Big start, close finish, but Bombers pull off perfection

Adam Weissenfels picked off three passes on a career night at the Tacoma Dome, and the Richland Bombers jumped out to a big lead in the first half and held on for a 28-21 win over Woodinville in the 4A championship game Saturday night.

The victory finished a perfect 14-0 season and secured the school’s third state title.

Weissenfels, a senior defensive back/receiver, also scored the Bombers’ first touchdown to start a 28-point first half, forced a fumble and returned three big punts to keep Woodinville on its heels.

After opening a 28-0 lead in the first half, the Bombers found themselves on the defensive.

Richland was vying for its first title since 1999 in a battle of unbeatens and the top two ranked teams in the state. They were hoping to give a fitting sendoff for a senior class that also reached the semifinals in 2015 and won 39 games over the past three seasons.

Against a Woodinville team touted for its power-run offense and bruising defense, the Bombers flexed their muscles and won in the trenches in the first half. Feature back Parker McCary rushed 17 times for 93 yards with a touchdown.

Richland quarterback Cade Jensen was his usual efficient self, throwing a pair of first-half touchdowns. Weissenfels turned some heads with a nine-yard TD catch, an interception, a forced fumble and three punt returns that kept Woodinville on the defense.

Jared Whitby scored on a 3-yard run and Sammy Cervantes on a 15-yard pass in the first half for Richland.

Check back for updates.

This story was originally published December 2, 2017 at 10:42 PM with the headline "Big start, close finish, but Bombers pull off perfection."