Ferris reaches semifinals

YAKIMA – Finesse and physical aren’t generally terms one would use in the same sentence to describe the Ferris football team. When situations dictated as much Saturday afternoon, though, Ferris turned to a dimension of its game it had kept under wraps most of the season. Quarterback Connor Halliday threw for nearly 300 yards again, but it was the second-half play of running back Gage Orosco and a smack-you-in-the-face defense that lifted the Saxons past previously undefeated Eisenhower 24-14 in a State 4A quarterfinal at Zaepfel Stadium. Ferris (9-3) will meet Skyview of Vancouver (10-2) at Albi on Saturday. With a stiff wind limiting the Saxons’ passing game during the two quarters they had to fight against it, coach Jim Sharkey decided to break out the running game. Orosco provided a huge lift. Orosco rushed for 132 of his game-high 157 yards in the second half including a 76-yard touchdown scamper.