Pullman edges West Valley in 3 overtimes

PULLMAN – The Pullman Greyhounds somehow found a way to pull out a 41-38 victory over Great Northern League foe West Valley in a magnificent football game that took three overtimes to decide.

The Eagles took their first lead at 21-14 in the fourth quarter, but a late Greyhounds TD sent the game into overtime. After trading touchdowns in the first two overtimes, West Valley had to settle for a field goal before Pullman won on Mason Petrino’s 5-yard run.

“West Valley came in here and fought like a son-of-a-gun,” Pullman coach Dan Lucier said. “It looked pretty bleak but they (the Greyhounds) found a way to win.”

With the win, Pullman clawed its way to a 4-1 tie atop the GNL with East Valley, which beat the Greyhounds 52-36 last week.

Friday, Pullman (6-2 overall) had to first take on a scrappy West Valley (4-5, 3-3) squad that was fighting for its playoff life and came just short.

“That game would have been so easy to lose,” Lucier told his players. “Champions find a way. I’m proud of you guys for finding a way to win that dang thing. Great team effort.”

The Greyhounds came out in stride, mixing passes from Petrino and big runs by Justin Pintak to drive 66 yards in nine plays.

The drive ended with a 1-yard plunge by Sam Druffel to put Pullman up 7-0 with less than three minutes taken off the clock.

A 2-yard run by Druffel put Pullman up 14-0.

Late in the first half, with Pullman driving, Alex Hall intercepted Petrino at the Pullman 43 with only 46 seconds left.

Three straight competions later, Cole Yeager, starting in place of injured quarterback Austin Lee, hit Tevin Duke for a 26-yard touchdown as the first half ended to get the Eagles within 14-7.

West Valley tied the game in the second half with a 13-play drive that ended with a 1-yard plunge by Jace Malek.

With 8:32 left in the game, Yeager hit Malek on a 59-yard screen pass that gave West Valley a 21-14 lead. .

Pullman then drove to the goal line only to be stuffed on fourth down. However, West Valley was forced to punt and gave the Greyhounds the ball back with 2:21 left.

It took Petrino two plays to hit Ben Moos for an 18-yard touchdown strike to tie the game.

West Valley drove to the Pullman 13, but Dante Ungerer intercepted Yeager’s pass with only 13 seconds left, sending the game into overtime.

After the teams twice traded touchdowns, West Valley stalled at the 10 but Tristan Payne kicked his first field goal of the year to give the Eagles a 38-35 lead.

Petrino answered with his 5-yard touchdown run that ended the game.