From left to right, Leland Beyer, Samuel Knott and Judah Posini protect quaterback Levi Connellfrom onrushing Cardinals during their game against Medical Lake High on Sept. 26.
From left to right, Leland Beyer, Samuel Knott and Judah Posini protect quaterback Levi Connellfrom onrushing Cardinals during their game against Medical Lake High on Sept. 26.
WHITE SALMON — The Columbia High Bruins (1-3) had a breakthrough performance in WIAA Class 1A football, as they recorded their first victory of the season Sept. 26 at home, 25-22, over the Medical Lake High Cardinals (0-4).
The Bruins, guided by Coach John Hallead, had two second-half stops on defense and were able to hold on for the come-from-behind victory.
“It was a very pivotal and important game for us going into a bye week,” said Hallead. “We have battled with sickness and having key starters being out of games for the first three weeks. It was no different on Saturday. We had a handful of starters who missed practices due to illness, and we were also dealing with some minor injuries during the game.”
Senior running back Brody Landgren (16 carries, 152 yards rushing) scored on a 55-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to help lead the Bruins to the victory. Landgren also had two receptions for 62 yards.
Hallead said, “Our defense stepped up in the second half. We kept them (Cardinals) from scoring when they were inside our 10-yard line on two different offensive possessions. Sam Knott and Luke Padgett had key plays that thwarted Medical Lake’s offensive drives in the second half.”
The Bruins trailed 8-7 after the first quarter. Sophomore Cassidy Ebbert (two catches, 22 yards receiving) scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Levi Connell (5-for-8 passing, 91 yards, TD) for the Bruins’ first score of the game. Anderson Hernandez booted the point after touchdown for the Bruins.
Landgren scored on a 59-yard touchdown pass from Connell to help the Bruins keep the score close at halftime, with the Cardinals on top, 16-13. The Bruins took a 19-16 lead in the third quarter. Senior receiver Caleb Reynolds scored on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Connell to cap an impressive 15-play, nine-minute scoring drive. Both teams scored once in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
Connell (nine carries, 40 yards rushing), Leland Beyer (seven carries, 30 yards rushing) and Knott (seven carries, 30 yards rushing) made contributions to the Bruins’ ground game.
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