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

Colville outlasts Lakeside to win Northeast A League title

In an epic battle of two equally-matched teams, Colville made just enough plays Friday night and prevailed 41-28 over Lakeside to win the Northeast A League championship.

Perhaps the biggest play –on a night full of them – was when Colville’s Noah Robbins took the handoff on the final play of the first half. He weaved and dodged and broke tackles for a 38-yard score that gave the Indians (8-1, 7-0 NEA) a 27-14 lead at halftime.

“How awesome was that?” Colville coach Randy Cornwell asked. “I told Noah that I’d like to see him score. Just look at the effort he gave. That was huge.”

Robbins credited his blockers on the play, where it appeared he ran 70 yards to gain 38.

“I tried to stay up, and it worked out,” he said. “I can’t believe this. This is awesome.”

But Lakeside (7-2, 6-1) wouldn’t be denied. Time and time again senior quarterback Cameron Gay made clutch passes or drew interference penalties against the Indians.

Gay hit Nick Annanie on a 31-yard scoring pass in the third quarter to pull within 27-21. Then in the fourth quarter, Gay found Annanie again on a 75-yard scoring strike to pull his team within 34-28 of the Indians.

“What a player,” Cornwell said of Gay. “I’ve never seen a kid make so many plays. We never felt safe. I was always trying to think a play ahead.”

Colville finally got breathing room with a 23-yard touchdown with only 2:56 remaining in the fourth quarter when William Burton, who left four times because of cramps, broke through the line and found the end zone.

“I knew I had to keep pushing,” Burton said. “I love this team. Every week we were the underdog. It makes it feel that much better when we win.”

But the game wasn’t over. Gay led his team once more into Colville territory but Tristen Lewis intercepted his long pass at the Eagles’ five-yard line to end the final threat.

“That was a heck of a high school football game,” Lakeside coach Brian Dunn said. “We had a slug fest. They ended up on top and they deserved it.”

Colville has a bye next week and then will host a first-round playoff game in two weeks. Lakeside has a non-league game against Cashmere before they play on the road as the second seed out of District 7.

“(Indians quarterback Jack) Hinds was hobbled, but he just kept fighting. Burton was hobbled and he kept fighting,” Cornwell said.

After the game, the Indians jumped and celebrated after winning at both Freeman and Lakeside to win the league crown. It’s a team that lost a busload of seniors from the team that finished last year as the state runner up.

“Nobody gave us a shot at the beginning of the year,” Cornwell said. “But here we are. I’m proud of them.”