Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009

Tri-Cities Prep rolls over L-W 46-0

By Jack Millikin, Herald staff writer

PASCO -- In the early days of Tri-Cities Prep football, Lacrosse-Washtucna delivered some pretty humiliating defeats to the fledgling program.

The Jaguars began play in 2001 but were outscored 158-6 in their first three games against the Tigercats, who earned four straight 1B state titles from 2002-05. In 2004, Prep had to forfeit to L-W for lack of players.

But those dark days are over.

The Jaguars scored a merciless 46-0 win over the Tigercats on Friday at Edgar Brown Stadium. Actually, the 45-point mercy rule was enforced at halftime, but this one was over after Prep built a 40-0 lead after just one quarter.

It was just Prep's second victory in nine tries against L-W, which won its sixth 1B state title last season. It was also the first time the Tigercats have been shut out since they lost 50-0 to eventual state champion Tekoa-Oakesdale in 1992.

"They've definitely had our number. Last year they beat us on a last-second Hail Mary pass to win the league title," said Jags coach Dan Whitsett. "It feels good to play a complete game on both sides of the ball."

Will Hoppes, still recovering from a shoulder injury incurred in mid-September, was making his first two-way start since Week 2 and wanted to make a strong impression. He didn't take long to do that, scampering 81 yards down the right sideline on the game's first play from scrimmage for a 6-0 lead.

"It looked like (L-W) did a shift, and they blitzed," said Hoppes, who also completed 5 of 7 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. "They gave me the opportunity (to run) and I just took it."

It was also a big night for receiver Troy Redmann, who caught four passes for 104 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, the 6-foot defensive back added a game-high five tackles plus an interception to stop the Tigercats' final drive in Prep territory.

"I think out of all the teams, this is the one I've wanted to beat every season," said Redmann, who hauled in a 40-yard TD pass from Jameson Pederson on a trick play with 8:16 left in the first quarter. "Coach wanted a big first-half cushion."

L-W has certainly had its share of success, but the program has been racked both by torment and tragedy in the last month. First, the 'Cats dealt with the death of an opposing player -- Valley Christian's Drew Swank -- following a 64-14 win over the Vikings on Sept. 25.

Since then, L-W has suffered the loss of four starters, including last season's 1B state player of the year Garrett Blauert (torn meniscus).

If that wasn't enough, coach Jeff Nelson had to watch yet another starter go down during the game when two-way lineman Gary Marmes left with a leg injury early in the first quarter.

"Right now, it's really hard for the players to fathom that we've fallen so far," Nelson said. "The wheels just fell off."

Lacrosse-Washtucna 0 0 -- 0

Tri-Cities Prep 40 6 -- 46

SCORING PLAYS

TC--Will Hoppes 81 run (Antonio Ledesma pass from Hoppes)

TC--Troy Redmann 40 pass from Jameson Pederson (Redmann pass from Hoppes)

TC--Redmann 15 pass from Hoppes (Kevin Ratuiste run)

TC--Redmann 9 pass from Hoppes (Hoppes run)

TC--Ratuiste 51 run (Ratuiste run)

TC--Anthony Hinkson 79 run (run failed)

STATISTICS

RUSHING--LW, Garrett Whitney 1-(minus 1), Jacob Blankenship 7-18, Jake Aune 1-4, Jeff Zimmer 2-9. TC, Hoppes 2-82, Ratuiste 3-56, Jacob Schmidt 9-43, Hinkson 1-79.

PASSING--LW, Aune 8-20-3-65. TC, Hoppes 5-7-0-100, Pederson 1-1-0-40.

RECEIVING--LW, Sam Harder 3-16, Zimmer 4-37, Blankenship 1-12. TC, Redmann 4-104, Pederson 1-7, Ledesma 1-29.

FIRST DOWNS--LW 6, TC 8. FUMBLES-LOST--LW 1-1, TC 1-1. PENALTIES-YARDS--LW 2-20, TC 5-40.