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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Odessa ousts Colton-Pullman Christian

In a football game filled with pivotal plays, a gutsy decision by Odessa’s Travis Todd may have been the biggest.

Facing fourth down at his 10, Todd faked a punt and passed to quarterback Ryan King for 23 yards that went a long way toward preserving the Tigers’ come-from-behind-after-being-ahead 24-22 victory over Colton-Pullman Christian.

The State 1B quarterfinal at West Valley Friday was thrilling and hard-hitting on both sides.

Odessa (11-0) took an early 12-0 lead and dominated time of possession, but the Wildcats (8-3) roared back on turnovers and two 54-yard scoring runs by speedy quarterback Corey Horstman, scoring three times in 4 minutes, 30 seconds to build a 22-12 advantage.

The Tigers scored just before intermission on Ryan King’s second touchdown pass and took the lead on a 5 1/2-minute drive in the third period, then hung on.

“They’re well-coached and do things well,” said Odessa coach Bruce Todd of his opponent. “I’m happy to get out of here with a win.”

One of those who dished out the punishment was two-way senior Dillon Williams who had double-digit tackles, broke up several passes and had an interception that led to Colton-Pullman Christian’s third touchdown. He also had two extra-point pass catches.

Odessa went 70 yards in 13 plays to open the game. Early in the second quarter, Jacob Schmidt was hemmed in on a run to the right, but got a block, reversed field and dashed 94 yards for the 12-0 lead.

“Then I felt we went flat,” Bruce Todd said.

Twice Horstman sprinted right out of the shotgun, got a kick-out block at the corner and cut to the end zone. In between, a fumble on a reverse play was picked up by Jesse Weaver for a score.

King went to the air, throwing 11 times on a drive capped by his 20-yard pass to Schmidt with 27 seconds left in the half.

A defensive stop after intermission and 13-play drive produced the winning points.

After Horstman lost the football midway through the final period at Odessa’s 2-yard line, Travis Todd came up with his big pass play.

“Coach gave me the punt sign and I saw Ryan with no one on him,” the 6-foot-3, 235 pound tight end-fullback-linebacker said. “He waved to me a bit, so I just threw it over the top and he ran under it.”

One last Wildcats attempt, from 90 yards away and with 1:37 left and no timeouts ended with an incomplete pass from Odessa’s 19.

“We had our chance at the end of the game, but it just didn’t fall our way,” Williams said.

Almira/Coulee-Hartline 38, Touchet 36 (OT): Ryan Gregson caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Josh Goodwin and Jordan Hughes ran for the two-point conversion in overtime to give the Warriors a first-round win over the Indians (9-1) in Kennewick.

The Indians’ scored first in overtime on Brian Pisca’s 26-yard pass to Taylor Gregg but failed to convert the two-point conversion.

Goodwin finished with 319 yards passing and six touchdowns for the Warriors (11-1), who advance to play the Lake Quinault-Lummi winner next weekend.

State 2B

Kevin Baffney ran for a touchdown and threw for another to guide DeSales to a 26-7 win over Reardan in a quarterfinal game in Kennewick.

Marcus Spiess added a touchdown run for the Irish (11-0), who held the Indians (9-2) scoreless in the second half.

DeSales advances to play the winner of the Naselle-Life Christian game next weekend.

Tyler Moos had 93 yards receiving and a touchdown to lead Reardan.