Heartbreak on the Field: Homecoming Defeat - By Brooklynn Boyce
Another crisp autumn night for beloved Bomber fans. The magical feeling of Richland High’s homecoming game set the magnitude of the stage. From current pride-filled students to once-dedicated alumni, everyone from near and far found their way to Fran Rish. Unfortunately for the Bomb Squad, they did not dish up their typical Bomber cuisine. From flags to missed field goals, we didn't quite hit the mark. However, those tribulations and failure points wove together resilience and learning curves. Final score: 13-14, Kennewick.
 |
| Photo: Ian Reardon |
The week leading up to the bomber bowl was crucial. Purposeful practices ensured the Bombers performed at their peak. If you ask any of the athletes, every player will emphasize faultless repetition bridges the gap between excellent and staggering performance. I had the opportunity to talk to one of these players who is walking proof of the Bomber practice-makes-perfect mentality. Sylen Kiesel-Kauhane: Junior co-captain who starts on defensive, a running back, who was also named Max Preps Defensive Player of the Game, and a true treasure to the Bombers. When asked about the improvements on defense from last season and getting ready against the Lions, Sylen answered, “There’s nothing supernatural we need to do to be fully prepared. We just need to prepare like we always do and go play like the Bombers. We’ve also implicated a new defense that allows our guys to play quick. With that, playing quickly is how we as a team can make plays.” This linebacker stays true to his word. Sylen had four tackles, 11 assisted tackles, and a magnificent interception. Even though last night resulted in a loss, Sylen and the rest of his 2026 class have a very bright future ahead of them.
 |
| Photo: Ian Reardon |
The duel was tight. Neither Lion nor Bomber could find themself in the end zone. The game was a true nail-biter until Tanner Larson scored a 2-yard pass from Dominic Driver (Tanner Chavez kick) (6:36). The Lion's ego was blazing in the wind. They felt mighty and on top of the world. However, their lead on the Bombers' home turf did not last long. Senior wide receiver Preston Bryant halts Kennewick’s snowball of momentum. A relieving 18-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Woodard (Dylan Dunnum kick) (2:00) tied the game at 7-7. The scoreboard finally shone bright with scores from both opponents. What those in the crowd did not realize yet was that the third quarter would determine it all. The Kennewick Lions were truly talented, from their O-linemen’s sky-scraping height to their swift-quick thinking quarterback. The Bombers quickly realized they could take no plays off. The Lion would take the lead again with a 2-yard run touchdown by Cannon Hays (Chavez kick) (7:00), putting them up 14-7.
Even though the Bomb Squad felt their heart and soul dug out of their chests and buried in the turf, senior Zach Rose would not let that be the final outcome. He would bring in an elegant yet powerful 13-yard catch for the receiver. The pass from Jackson had the Bomber crew ready to make this a showdown and had a crowd fired up for the Bombers to be back in the game! However, a rare missed PAT by Dylan Dunnum of the Bombers makes the game its final score of 13-14. Dunnum's performance is usually as sound as a bell, but he wouldn’t get the chance to redeem himself.
 |
| Photo: Ian Reardon |
Catching up after the game with Marlee Cobb, girlfriend of the kicker Dunnum, she shared her conversation with Dylan, “He was definitely really disappointed about the (PAT) outcome. However, he knew he couldn't dwell on the mistake.” Cobb said Dunnum also found opportunities for the team to improve in their special teams execution. Cobb, being a stellar Bomber softball athlete herself, understands the mental weary of a rough game, “Errors happen all the time. Although it seems like the outcome of the game is entirely your fault after one error, it is important to remember football is a team sport, meaning their loss was a team effort. There were many other factors that contributed to the loss.” The Bombers also had missed opportunities in the red zone and penalties were also a factor. Marlee said to prepare for this next week, “Dylan plans to flush the mistake and utilize this week to take the necessary time to learn and grow through repetition in practice, and reviewing film.”
 |
| Photo: Ian Reardon |
Even after a storm of ruckus, grief clears out of the sky from the melancholy of a loss. The Bombers still walked off the Fran Rish turf, knowing they had laid their entire hearts on the field. From the first game against Hermiston, we have seen nothing but dedicated grind in practice and pure hustle on the field. Just because numbers were arranged in a sad pattern on the scoreboard doesn't mean our boys didn't give it their all. Next time you see a fellow Bomber football player, tell them, “You’ll get them next time,” but more importantly, their “Bomber family is proud and loves them.”
