Odessa Plows Into Semis

Odessa couldn’t go around LaCrosse-Washtucna, but the Tigers had no trouble going through the Tigercats.

Paul Dart - who didn’t even make the Northeast B-8 All-League first team despite a monster season - had a monster game to lead No. 4 Odessa to a 48-26 win over No. 2 LaCrosse-Washtucna in an openinground game at Jimmie Snider Field in Ritzville Friday night.

Dart, who now has close to 1,500 yards and more than 20 touchdowns, had 139 yards and six touchdowns after a slow start by the Tigers. A 28-point fourth quarter broke the game open - along with a tackle and forced fumble by Dart to thwart LW’s last chance. LW lost four fumbles in the fourth quarter.

“I had five touchdowns in a game but it was a lot easier than it was tonight,” the 5-foot-10, 160-pound senior said. “They have a good defense and hit hard.”

Now the Tigers (9-1) are the home team for the B-8 semifinals against Cusick next weekend. The site and time will be determined after playoff games today. Cusick knocked off two-time defending B-8 champion Touchet 44-34 at Lampson Stadium in Kennewick.

A big opening kickoff by Nick Koller led to a quick 8-0 lead for LW (8-2). Odessa punted twice and then held the Tigercats on downs at the 8 late in the first quarter before putting together a 92-yard drive to get back into the game.

Although the game was tied at 14 at halftime and Odessa led only 20-14 after three quarters, the long drive was the turning point.

“Our line came in and said we could take it right at them,” Odessa coach Bruce Todd said. “The line coach made some adjustments.”

Instead of trying to get outside against the quick Tigercats, the Tigers sent Dart inside behind fullback Shawn Smith and then had Dart dart outside for small but steady gains.

“In past games they gave the dive to me,” the 195-pound Smith said. “They keyed on me and that opened it up for the tailbacks. They knew we ran dive and they were stuffing me.”

With Dart and Nick Sebesta alternating most plays, the Tigers ran for 267 yards. Sebesta had 90.

“They just wanted me to follow Smith … and cut,” Dart said. “We knew we couldn’t blow by them, but if you get 7 or 8 yards, that’s fine.”

“The offensive line was the key,” Smith said. “They opened holes and all I had to do was seal off the linebacker… . I couldn’t be more proud. I can’t cut like those guys. All I can do is block.”

An 80-yard drive to open the second half put Odessa ahead for good. The Tigers got up 36-14 when the Tigercats clawed back. Another long kickoff by Koller led to one score. Jake Schneider hit Evan Startin underneath and he outran the defense for a 77-yard score that made it 36-26 with 4:02 to go. Schneider passed for 253 yards.

And, LW recovered the onside kick. But on a screen pass to Startin, Dart held his ground and popped the ball loose with Kurtis Starkel grabbing it out of the air and returning it to midfield.

Three plays later, Heath Voise hit Starkel for the game-clinching touchdown, a 45-yarder.

“When he came at me, he was holding the ball soft and I popped it out,” Dart said. “I planned it all the way.”

Voise contributed 111 yards passing and Dart completed three passes for 39 yards. LW had only 30 yards on the ground.

“We couldn’t run the ball, that was the difference,” LW coach Jeff Nelson said. “They made the plays. That’s a better team.”

Cusick 44, Touchet 34

Jacob Kirk rushed for 271 yards and two TDs on 49 carries, as Cusick (8-2) raced past Touchet (7-3).

Cusick trailed 20-8 after the first quarter, but fought back with a 21-point third quarter highlighted by Dusty Person’s two TD passes. Person completed 6 of 14 passes for 165 yards and three TDs, and added a 1-yard TD run to cap the scoring.

The Panthers have won four consecutive games.

George Martinez of the Indians completed 14 of 24 passes for 216 yards and five TDs. Touchet had won seven consecutive games.

State B-11 quarterfinal

Waitsburg 15, DeSales 6

Gary Timms had four of his team’s 10 sacks, including one for a first-quarter safety, and the Cardinals (7-4) shocked the Irish (10-1) at Kennewick to end the state’s longest winning streak at 33.

Cardinals halfback Scott Mason rushed for 97 yards, with a 4-yard TD in the first quarter, and threw a 64-yard TD pass to Jared Gagnon on a second-quarter option play.

DeSales, the three-time defending state champion, defeated Waitsburg 46-15 during the regular season. But the Cardinals have won six straight since the return of several starters from suspensions and injuries.

Waitsburg held freshman T.J. Conley in check. Conley, who led the state with 2,188 passing yards, completed 6 of 17 for 41 yards.

Waitsburg advances to next weekend’s semifinal against today’s winner between Davenport (9-1) and Pomeroy (7-3).