Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Gonzaga Prep pulls away to beat Walla Walla 50-21 in play-in game

A football game that started out as a shootout morphed into a 50-21 blowout as Gonzaga Prep held Walla Walla scoreless in the second half Friday night to win a 4A state play-in game.

The Greater Spokane League 4A champions could not get the Blue Devils (5-5) off the field to start the game and neither team punted in the first half that ended in a 22-21 lead for Gonzaga Prep.

“There was no doubt in any of our kids on that sideline. We just had to make some adjustments” at halftime, G-Prep coach Dave McKenna said. “To put 50 points on a great Walla Walla team, I’m so excited for my kids.”

Walla Walla opened the game with an 11-play drive, which included the Blue Devils converting a fourth-and-4 from the Gonzaga Prep 27 to keep the drive alive.

Trever Coronado hit JC Wicklund for an 8-yard pass on third-and-goal to get the Blue Devils’ first lead at 7-0.

Gonzaga Prep (9-1) then drove to the 1-yard-line where junior quarterback Liam Bell scored. But the touchdown was negated by a penalty and the Bullpups eventually settled for Jarred Kutsch’s 25-yard field goal to make it 7-3.

The Blue Devils fumbled the ensuing kickoff and G-Prep’s Cael McKeirnan recovered. Five plays later, Nick Wood executed an end-around from 2 yards out on fourth down to make it 9-7. The extra-point attempt was blocked.

Walla Walla followed by marching to the G-Prep 8 before Kole Berriochoa intercepted Coronado in the end zone.

But on the Bullpups’ first play after the turnover, Bell fumbled and Walla Walla’s Willie Hayes scooped up the ball and ran it in from 18 yards out to make it 14-9 Walla Walla.

On the next series, Bell ripped off a 41-yard run to spark the Bullpups before he hit Blake Bonham for a 12-yard scoring pass to make it 16-14 Bullpups.

The Blue Devils returned the ensuing kickoff to the Gonzaga Prep 14. It only took one play for Mitchell Huffman to score to make it 21-16. But that would be the last time Walla Walla would score.

Just before the half, Bell scored from 17 yards out but the play was negated by penalty. So, on the next play, he ran it in from 23 yards out.

“We just had to keep fighting,” Bell said. “That touchdown was all offensive line. They did a heck of a job on that play.”

Gonzaga Prep opened the third quarter with a 52-yard scoring strike from Bell to Nick Wood and Bell later scored from 2 yards out to make it 36-21.

On the next series, the Walla Walla punter muffed the snap and attempted a shovel pass that was intercepted by Jack Machtolf who ran it in for the score.

Nick Johnson completed the scoring with an 8-yard TD run with 10:28 left.

Gonzaga Prep’s Ben McFaul had one tackle on fourth down to stop one drive and halted a second drive when he sacked Coronado on fourth down.

“We just played our game. We kept trust in each other,” McFaul said. “Walla Walla had great players. Early in the game, I was a little scared. But it feels great right about now.”

Gonzaga Prep will play at home next week, either Friday or Saturday.

“We were down but our kids responded,” McKenna said. “It is a great team win for us.”