Inspired Pasco sends Gonzaga Prep packing

Playoff butterflies usually scatter with the first hit.

Pasco, however, will often have at least one touchdown on the board before anyone can put in a good lick on defense.

So it wasn’t until just past the nine-minute mark on Tuesday in the first quarter of Pasco’s 35-13 win over Gonzaga Prep at Edgar Brown Stadium in a 4A play-in game that all seemed right in the Bulldogs’ world.

That was when senior linebacker John Bonderman – who for the last nine weeks has fought a strep infection that put his right arm and his life in danger – made his first solid contact since Week 2, meeting Prep running back Conner Hare on second and eight just past the line of scrimmage, standing him straight up before bringing him down for a short gain.

It wasn’t a crucial play by any means but it was significant to him, his teammates and the Pasco fans, who applauded the crunching hit.

“It was motivating just to see him back on the field,” said Bryant Whitby, who had a pair of touchdown catches while cousin Kaleb added 171 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 27 attempts. “He’s been gone for a long time.”

Bonderman didn’t expect miracles in his first game back, preferring instead to work his way back into the fray.

“It’s just great to be back,” Bonderman said. “I’m not quite in football shape yet. I felt like I built up enough energy to last me a whole lifetime, but I’ve burned it all up.”

The Bulldogs (10-1) will travel to Skyline (10-0), the same team that beat the then top-ranked Bulldogs in the 2004 semifinals, on Saturday in Sammamish at a time to be determined. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-0 lead just 1:27 into the game after Kaleb Whitby took four consecutive handoffs from the Pasco 36 and worked his way into the end zone from 12 yards out on the fourth carry.

Less than five minutes later, Shayne Kelly connected with Bryant Whitby on a fly pattern down the right sideline for a 14-0 lead. Pasco collected 176 yards on the ground, but had trouble keeping the Bullpups option attack – led by quarterback Max Manix – in check.

Manix finished with 122 yards on 28 carries while Michael Hovan added 105 yards on 16 attempts. Prep threatened on its first drive of the second half, reaching Pasco’s 3-yard line before a fumble and penalty dropped them back to the 15. That’s where a Eric Hunter interception at the 1 ended the drive.

Bonderman finished with seven tackles, playing most of the game on defense, and even had a handful of plays on offense.

“Cam Johnson has done a great job filling in at linebacker, but Bonderman is just a leader,” said Pasco coach Steve Graff.