Elma Rallies To Edge Pullman

With Ben Dougherty running a high-powered offense, Elma had scored 28 points in a half on numerous occasions.

The No. 3 Eagles needed that and more Saturday to rally for a 37-34 victory over No. 5 Pullman in the State 2A football championship game in the Tacoma Dome.

The Greyhounds were nearly flawless in the first half, racing to a 28-6 lead, but three turnovers and Dougherty stopped them in their tracks in the second half.

“I was down but I knew we weren’t out,” the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Dougherty said of the halftime mood. “We’ve scored more than 28 points in a half. They did it on us, we can do it to them.”

Elma (12-1) did, winning in its first championship-game appearance. Pullman (11-2) is now 0-2, having lost to Peninsula 35-34 in 1978.

The Eagles came out flying after intermission, scoring 22 points in the third quarter to turn it into a game.

Dougherty hit Anthony Trail with a 14-yard strike after Leonel Dorvil fumbled the ball away at the Pullman 33 on the second play of the second half. Dorvil lost another fumble at the Elma 45 on the second play of the Greyhounds’ next possession, and Dougherty cashed in on that opportunity with a 15-yard run, adding a pass on the PAT to make it 28-21.

Cole Sheridan returned the kickoff 90 yards up the middle to turn the momentum back in Pullman’s favor at 34-21, but that only delayed what had become a trend.

“Their size, our depth and the heat wore us down,” Pullman coach Bill Christie said. “I knew we had to turn it up (in the second half). A team that comes this far isn’t going to quit.”

Dougherty again drove the Eagles to a touchdown, hitting Matt Totten with a 9-yard TD late in the third quarter. Then, inside the final minute, Aaron Linehan, who was stunning in the first half, overthrew a receiver and was picked off by Dustin Clark at the Elma 40.

The Eagles drove to a touchdown that tied the game with 7:36 to play.

Pullman then went three-and-out, and Elma drove from its 45 to the Pullman 9, allowing Clark to kick the game-winning, 26-yard field goal with 3:45 to play. Dougherty finished with 242 yards passing and 91 rushing, giving him 333 of Elma’s 391 yards.

“I have no idea what to say … . I don’t have the foggiest idea,” Elma coach Jim Hill said. “My kids were feeling down, like they let the team down (at halftime). The line was confused, they weren’t getting beat but we were getting beat.

“There was no big-time speech, we’re too far (into the season) for that.”

The Greyhounds were anything but sleek racers when the game opened. After they stuffed Elma’s first possession, Kyle Bassler’s punt rolled to the Pullman 1.

From there, the Hounds marched 99 yards in 11 plays for the first score. Dorvil took the ball around right end, broke two tackles and went 32 yards to the end zone.

Another strong three-and-out by the defense put Pullman at its 47. From there, the Greyhounds raced. Linehan underthrew Nate Brown down the left sideline, but Brown broke back to the ball, the defender slipped, Ryan Briandamour threw a good block and Brown turned it into a 53-yard TD.

The Eagles showed life with a 71-yard drive but it took Pullman just two plays to answer. Linehan hit Sheridan down the left sideline for a 57-yard score.

Linehan added another short TD pass to Brown that capped a 50-yard drive.

Elma 37, Pullman 34

Elma 0 6 22 9 - 37

Pullman 14 14 6 0 - 34

Pull-Dorvil 32 run (Brown kick)

Pull-N. Brown 53 pass from Linehan (N. Brown kick)

El-Clark 21 pass from Dougherty (kick failed)

Pull-Sheridan 57 pass from Linehan (N. Brown kick)

Pull-N. Brown 5 pass from Linehan (N. Brown kick)

El-Trail 14 pass from B. Dougherty (Clark kick)

El-B. Dougherty 15 run (Burbidge pass from B. Dougherty)

Pull-Sheridan 90 kickoff return (pass failed)

Elma-Totten 9 pass from B. Dougherty (Clark kick)

El-Burbidge 1 run (kick failed)

El-FG Clark 26

El Pull First downs 19 16 Rushes-yards 34-149 29-183 Passing 242 229 Comp-Att-Int 22-38-2 9-17-2 Return Yards 116 182 Punts-Avg. 4-46.8 1-36.0 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 3-2 Penalties-Yards 5-64 1-10 Time of Possession 29:32 18:28

Individual statistics

RUSHING-Elma, B. Dougherty 17-91, Burbidge 11-45, Totten 6-13. Pullman, Dorvil 10-85, Sheridan 10-63, Linehan 8-21, J.D. Morscheck 1-14. PASSING-Elma, B. Dougherty 22-38-2-242. Pullman, Linehan 9-17-2-229.

RECEIVING-Elma, Burbidge 7-112, Mike Butorac 6-58, Clark 3-26, Clay Linich 3-12, Trail 1-14, Totten 1-9. Pullman, Sheridan 3-108, N. Brown 3-83, Morscheck 2-20, Josh 1-18.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo