Mead Bogs Down At Walla Walla With 6-3 Defeat

It was Walla Walla’s field and Walla Walla’s weather. That added up to another win for the Blue Devils.

For the second straight year, in conditions more fitting for raising cranberries than playing football, Wa-Hi mucked out a first-round State AAA playoff victory over Mead. Saturday it was 6-3 in the rain and mud at Borleske Stadium.

Second-ranked Wa-Hi, which overcame Mead 24-7 in similar conditions here a year ago, made a 9-yard touchdown run by Mario Rabauliman four plays into the second quarter stand up. The extra-point kick was wide right, but as it turned out, it didn’t matter.

The only penetration of a Mead defense that played well enough to have won was 5-foot-8, 200-pound junior Kyle Holman. He sloshed for 125 yards on 23 carries, including all their second-half rushing yardage, 66.

Mead, which stunned the unbeaten Blue Devils (9-0) with a 51-yard Dustin Lungo field goal to cap its first series for a quick 3-0 lead, needed some help for its workhorse, Scott McGlocklin. The junior plowed out 98 yards on 14 carries. But the Panthers managed just 68 more net yards rushing and passing.

“The weather hampered both teams,” said Mead coach Mike McLaughlin. “But their offense lends itself more to the inside running game, while our short passing game sets up our inside running game.

“From about the middle of the third period on, it was impossible to throw the ball.”

Mead sophomore quarterback Nate Adams, who hit just 6 of 19 passes for 59 yards with two interceptions, completed just 1 of 7 in the second half for 7 yards. And while the driving rain took away the passing game, precarious footing eliminated an outside running attack and the threat of Adam Morris. He had just 5 yards on three carries.

“I’m extremely proud of our kids and the effort they came with,” said McLaughlin, whose Panthers finish 7-2. “The defense played exceptionally well under the conditions, but I’m disappointed our offense couldn’t move the ball. Give credit to the Walla Walla defense - and the weather didn’t help.”

Mead had a 256-190 advantage in total yardage, but along with the two interceptions, thwarted itself with one lost fumble. Wa-Hi didn’t have a turnover. In fact, it made yardage on two of four bobbled centerquarterback exchanges in the third quarter, one for a first down.

Walla Walla 6, Mead 3

Mead 3 0 0 0 - 3

Walla Walla 0 6 0 0 - 6

M-FG Lungo 51

WW-Rabauliman 9 run (kick fails)

Mead WW First downs 8 12 Rushes-yards 22-107 40-132 Passing yards 59 58 Return yards 83 102 Passes 6-19-2 4-8-0 Punts-Avg. 6-34.3 5-38.8 Fumbles-lost 2-1 4-0 Penalties-yards 3-20 1-15

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Mead, McGlocklin 14-98, Morris 3-5, Adams 4-2, Lovell 1-2. Wa-Hi, Holman 23-125, Rabauliman 6-21, Jones 10-(-14), Thompson 1-0.

PASSING - Mead, Adams 6-19-2-59. Wa-Hi, Jones 4-8-0-58.

RECEIVING - Mead, Morris 2-32, Sturm 1-10, Wells 2-10, Shaler 1-7. Wa-Hi, Thompson 2-11, White 1-31, Rabauliman 1-16.