Pound the Rock - By Easton Praino
The Richland Bombers and the Mountain View Thunder matchup for the second consecutive season, but this time in Vancouver. Last year's game was a shootout. The Bombers had the lead the whole game and were up by two going into the fourth. But the Thunder got back and outscored the Richland Boys 14-3 in the final quarter completing the comeback. The returning players for the Bombers are coming into this game with a sour taste, as Mountain View made a TikTok video on our home field after winning. This Thunder team runs a Wing-T and a Spread offense. Stopping the run has been the biggest issue for the Bomber boys all season. They have given up around 150 rushing yards a game. We saw how bad this run defense can be last week versus the Kamiakin Braves, who ran for 288 rushing yards. The Bombers practiced run defense the whole week, practicing against Wing-T. John Corbin, a newcomer to the team, gave us some insight into what they were practicing, “All week, we practiced different defensive formations to stop the run, and we also practiced against Wing-T all week.”
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| Photo: Sarah Simmons |
The game started at 5 p.m. on a cold afternoon in Vancouver, and the Bombers wanted their revenge more than anything. But this game did not start out how they wanted to at all. The Bomber offensive was not on the same page at all. They started with the football and threw a pick on the first drive of the game, then Mountain View ran the football down Richland's throat and scored. The Bombers got the ball back and threw a pick for the second consecutive drive, and once again, Mountain View ran the ball down the field and scored. This will be a common theme of the game. Richland got the ball back, and they had to score if they wanted to stay in this game, but they couldn't end the drive with a punt, and to no one's surprise, the Thunder ran the ball down the field for the third drive in a row for their third touchdown of the quarter. Richland had to make an adjustment in the second quarter. They seemed defeated after just twelve minutes of game time, but they finally ended up scoring in the second quarter with Woodard running in it. To end the first half, 7-21 Mountain View.
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| Photo: Sarah Simmons |
As the Second half started, this Bomber team needed major adjustments if they wanted to win this game. This game was not out of their hands; they have come back from worse against better teams. But Mountain View studied their film and knew the Bomber defense weakness and continued to run the ball down the Richlands defense throat, killing the clock. During the third quarter, Mountain View running back Drake Porter was having a historic game, adding his third and fourth touchdown before the fourth quarter even started. The Bombers added another touchdown to the board with sophomore Sylen Kiesel-Kauhane with a two-yard rushing touchdown. The fourth quarter started, and the Bomber boys were down 14-35, so they needed to let the ball air out, and that is exactly what they did. Woodard connected with Rayce Reeves and Brody Bocek for two passing touchdowns. But that was not enough. Drake Porter was unstoppable in this game. He added two more rushing touchdowns to his total in the fourth, finishing with six in the game. Porter finished with 264 rushing yards on only 19 carries. This Bomber defense could not stop the madman. The Bombers lost 27-49.
Looking into the rest of the season, the Bombers finished the season at 5-4, not what they were expecting at all coming into the season with the former 1st team quarterback. Something on that Bomber defense needs to change if they want to have a good run in playoffs. RHS spectator Brayden Pratt had some thoughts on what they need to change or do differently, “I believe the defense needs to change whether it’s running different formations or trying different players at new spots, but whatever we are doing is not working.” That was well said by Pratt; that defense needs a real look in the mirror as they host the 4-5 Central Valley Bears, who are a run-heavy offense. If the Bombers end up winning that game, they will play another run-heavy team, Eastmont.
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| Photo: Sarah Simmons |
