In season-opening games

On the final play of the game, White Salmon's Jensen Ladiges ripped off a 35-yard run before being tackled short of the end zone.

Ladiges put the Black Knights on top, 6-0, running 55 yards for the touchdown on the game's second play.

With 2:43 left, the White Salmon quarterback scored on a 75-yard keeper sweep on the first play following a Black Knights defensive stand at their own 25-yard line.

He then ran the ball around right end for the 2-point conversion that tied the score at 14.

Hood River successfully executed its 2-minute drill in the final 2:43, however, marching 60 yards for the tiebreaking touchdown. After being penalized 15 yards for excessive celebration, Gang Green's run for conversion failed.

The Black Knights led, 6-0, after one quarter of play but surrendered a 75-yard scoring run and the 2-point conversion at the start of the second to fall behind, 8-6.

Hood River opened the second half with a 60-yard scoring drive that consumed most of the third quarter. A 4-yard TD run with 48 seconds to go in the period increased its lead to 14-6.

After Gang Green scored to go up 20-14, the Black Knights gave it their best shot to put the tying points on the board.

Starting at its 40 (at the start of a half and following a touchdown or field goal, offensive possessions begin at the offensive team's 40-yard line), White Salmon snapped the ball to Ladiges, who tried to go around right end.

He was tackled for a loss as time expired. But because Hood River was flagged for a facemasking penalty on the play (a game can't end on a defensive penalty), the Black Knights improved their field position by 15 yards and got one more shot at the end zone.

But Gang Green defenders cut Ladiges off on the sideline and took him down before he could inflict more damage against them.

Hood River Purple 16, White Salmon Big Red 6 --

Big Red quarterback Adrianne DeLay gave the home team a 6-0 lead with 3:36 remaining in the first quarter, scoring on a 14-yard keeper that capped a 60-yard opening drive.

Hood River copied White Salmon's movement of the chains on its first possession until a holding penalty threw its drive into reverse -- temporarily.

The Purple recovered that ground moments later, scoring the tying touchdown on a 21-yard run with 6:58 left in the second quarter. Its run for conversion made it 8-6.

Hood River went on the march again late in the half, advancing as far as White Salmon's 5-yard line before time ran out.

At the expiration of a scoreless third period, the Purple found itself in the Big Red's red zone once again.

Hood River scored on an 8-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter, then tacked on the conversion for a 16-6 lead with 7:53 remaining.

Next up:

This Saturday, at Barthlow Field in Goldendale, the White Salmon Black Knights play The Dalles Red at 10 a.m.; and the White Salmon Big Red takes on Goldendale at 11:30.