Lions shut out North Central

KENNEWICK – Kennewick ended a 14-year state playoff drought on Saturday after shutting out North Central 47-0 in a 3A regional playoff game at Lampson Stadium.

“We’ve told the boys the last handful of years that when you get in the weight room, go to camps and work hard that you will get to do good things,” Kennewick coach Bill Templeton said. “We couldn’t be more pleased.”

The Lions (8-2) advance to play Camas, a 49-42 winner over Olympic on Friday, in the first round of the 3A state playoffs.

North Central (2-8) hadn’t had but a bite of success all season, and the Lions’ front lines proved to be too much for the Indians to handle.

“We were by far outmatched physically,” NC coach Grady Emmerson, a 1995 Kennewick graduate, said. “There is only so much you can do.”

Kennewick running back Ruben Espinoza set the tone early, carrying the ball six times for 50 yards on the Lions’ first possession. He finished with 88 yards on nine carries before leaving the game early in the second quarter.

While the Kennewick offense moved the ball at will, its defense allowed the Indians to gain 49 yards passing, 23 yards on the ground and four first downs.

David Butler led NC with 35 yards on 10 carries, while Ryan Ettinger had two catches for 22 yards.