Mt. Spokane scores last to win shootout

RICHLAND – On a balmy night at Fran Rish Stadium, defense was pretty much a bystander when Mt. Spokane and Hanford squared off in a 3A state-qualifying football game.

But credit the Wildcats’ defense with a huge comethrough during a wild and wacky 42-39 triumph that sends them to the first round of the playoffs next weekend against East Valley.

Jay Sicilia recovered a fumble with 1 minute, 50 seconds remaining and the Falcons threatening to score, much as they had at will throughout the evening. Mt. Spokane (6-4) got one last huge play by Colten Williams, a 28-yard run, and ran out the clock for victory.

Williams caught 13 passes for 155 yards and scored three times, two through the air.

Hanford’s high-powered running game piled up 368 yards and scored on six of nine possessions.

But Mt. Spokane countered with quarterback Travis Ward, who completed his first 10 passes on the way to a 23-for-27 night and 315 yards through the air.

He threw for five touchdowns, including two to Chip Propp, his second for the winner, and a game-turning 55-yard pass that Nate Blackham settled under and raced to the end zone for the Wildcats’ first lead of the game, with 10:02 left to play.

Propp gathered in the final score after Hanford had regained the lead, a 24-yard reception with 3:16 remaining.

It was plenty of time for Hanford to come back, but Sicilia alertly fell on a loose ball that popped out of Falcons quarterback Travis Chalk’s hands as he raced upfield on a 9-yard run.

The teams traded scores in the first half before Ward was picked off at the end zone after connecting 10 straight times to teammates. From there Hanford built a 26-14 lead and led 33-20 in the third quarter.

Ward found Williams before the end of the period and after a defensive stop Ward hit Blackham along the left sideline with a perfect lead.

He said it has been better decision-making that helped go on a late-season tear.

Coach Mike McLaughlin said he told the players if they could be close going into the fourth quarter they had a chance to win.

“I can’t be more proud of how we hung in with them,” McLaughlin said, adding he didn’t anticipate the game to be such a shootout. “We had to stop them and score, which is what we did.”

The Wildcats became the fourth GSL team to qualify for state.