Braves pull out another one in OT

KENNEWICK -- Trey Ralston-Loera was begging for another chance. Corey Hutchison was hoping for a few extra counts in the pocket.

In the end, they both got what they wanted, and the Kamiakin Braves got what they needed for a remarkable rally and a 38-35 overtime victory over Walla Walla on Friday night.

"We'll take a win any way we can get it," said first-year Kamiakin coach Scott Biglin, who saw his squad pull out an overtime win over Eastmont on this same Lampson Stadium field two weeks ago for homecoming.

"That's a great football team," he continued, pointing to Wa-Hi's sideline. "This is a great football team. What a great football game!"

In a game that ostensibly decided second place in the CBBN Cascade Division, the Braves (4-2, 4-1) trailed by 21 points heading into the fourth quarter before scoring on three straight drives -- all of them on Hutchison passes as the 6-foot-5, 200-pounder hung in against relentless blitzing pressure for the Blue Devils (3-3, 3-2).

"Hats off to their O-line coach and their quarterback," said Walla Walla coach Marc Yonts, also the teams defensive coordinator whose come-from-everywhere pressure got to Hutchison threw times in the first half but just once after the break. "We threw everything we had at 'em and couldn't get home."

"I'm already sore," said a smiling Hutchison after throwing for 318 yards (202 in the second half) and five touchdowns. "I knew I was going to take a hit every once in a while. The line gave me enough time."

Hutchison's final TD toss of the night -- the third one hauled in by league-leading receiver Tim White -- came with 2:16 still on the clock.

In a game chock full of offense -- 835 total yards between the two teams -- it was more than enough for Wa-Hi and talented junior QB Michael Weisner.

Weisner and Gary Winston hooked up for three touchdowns in the second quarter alone as the Blue Devils opened up a 28-14 lead at the half and then scored quickly in the third quarter for a three-touchdown margin.

One of those scores came on a play 32-yard play on which Ralston-Loera got beat deep. With Weisner, Winston and Co. driving for a potential go-ahead score in the closing moments, the senior defensive back saw his chance at redemption and intercepted a ball at the Kamiakin 35.

"Coaches said play deep, and I didn't want to get beat," said Ralston-Loera, who also broke up a pass in overtime. "I knew they were going to Winston -- I saw the quarterback going with him the whole way. Then I just broke on the ball."

Kamiakin got the ball first in overtime and had to settle for a 30-yard field goal from Garrett Bowe, who was 5-for-5 on extra points.

On Walla Walla's turn in the Kansas tiebreaker, the Braves came up with a second pick of Weisner, this time by Drew Oord on third-and-12.

Weisner threw for 220 yards and four TDs, though after a marvelous first half was limited to just 2-for-11 for 21 yards after the break.

Winston caught five balls for 120 yards, going big play-for-big play with White, who finished with 11 catches for 195 yards.

"This was a couple of heavyweights," Yonts said, "and they got the last punch in."

* Kevin Anthony: 509-582-1403; kanthony@tricityherald.com.

Kamiakin 38, Wa-Hi 35 (OT)

Walla Walla 6 22 7 0 0 -- 35

Kamiakin 7 7 0 21 3 -- 38

SCORING PLAYS

K--Tim White 45 pass from Corey Hutchison (Garrett Bowe kick)

WW--Moe Handcox 22 pass from Michael Weisner (kick blocked)

WW--Gary Winston 44 pass from Weisner (Austin Schilling run)

WW--Winston 32 pass from Weisner (kick fail)

K--White 16 pass from Hutchison (Bowe kick)

WW--Winston 7 pass from Weisner (Schilling run)

WW--Tyler Porter 1 run (Dean Atkinson kick)

K--Tyler Holle 9 pass from Hutchison (Bowe kick)

K--Tyler Wolf 5 pass from Hutchison (Bowe kick)

K--White 12 pass from Hutchison (Bowe kick)

K--FG Bowe 30

STATISTICS

RUSHING--WW, Schilling 16-51, Porter 9-70, Winston 2-35, Weisner 6-21, Madison Filan 1-(minus 1). K, Dom Davis 11-62, Hutchison 5-(minus 33).

PASSING--WW, Weisner 13-31-2-220. K, Hutchison 24-45-3-318.

RECEIVING--WW, Winston 5-120, Handcox 3-64, Jake Crawford 2-30, Nick Zollman 1-7, Aaron Flippo 1-7, Schilling 1-(minus 3). K, White 11-195, Holle 6-51, Wolf 3-22, AJ Griffiths 2-23, James Swinyard 1-25, Brandon Heath 1-7.

FIRST DOWNS--WW 16, K 19. FUMBLES-LOST--WW 1-0, K 0-0. PENALTIES-YARDS--WW 10-89, K 4-32.