Brock Shelton. Shelton grabbed the pass off a post route, did a quick juke and outsprinted the TCP defense with blocker Zane Brown close behind for six.

Shelton finished the game with 96 receiving yards. Ryan Maley went six of 10 for 129 through the air.

Nelson also ripped off a big run, scoring from 25 yards out in the third quarter as part of his 85 yards rushing on 18 carries.

The TOR defense came up with five turnovers, with Steven and Ryan Maley intercepting two passes off Prep quarterback Evan Whitsett.

Coach Madison credited his front seven for holding the shifty Whitsett in check all game. Particularly, he credited the containment play of outside linebackers Clay Shelton and Zane Brown for stopping TCP’s dangerous option game.

“That kid’s dangerous. He’s fast and he’s shifty and hard to stop,” said Madison. “But our entire D put up a heck of a game.”

Whitsett finished with 156 yards in the air, but only 23 yards on the ground, a total which included a 30-yard run. TCP tailback Bailey Rivas put up a big game, logging 153 yards rushing on 27 carries.

TOR next hosts defending 2B state champion Waitsburg/Prescott in the Nighthawks’ home opener Friday night at the Oakesdale grid.

The Cardinals have not lost since 2010, but graduated three-year starting quarterback Zach Bartlow from last year’s team.

WP topped TOR 35-0 in the regular season finale last year at Waitsburg, but Coach Madison believes his Nighthawks are clicking on both sides of the ball and are in a good position to topple the Cardinals.

“Waitsburg’s got a great team, a great program, a great coach,” he said. “But we’re playing really well and with a lot of confidence right now.”

WP is 3-0 on the season, but has not yet played a league game. The Cardinals last week topped Weston-McEwen, Ore., 35-13.

Other SE2B scores last week were Asotin with a 6-0 league win over Dayton. DeSales won a non-leaguer over Mabton 48-0.

Dayton hosts DeSales this Friday in a league match, while Asotin travels to Grangeville for a non-leaguer. TCP has the week off.