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SPOKANE -- Quick-strike offense coupled with timely and opportunistic defense against a mistake-prone foe provided the ingredients to propel Ferris into a State 4A football quarterfinal appearance.
Ferris travels to Yakima next weekend to play unbeaten Eisenhower, which built a big lead and held on to eliminate Southridge 27-21.
The Saxons (8-3) parlayed three turnovers and a four-down defensive stand into a big first-quarter lead en route to a 41-16 triumph over Kamiakin (8-3) Friday night at Joe Albi Stadium.
Two fumbles came 15 seconds apart deep in Braves territory, outside linebacker Brendon Olson recovering both, that led to the final 10 points of a 24-10 lead.
They were among the five turnovers and three fourth-down stops by the Saxons that sent Ferris in into the round of eight.
The game began ominously for Ferris when White took the opening kickoff, burst through a seam and legged it 77 yards for 7-0 Kamiakin lead.
But Tonani stepped in front of a receiver and picked off Corey Hutchison's pass and in five plays, capped by Olson's 17-yard run, the score was tied.
The final six minutes of the long, long first quarter then turned nightmarish for the visitors.
Kamiakin was inside Ferris' 20-yard line, but turned away on downs. Connor Halliday, with two blitzers in his face, found Gabe Orosco with a screen pass and the Saxons fullback got outside and into open territory for 76 yards and the go-ahead score.
Ferris scored twice with 3 minutes, 30 seconds left in the quarter including a 23-yard Halliday-to-Jason Bates pass.
The killer before halftime came when Kamiakin eschewed a field goal with fourth down at the 6-yard line. An all-out blitz smothered Hutchison and Ferris covered 85 yards in the final 3 minutes, a middle screen to Tonani from 20 yards out making it 31-10.
Ferris 41, Kamiakin 16
Kamiakin 7 3 6 0 -- 16
Ferris 24 7 7 3 -- 41
Scoring plays
K-- White 77 kickoff return (Bowe kick)
F-- Olson 17 run (Belling kick)
F-- Orosco 76 pass from Halliday (Belling kick)
F-- Bates 23 pass from Halliday (Belling kick)
F-- FG Belling 29
K-- FG Bowe 28
F-- Tonani 20 pass from Halliday (Belling kick)
K-- Heath 19 pass from C. Hutchison (kick failed)
F-- Tonani 10 pass from Halliday (Belling kick)
F-- FG Belling 31
Individual statistics
Rushing: Kamiakin- Wilmoth 4-42, Davis 7-40, Pina 1-4, Wolf 1-0, C. Hutchison 2-(-3), Umemoto 1-(-4). Ferris- Orosco 13-50, Olson 4-28, Tonani 1-0, Goodwin 4-(-7), Halliday 9-(-21).
Passing: Kamiakin- C. Hutchison 16-36-2-195. J. Hutchison 0-1-0-0. Ferris- Halliday 17-28-0-307, Goodwin 1-2-0-9.
Recieving: Kamiakin- Holle 6-73, Griffiths 2-49, Houser 3-31, Heath 1-19, White 1-10, Wilmoth 1-8, Davis 1-3, Wolf 1-2. Ferris- Orosco 4-142, Tonani 5-63, Lemer 3-58, Bates 3-36, Jones 1-9, Bozett 2-8. First downs--K 13, F 16. Fumbles-lost--K 11-3, F 2-1. Penalties-yards-- K 3-10, F 9-71.
