Richland Bombers pound Central Valley Bears in 4A playoffs

KENNEWICK – It’s difficult to beat a football team – especially one as good as the Richland Bombers – with a hand tied behind your back.

With an offense that struggled for four quarters Friday, Central Valley had no answer for the Bombers’ stingy defense as Richland pulled away 30-3 in a State 4A playoff opener at Neil F. Lampson Stadium.

Things started poorly for CV (8-3) and progressively got worse. On the Bears’ third play, linebacker Lakota Wills tipped a Tanner Sloan pass at the line of scrimmage that was picked off by Brecken Galliher and returned 21 yards for a touchdown.

By halftime, Richland (10-1) led 16-0 without the benefit of an offensive touchdown.

“It was the worst start to a game I’ve ever seen,” said CV coach Rick Giampietri, who has seen a few poor starts in 46 years coaching. “Then the sky kick, the pooch, and we don’t field it. I was surprised that the score was what it was (at halftime) actually. It could have been a lot worse, but we were playing solid defense.”

But CV’s defense met its match in Richland.

The Bombers allowed just 23 yards in the first two quarters. CV finished with 99.

CV showed some offensive life to start the second half. And when its drive stalled at Richland’s 39-yard line, Giampietri sent kicker Ryan Rehkow in to attempt a 57-yard field goal.

With a stiff breeze at his back, Rehkow cleared the goal posts with plenty to spare.

And when CV’s Terrell Harrison recovered a fumble on the ensuing possession, the Bears had more hope.

But the Bears couldn’t mount any more offense.

Richland added two offensive touchdowns – one late in the third period, and then the back breaker came when the Bombers converted a third-and-goal play backed up at the 37. Quarterback Paxton Stevens hit Griffey March, who zigged and zagged past a pair of Bears for the TD.

Stevens completed 16 of 24 for 292 yards. Richland finished with 531 yards of total offense.

Giampietri praised Richland’s defense.

“Their ends are tough and they run to the ball pretty well,” Giampietri said.

Giampietri thought his team pressed in the second half.

“Some of the guys were pushing too much,” he said. “They were trying to get an (interception) instead of just making the plays.”

It appeared Richland wore down the Bears.

“We were on the field a lot,” Giampietri said of his defense. “We couldn’t get anything going on offense. We couldn’t get a first down to get things going. That was the hard part.”

Senior defensive back Ben Craig, who led the Greater Spokane League with seven interceptions, said CV couldn’t find any offense.

“We couldn’t get first downs. We couldn’t make the connections we needed to,” Craig said. “We couldn’t have been more unlucky with our first drives. After that it took a turn for us.”

Giampietri will look back on the season fondly.

“It’s been a great season. To have as many picks as we’ve had and as many turnovers as we’ve had and to play solid all year was great,” Giampietri said. “Tanner (Sloan) gave us great play all through the year. I’m pretty proud of them. They’re super kids and were fun to coach.”

Craig said there was much for CV to be happy about.

“The team did great this year, especially after last year (3-7),” Craig said. “Nobody really thought much of us. We put together a good playoff team. We didn’t make it as far as we wanted to but we definitely have to celebrate what we achieved.”