Clarkston’S Win Puts Cheney In Playoffs

It was a tale of two quarterbacks, one a two-year starter and the Border League passing leader with 1,358 yards, the other who had never before taken a snap from center.

Experience won out when Clarkston’s Brian Baugh completed a 48-yard touchdown pass with 2:08 remaining in a wild 34-33 football victory over West Valley.

But it happened only after first-time Eagle QB Craig McIntyre had ignited a remarkable rally to put his team in front 33-27 6-1/2 minutes earlier.

West Valley’s loss coupled with Cheney’s 20-6 win over Colville put the Blackhawks into Tuesday’s play-in round of the State 3A tournament. West Valley-Yakima, third from the Mid-Valley, plays at Cheney Tuesday night.

But it took desperate measures to keep the Eagles from becoming that representative.

Baugh completed seven passes in as many attempts for 90 yards on the Bantams’ final drive. One clutch completion came on fourth-and-8 at WV’s 34.

A first down and two penalties later, they faced second-and-46 near midfield. Baugh hit Brad Tucker, who split two defenders over the middle for the winning score.

McIntyre, a senior and second-leading receiver in the Border League, found out he would be the quarterback and hour and a half before the 7 o’clock start. Only then had sophomore starter Tyler Baker learned he had viral mononucleosis and an enlarged spleen.

“I’ve never quarterbacked before,” McIntyre said. “Not once.”

With the other Eagles QB, Juston Rouse already gone because of injury, it was either McIntyre or Matt Risley at the helm.

“Mac’s our best athlete,” said coach Tim Trout. “And I couldn’t put Risley back there because we didn’t have another running back.”

WV scored first on a McIntyre-engineered 6-minute drive that included a 26-yard pass completion.

But with 8:57 to go in the third quarter, the Eagles trailed 27-5.

They scored 28 unanswered points beginning with Tony Hernandez’s 89-yard kickoff return and three touchdown drives in which McIntyre gained 50 yards rushing, including scores of 10 and 22 yards, and 74 yards passing.

“I’ve got to thank Risley,” he said. “We’d be in the huddle and call plays and I’d ask, `What are we doing here?”’ Baugh, who had completed 10 of 15 passes for 176 yards prior to WV’s rally, came up big down the stretch.

The Bantams’ win ended the season for both teams and enabled Cheney to play on.

Also completing their league schedules, Adam Pegg rushed for 196 yards and one TD on 28 carries to power Cheney (6-3, 5-3) to a 20-6 win at Colville (1-8, 0-8). The Blackhawks limited Colville to 12 offensive plays in the second half. Cheney outgained the Indians 271-73.

SOUTHEAST B-8 Touchet rolls into playoffs

Tim Wagoner rushed for 150 yards and five TDs on 10 carries, and league-champion Touchet warmed up for the playoffs with a 62-14 win at Prescott (3-4, 2-4). Touchet’s George Martinez completed 3 of 4 passes for 88 yards. Josh Mayberry of the Tigers rushed for 64 yards and a TD on 12 carries. The Indians (7-2, 6-0), defending state champions, will open the state playoffs in two weeks against the No. 3 team from the Northeast.

BIG NINE CONFERENCE Chiefs end with bang

Moses Lake (4-5) rushed for a school-record 490 yards and completed its season with a 54-0 road win over Eisenhower (1-8) at Yakima. Kent Roylance rushed for 215 yards and three TDs on 16 carries, and Cassius Doremus added 11 carries for 111 yards and a TD.