Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Twists and turns have come to Southeast 1B league football as key matchups of top contenders stack up at the end of the season.
Last week, Pomeroy (5-3 overall, 2-1 league) – who was handled by Garfield/Palouse three weeks before – beat Touchet (2-4 overall, 1-2 league). Touchet then played at home last Friday and shut down Gar/Pal 42-14.
Colton, another contender, lost narrowly against league-leader Sunnyside Christian (6-0, 3-0) last week and came home to lose to Pomeroy 38-18 in the mud.
Two games remain for each team in the regular season.
On Friday night, Garfield/Palouse (5-2 overall, 2-1 league) and Colton will meet at Palouse while Pomeroy will host Sunnyside Christian. Touchet travels to St. John/Endicott (0-6, 0-3).
Touchet 42, Garfield/Palouse 14
“They just kind of out-physicaled us,” said Vikings coach Will Woltering of his team's road loss Oct. 21.
Facing a more complete Indians' lineup than what they had seen on video – namely big No. 6, James Kates – Garfield/Palouse struggled.
“We couldn't block him very well,” Woltering said.
The Vikings nonetheless scored first in the game on a 65-yard run by quarterback Evan Weagraff.
Nearing halftime, Touchet scored on a long pass to make it 22-8.
In the third quarter, Garfield/Palouse gave up a punt return and Touchet built its lead.
Weagraff threw to Mason Bates for an 18-yard touchdown, still in the third quarter, for the Vikings' last score.
Gar/Pal now prepares for Colton (5-3 overall, 1-2 league) Friday night in Palouse. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
“If we can stop their pass, we'll be fine,” said Woltering. “If we can't, we'll be in trouble.”
Pomeroy 38,
Colton 18
The Pirates came through in Colton with a definitive win to build its league record. Quarterback Cade Gingerich recorded five touchdowns as Colton struggled to contain Pomeroy's ground game.
Wildcats' quarterback Brady Chadwick went 19-for-39 for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Grant Kinzer caught 15 passes for 164 yards.
Pomeroy lead 16-12 at halftime before Gingerich scored two rushing touchdowns to push the Pirates' lead to 30-12. At the end of the third quarter, the Wildcats cut into the lead with a touchdown throw from Chadwick to Kinzer.
Pomeroy answered though, running down the clock on a long drive capped by an 11-yard sweep by Gingerich to seal the game.
Sunnyside Christian 0, St. John/Endicott 0
(FORFEIT)
Down to eight available players in the week of the National FFA Convention and spreading sickness, St. John/ Endicott coach Ken Gering made the call to forfeit a trip to Sunnyside Christian.
“Didn't have enough bodies to go,” he said.
With four players in Indianapolis at the FFA convention, and others sick or injured, the Eagles did not play.
“If I'd had nine or 10 kids, I'd have gone,” said Gering.
Of the eight were three freshmen and a foreign exchange student.
The team will now suit up Friday at home against Touchet for senior night.
Playing their last home game will be Reagan Harrison, Wyatt “The Tank” Willson, Terrell Webb, Zach Williams and Hunter Gingras.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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