Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
vikings football
Garfield/Palouse’s Travis Knauff and Nathan Aston combine for another stop Sept. 23.
Evan Weagraff disappeared on a 59-yard touchdown run, soon followed by a Weagraff 48-yard punt return. While an intermittent drizzle came down in Palouse, the tone was set in a non-league game Sept. 23.
Weagraff, a junior quarterback, carried the ball seven times for 152 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.
A throw to tight end Mason Bates for a two-point conversion made it 22-0 at the 11:45 mark of the first quarter. In the second quarter, sophomore Ely Hawkins scored on an eight-yard sweep for 28-0. After a failed Lewis County fake punt, Garfield/Palouse set up for a first-and-10 on the Eagles' 20-yard line.
Weagraff took the snap and went untouched to the endzone.
“Decision-making, this was his best game yet,” said Vikings coach Will Woltering.
The Vikings led 36-0 with 2:48 left in the half.
Lewis County took over and fumbled, Gar/Pal recovering. Hawkins then scored on a 42-yard run for 42-0 with 2:28 left in the second quarter.
The half ended after Weagraff, on defense, intercepted a Lewis County pass at the Vikings' 41-yard line.
Gar/Pal held Lewis County to 104 yards in total offense.
League play starts
The Vikings (2-1) play next at home against Pomeroy (2-1) in the first Southeast 1B league matchup for both teams Friday night in Palouse. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Gar/Pal will continue without senior Cameron Springstead, a two-year starter and key running back from last year's playoff team. He dislocated his elbow in an August practice – on the fourth night in pads – and remains unable to play.
“As of right now, he's probably out for the year,” Woltering said.
The lack of Springstead has underlined the Vikings' lineup patchwork.
“Not every kid is playing the position he's best at, but the one that benefits the team most,” said Woltering.
Friday's late entry into league play for Gar/Pal is due to two less teams in Southeast 1B football since 2014, with the demise of LaCrosse/Washtucna/ Kahlotus and Liberty Christian's move up to 2B. Dayton has combined with Waitsburg this fall after playing as a non-playoff member of the Southeast 1B for the past two seasons.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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