Though it didn't end the 2005 prep football season with a win, Lyle-Klickitat-Wishram certainly finished its final game with a flourish.
A pair of late touchdowns by Noah LaFrenz prevented Soap Lake from shutting out visiting LKW last Saturday.
"The trademark of this team all season long, in every game, was never giving up, and we scored twice in the last minute to prove that," Cougars Coach David Barthlow said.
LaFrenz scored on a 56-yard run with about a minute remaining, recovered the ensuing onside kick and, on the next play, hauled a Jason Hightower pass 53 yards to the end zone for another LKW touchdown.
The Cougars' Doug Ginnett took custody of the ball with 45 seconds left after another successful onside kick by LKW.
But Soap Lake ended LKW's last-minute theatrics, and sealed the win, by intercepting a Hightower pass.
LKW's two scoring plays accounted for the bulk of its offensive output. For the game, the Cougars, who finished with a 1-9 record, gained 183 yards in 33 plays from scrimmage.
"We struggled the whole game to get our offense going," Barthlow said, noting the Cougars played the game with three offensive starters sidelined by injury or illness.
"It was a continual struggle this season with all the injuries and eligibility problems we had," Barthlow added, "but the coaches are very proud of how the players worked throughout the season."
LaFrenz led the Cougars on both sides of the ball, tallying 69 yards rushing and 53 receiving on offense, and seven tackles and 15 assists on defense.
Hightower, who connected on both of his point-after tries, completed 5-of-8 passes for a season-high 82 yards, and had three tackles and 11 assists.
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