Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009

Lions corral 25-17 win over Bulldogs

By Rene Ferran, Herald staff writer

KENNEWICK -- Zak Albertin just wanted a chance at redemption.

The Kennewick junior had just fumbled the ball back to Pasco around midfield with 1:31 to play and the Lions clinging to a 25-17 lead Friday night at Lampson Stadium.

Two big pass plays had the Bulldogs knocking on the goal line, and Albertin knew what was coming next.

"I saw him look at me, and I knew they were coming at me," Albertin said, referring to Pasco's 6-foot-5 tight end, Jacob Price.

And indeed, on second down Price ran a wheel route to the right corner of the end zone, right at the 6-foot Albertin.

Albertin jumped in front of Price, got his hands on the ball, and this time, no one was going to pry it out.

Albertin's interception in the end zone sealed Kennewick's CBBN Columbia victory and a crossover playoff game at 8 p.m. next Friday against Kamiakin.

"We've always played them every year, and now we get them in the playoffs," said Albertin, who finished with 12 tackles (four for loss). "It's time for us to step it up and be the team we know we can be."

That was the message Lions coach Bill Templeton delivered at halftime after his team was thoroughly outplayed by the Bulldogs and trailed 17-6.

"I basically called out about 10 of our key players and said, 'Does this matter to you?' " Templeton said. "This was a night when we celebrated Ronny Coleman, and I'm proud of how my Lions came back in the second half."

It started with forcing a quick punt from Pasco to open the third quarter, and then Kennewick took advantage of having the wind at its back.

The Lions overcame an intentional grounding penalty to go 74 yards in seven plays, with Trent Brown lofting a 23-yard TD pass to Reggie Clinton in the back of the end zone to cut the deficit to 17-12.

After the ensuing kickoff, Albertin wrapped up Lonnie Hurley in the Pasco backfield, spun him to the ground and stripped the ball free. Clinton fell on the ball at the Pasco 2, and Albertin plunged over right guard for the go-ahead score with 6:43 left in the third.

"We always talk about big-time players making big plays in big situations," Templeton said. "We did that tonight."

Kennewick got the ball back after a three-and-out, and Brown hit Brett Oliver in full stretch for a 19-yard touchdown, just getting the ball past Aaron Cantu in perfect coverage for a 25-17 lead.

"What a great ball," said Pasco coach Dustin Lamb, whose team travels to Cascade champion Eisenhower in next week's crossover round. "They had some kids make some great plays. Give them credit, because they didn't panic. They took care of business in the second half."

Lamb's team took care of business in the first half, breaking out a Wildcat attack that left the Lions a step behind.

The Bulldogs held the ball for 16 1/2 minutes in the half and amassed 180 yards of total offense in building their lead.

"The kids showed some marked improvement tonight," said Lamb, whose team has lost five in a row. "We showed what we're capable of, but we've got to find some consistency and dedicate ourselves for four quarters. If we do that, we can play with anybody."

* Rene Ferran: 509-582-1526; rferran@tricityherald.com. Read his prep sports blog at sportstricities.com

Kennewick 25, Pasco 17

Pasco 7 10 0 0 -- 17

Kennewick 0 6 19 0 -- 25

SCORING PLAYS

P -- Austin Wilborn 1 pass from Josh Morris (Emmanuel Martinez kick)

P -- Jacob Price 27 pass from DeVaunte Lamb (Martinez kick)

K -- Drew Loftus 12 pass from Trent Brown (kick failed)

P -- FG Martinez 28

K -- Reggie Clinton 23 pass from Brown (pass failed)

K -- Zak Albertin 2 run (run failed)

K -- Brett Oliver 19 pass from Brown (KC Hooper kick)

STATISTICS

RUSHING--P, Lamb 16-82, Wilborn 6-33, Morris 7-(minus 26), Lonnie Hurley 4-2, Aaron Cantu 2-4, Brandon Search 1-(minus 2), team 1-(minus 9). K, Albertin 12-444, Deven Ramos 2-13, Hooper 2-6, Loftus 8-12, Brown 8-(minus 9), team 2-(minus 4).

PASSING--P, Morris 13-27-1-170, Wilborn 1-1-0-35, Lamb 1-1-0-27. K, Brown 11-19-1-188, Loftus 1-2-0-11.

RECEIVING--P, Wilborn 5-94, Lamb 3-28, Search 3-34, Price 2-37, Cantu 2-39. K, Loftus 2-44, Hooper 1-11, Clinton 4-90, Ramos 2-18, Travis Sharp 1-14, Oliver 2-22.

FIRST DOWNS--P 18, K 12. FUMBLES-LOST--P 3-1, K 2-2. PENALTIES-YARDS--P 8-83, K 6-48.