Columbia football tops Fort Vancouver

WHITE SALMON — Columbia High survived a pass interception and two lost fumbles, coming from behind in the fourth quarter for a 30-14 football win Oct. 24 over host Fort Vancouver.

The Bruins (2-5) trailed 14-12 early in the final period, but outscored Fort 18-0 the rest of the way to pull out the win at Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver. The win puts a three-win season in reach for the Bruins, who play their season finale at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 at nearby rival Stevenson High.

Last week, Columbia took the lead for good vs. Forst with 6:40 to play after the Trappers had gained its two-point advantage. Jordan MacCormack returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards to the Fort 19-yard line. Columbia went ahead on a Hunter Wang to Juan Santoyo slant pattern pass over the middle.

Columbia regained possession quickly as MacCormack recovered his own squib kick at the Bruin 48. A few plays later, slot receiver Juan Santoyo found an opening just beyond the line of scrimmage and Wang hit him with a quick pass culminating with an eight-yard score with 2:45 to play.

Columbia had one more possession after Fort turned the ball over on downs. Facing a third-and-12 from the Trapper 39-yard line, Santoyo ran a post route down the left sideline. He got past one defender and caught Wang’s pass at the 15 and then won a footrace to the end zone.

Columbia scored on its opening possession on a Wang scramble touchdown from 15 yards out. There was a miscommunication on a handoff attempt between Wang and running back Humberto Pulido after which the Bruin QB took off running around left end. He was able to outrun the Fort Vancouver pursuit to the front corner of the end zone. Pulido’s 24-yard run earlier in the drive set up Columbia in Trapper territory.

A bad snap on a punt attempt by Fort Vancouver again set up Columbia in the red zone early in the third quarter. At the Fort Vancouver 13-yard line, Pulido took a handoff and ran left. MacCormack sealed the edge with a block and Pulido weaved his way to the end zone.

The senior running back would leave the game for good a short time later, when he was injured pursuing a Fort fumble.

The first Fort Vancouver score was set up by a pass interception of Wang and 75-yard return to the Bruin 5-yard line. Fort scored by converting a fourth-and-goal from 20 yard away with 1:21 left in the third period. Wang finished 10-of-18 passing for 138 yards. The senior signal caller also ran 16 times for 84 yards.