Nothing very tricky about Hounds’ win
PULLMAN – The 5-5 Othello team stepping off the bus at Pullman High School was somewhat of an enigma. The .500 record would indicate a weak team in the State 2A playoffs, but the fact that Othello’s five losses came to teams with a combined 49-2 record – and the state title the Huskies claimed last year – would suggest otherwise.
On Friday night on another wet, windy night, though, a 10-0 Pullman team made Othello look downright average.
The Greyhounds dominated form the start, cruising to a 41-7 home win in the first round.
“We were prepared,” Pullman coach Bob Wollan said. “They really didn’t come up with anything we weren’t ready for and they executed.”
A little chicanery from Othello (5-6) out of the gate did little to help the Huskies. Othello tried and recovered an onside kick to start the game, then called an unsuccessful double pass on the first play.
But it was a third trick play in the opening moments that did in Othello. After a three-and-out on the opening series, Othello attempted a fake punt that backfired badly when Michael Thomas knocked the ball loose from punter Brandon Robbins. Pullman’s Chris Snyder picked up the ball and the Greyhounds (11-0) started their first drive as a result on the Othello 30-yard line.
“We’re happy when teams do that,” Wollan said. “We think it’s a little sign of desperation, that they don’t really feel like they can come up with it. If we weather the storm through those first early things, there are only so many of those things you can run.”
Added Thomas: “We knew those were coming. We set up our defense just for those, and it was good.”
After the failed punt fake, the combination of Thomas and J.C. Sherritt running the ball was far too much for the defending state champion.
Thomas ran 22 times for 249 yards, including touchdown runs of 30 and 72 yards. Sherritt kicked in 105 yards on 16 carries, with scores from 1, 2 and 8 yards.
But as good as Pullman was on offense, the Greyhounds defense was that much better. Last week against Colville, in a game for the Great Northern League title, Pullman didn’t allow a single first-half first down. This time around, the Greyhounds allowed just one first down when Thomas jumped offside on a fourth-and-3. No matter, though – Thomas forced another fumble on the next play, and Sherritt recovered to set up a third Pullman touchdown.
The Huskies finished the first half with zero total yards.
“Nothing to say. It’s on the scoreboard,” Othello coach Roger Hoell said while jogging off the field, declining to comment any further after the blowout loss.
The win gives Pullman another home game against 11-0 Orting, a 28-6 winner over Woodland, but its locale is still undecided. There is a chance Pullman could play in WSU’s Martin Stadium, a possibility Wollan would embrace.
“We’re hoping so, but state gets involved and who knows exactly where things are going to end up,” he said. “But you know, we’d play them in Washtucna and be happy just with the opportunity.”