Bombers Beat Bulldogs in an Offensive Showdown - By Brayden Pratt

    The Bombers of Richland took on the Hermiston Bulldogs in an offensive shootout. The offense of both teams shined in an outstanding game that came right down to the wire. The final score was an outstanding 56-49 in favor of the Bombers. These electrifying offenses were just what the fans came to see today, especially coming off of opening wins for each of these teams last week.

    Before the game, I had the opportunity to talk to some of the players and Coach Neid. They were talking about the family aspect of this team and how important it is for them to be united as one family. You could definitely see that tonight. The excitement for the visiting Bombers was off the charts. The players supported each other during every hit, catch, run, and touchdown. But more importantly,  I watched them pick each other up and hold each other accountable during the mishaps that occurred. 

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    Talking to Coach Neid before the game, I asked him about the explosive offense the week before with them being the only team in the MCC to put up over 400 yards of total offense. He said this about his quarterback Josh Woodard, “ He’s as good as we’ve had; he's that guy”.  Josh proved Neidhold right tonight. Josh was responsible for all eight of the Bomber touchdowns, setting the school record for total touchdowns in a game by a single player. We’ve all seen this guy do special things before but tonight was something for the record books.

    To open the first quarter, the senior QB got his record-breaking day started by driving right down on the Bulldogs for an opening touchdown on a wide-open TD pass to Chris Daniels. The connection that those two have goes way back to when they were little boys. They have grown up together and you can see that love and connection on the field. Isaac Corey and the Bulldogs responded with a touchdown of their own on a magical scramble by the QB. To end the first quarter, a short punt by the Bulldogs set up a late-quarter touchdown for the boys in green. It was a one-play touchdown to senior wide receiver, Rayce Reeves. Then after a dropped snap on the PAT, they were forced to try to make something out of nothing. The dropped snap led to a failed two-point conversion, making the score after the 1st quarter of play 13-7. 

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    The second quarter got started with a bang, a 64-yard bomb by the Bulldogs. Getting in for the touchdown was Dale Krebs, giving Hermiston the lead 14-13. On the pursuing drive for the Bulldogs, Isaac Corey wasted no time getting another touchdown pass. This time it was to Bledsoe, extending the lead up to 21-13. But Woodard responded with another touchdown pass to Rayce Reeves.  They also succeeded on the two-point conversion and had this game tied up.

    A fumbled ball on what could've been another touchdown for the Bulldogs fell out of the endzone, resulting in a touchback and the Bombers getting the possession. Woodard delivered a huge pass to the sophomore receiver Brody Bocek, setting up another touchdown for Reeves on Woodard’s fourth touchdown pass of the night. But Corey wasn’t finished yet, as he made magic happen. Evading tacklers, looking like a young Patrick Mahomes, Corey hit his receiver for a 60-yard gain, setting up another touchdown pass to tie the game back up at 28-28. However just before the half, when it looked like we would be tied up, Josh unveiled a 48-yard toss as time expired, to Colson Mackey on a hail mary TD. This had the players, fans, and even coaches going crazy as one Bomber coach even picked up a penalty for his celebrations. Richland goes into the half up 35-28.

    With an already action-packed first half, the anticipation of the next half gave an air of excitement to what would transpire in the second half. To start the third quarter off, one of the key moments in this game was Reeves getting an interception, his second game in a row recording a turnover, which was one of the few highlights of the defensive side of the game. The Bombers couldn’t capitalize on the field position and would need to kick it away. The Bulldogs came marching right back and got back into the endzone. The game was tied at 35-35. Nearing the end of the 3rd quarter, both teams’ quarterbacks got into the endzone using their legs to go into the 4th quarter all tied up at 42-42.

    In the fourth quarter, there were two unanswered touchdowns by the Bombers, one caught by Zachery Rose and another by Daniels, his 2nd of the game. With just over five minutes left, Richland would now have a much-needed two-possession cushion in a high-scoring game. But Corey’s Bulldogs weren't done yet. He gets Hermsiton back into the endzone on a phenomenal five-yard rush, clawing and scratching for any bit of hope and only down by one touchdown. But after a failed Onside kick, there would not be much hope left for Hermiston. Josh would make a great pass to Colson Mackey that would seal the win for the Bobmers and crush any bit of hope of coming back. After two beautiful performances by each offense, the 2-0 Bombers will look forward to next week as they play their little brothers to the north in what will be a battle at Fran Rish.

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