Connell back in title game

MOSES LAKE -- The Connell Eagles weren't sure they could pass Saturday. Thanks to Matt Hadley, they never really had to find out.

Hadley rushed for 236 yards and three scores, and also scored a fourth touchdown on a 45-yard punt return as Connell made it back to the 1A state championship for the third time in four years with a 37-14 win over Chelan.

The Eagles racked up 316 yards on the ground, preventing banged up quarterback Nate Martinez from having to test his sore back.

"Our quarterback has been beat up, and throwing the deep ball was probably not in our arsenal today," said Eagles coach Wayne Riner.

Martinez, who attempted just seven passes, said he was more than happy to just keep handing off.

"I wasn't going to miss this game," he said. "I knew if we got our running game going, they couldn't beat us."

The Eagles (13-0) will face fellow unbeaten Cascade Christian (13-0) for the title at 1 p.m. next Saturday in the Tacoma Dome.

"We're both 13-0, but I don't know a lot about them," Riner said. "I didn't want to watch any film, because I wanted to concentrate on this game."

Hadley was a workhorse in the first half. He carried the ball on Connell's first nine plays and finished with 32 carries on the afternoon. He broke off a 50-yard scoring run to give Connell a 7-0 lead less than 3 minutes into the game, then scored again on the first play of the second quarter for a 14-0 margin. He tacked on another touchdown with 2:14 left in the first half.

His fourth score, though, was the back-breaker.

Already trailing 23-0, Chelan punted with less than a minute left in the half. Hadley grabbed the linedrive kick at the 45 and bobbed-and-weaved his way through the Goats defense. Breaking arm tackles and running away from defenders, he eventually crossed the goal line with just 6.9 seconds left to give Connell a 30-0 lead.

The Eagles had 256 yards at halftime, and Hadley had 179 of them.

"(Connell) came in and played a semifinal game at the level a semifinal game should be played," Chelan coach Darren Talley said. "They've got an outstanding young back in Matt Hadley."

Chelan put together an impressive drive to open the second half, going without a huddle to drive 73 yards in seven plays. Cole Schwartz capped the drive with a 2-yard scoring run.

The Goats added another score early in the fourth, but their defense continued to struggle to get off the field as Connell converted four of five third-down attempts in the second half and an incredible 11 of 12 for the game.

Chelan quarterback Michael Amsel Jr., who had thrown 10 touchdown passes and two interceptions in the Goats' first three playoff games, was 12-for-21 passing for 223 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

"That kid's a play-making fool," Riner said. "We just tried to keep the pressure on him."

Amsel made a handful of "wow" plays but was not nearly the magician he'd been in leading the Goats to wins over Cashmere, Royal and Omak.

He also was tackled in the end zone for a safety with 5:41 left in the first half, giving Connell a 16-0 lead.

Connell 7 23 7 0 -- 37

Chelan 0 0 6 8 -- 14

SCORING PLAYS

Con--Matt Hadley 50 run (Ivan Barragan kick)

Con--Hadley 3 run (Barragan kick)

Con--Safety, Michael Amsel Jr. tackled in end zone

Con--Hadley 5 run (Barragan kick)

Con--Hadley 45 punt return (Barragan kick)

Che--Cole Schwartz 2 run (run failed)

Con--Dyrel Whitby 10 run (Barragan kick)

Che--Aaron McQuaid 11 pass from Amsel (McQuaid pass from Amsel)

STATISTICS

RUSHING--Con, Hadley 32-236, Whitby 8-43, Coulson 7-29, Martinez 4-(minus 10). Che, Schwartz 5-33, Amsel 5-10, Peterson 1-(minus 3).

PASSING--Con, Martinez 5-7-0-94. Che, Amsel 12-21-2-223.

RECEIVING--Con, Hadley 2-32, Hawkins 2-34, Didier 1-15, Anderson 1-13. Che, Schwartz 1-(minus 1), Weathersby 4-66, McQuaid 5-155.

FIRST DOWNS--Con 20 , Che 12.