Kamiakin handles Southridge. Who’s on top after Week 3 Mid-Columbia Conference battles?

The usual suspects — Chiawana, Richland and Kennewick — continued to win in Week 3 of the Mid-Columbia Conference football season this past weekend.

Although Richland dodged a bullet from an inspired Hanford bunch, rallying at the end for a 21-14 Bombers victory, Chiawana and Kennewick continue to dominate.

The Riverhawks won the annual Gravel Pit Bowl, beating Pasco 42-6 at Edgar Brown Stadium.

Kennewick went on the road for the third consecutive week and won, beating Sunnyside 54-20 in a non-league game.

Meanwhile, Kamiakin rolled past Southridge 28-2 in a game that wasn’t as close as everyone thought it would be.

Last Friday’s games set up two monster contests for this coming Friday that will make football fans wish they could clone themselves: Richland at Chiawana, and Kamiakin at Kennewick.

Yes, people will have to make choices.

Before that happens, though, let’s recap last weekend.

KAMIAKIN 28, SOUTHRIDGE 2: Kamiakin head coach Scott Biglin was in awe of his defensive unit after his Braves beat the Suns at Lampson Stadium.

After all, the Kamiakin defense took advantage of forcing four turnovers (turning two of them into eventual touchdowns) en route to the victory.

“Our defensive coaches are amazing,” said Biglin. “They spent endless hours coming up with a plan to stop their running game.”

When you’re facing a Southridge team which runs the Wing-T offense — which is based on ball control, deception and chewing up the clock — you try to find ways to neutralize it.

The Braves did it by forcing three fumbles.

Southridge senior Lucien Cone rushed 12 times for 113 yards. But Kamiakin’s defense found ways to punch the ball out of Cone’s hands.

“We practice that rip and strip all the time,” said Biglin. “The guys did a good job with it.”

Leading the way were Braves senior linebacker Braydeon Outlaw, with 11 tackles (one for loss) and a forced fumble; and sophomore linebacker Riley Stevens, with 6 tackles, a pass breakup, and two fumble recoveries. Fabian Hernandez added 6 tackles.

Meanwhile, Carter Poland did a stalwart job at quarterback for Kamiakin, running in from the 1 twice for a 14-0 Braves lead.

Poland also finished passing 12 for 18 for 150 yards, and a 19-yard TD pass to Hernandez.

“Carter just gets better and better every week,” said Biglin.

Devin Crow finished the scoring for Kamiakin with a 3-yard TD run.

Kamiakin, after losing an overtime game to visiting Chiawana in Week 1, has now won two in a row after beating Moses Lake on the road last week 36-29.

“That (Moses Lake game) was a huge win for our confidence,” said Biglin. “A lot of these guys on our team were playing freshman football a year ago. Beating a good Moses Lake team on the road, and then playing against a senior-dominated team such as Southridge, it’s been fun to watch.”

It wasn’t so much fun for Southridge coach Matt Johnson, who saw his team struggle in that first half — especially with 14 penalties for 105 yards.

“At halftime, I told our guys to stay together,” said Johnson. “And to go have fun. It’s supposed to be fun. Finish the game strong. We just shot ourselves in the foot early in the game.”

Jimmy Rush finished with 91 yards rushing on 18 carries for Southridge (1-2), which plays host to Hermiston on Thursday at Lampson Stadium.

Kamiakin (2-1) plays next Friday against unbeaten Kennewick. The Lions will be the host team at Lampson.

NOTES: The Suns finished with 20 penalties for 165 yards. The Braves had 9 penalties for 63 yards. … Kamiakin junior RB Makram Altahir rushed 11 times for 51 yards. … Gavyn Buchanan led the Braves with 3 catches for 64 yards. … LB A.J. Hendrickson led Southridge’s defense with 5 tackles and two interceptions, while senior defensive lineman Trevor Hoopes added 5 tackles (2 for loss), and two QB sacks.

Other games

CHIAWANA 42, PASCO 6: DJ Duran tossed four touchdown passes, and was 9 for 18 for 185 yards, as the Riverhawks beat the Bulldogs.

Chiawana scored 35 points in the second quarter.

Ian Mohl added 117 yards rushing on 9 carries. Mohl also scored a touchdown.

Duran threw his TD passes to four different receivers. Kade Smith led the way with 2 catches for 85 yards.

Cage Sommerville added a pick-6 for the Riverhawks defense.

HERMISTON 37, WALLA WALLA 19: Isaac Corey was 22 for 34 for 203 yards passing to lead host Hermiston over Walla Walla.

The Bulldogs scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to gain control of the game.

Corey added one TD pass and two touchdown runs for the Bulldogs, who are now 2-1 on the season.

Landon Schilhanek caught 8 passes from Corey for 106 yards receiving. That included a game-opening 45-yard TD pass play.

Hermiston kicker Abel Alatorre had three field goals — 20, 45 and 33 yards — for the Bulldogs.

KENNEWICK 54, SUNNYSIDE 20: Andre Breedlove continued his winning ways for the Lions.

The senior Kennewick quarterback was 9 for 14 for 189 yards passing (with two TD passes), as well as rushing 10 times for 81 yards and three more scores.

Breedlove also intercepted a pass on defense.

Sophomore Alex Roberts also had a big game for the Lions, rushing for 69 yards, catching two passes for 66 yards and a score, and picking up a fumble and running it back for a 45-yard TD on defense.

Zaydel Capetillo added 85 yards rushing on 12 carries; and David Wacenske had 2 catches for 53 yards and a score.

RICHLAND 21, HANFORD 14: The Bombers had to rally from a 14-7 deficit with 3:04 to play in order to beat their crosstown rivals in the annual Atomic Bowl.

Josh Woodard dived in from the 1 with 16 seconds remaining for the victory.

Woodard had connected with Tanner Schuster for a TD pass with 3:04 to play to tie the game.

No other details were available.

MCC standings

Chiawana 3-0 MCC, 3-0 overall

Richland 3-0, 3-0

Kennewick 2-0, 3-0

Hermiston 2-1, 2-1

Kamiakin 1-1, 2-1

Southridge 1-2, 1-2

Walla Walla 0-2, 0-3

Hanford 0-3, 0-3

Pasco 0-3, 0-3

Friday, Sept. 16

Chiawana 42, Pasco 6

Hermiston 37, Walla Walla 19

Kamiakin 28, Southridge 2

Kennewick 54, Sunnyside 20

Richland 21, Hanford 14

Schedule

Thursday, Sept. 22

All times 7 p.m.

Hermiston at Southridge, Lampson Stadium

Friday, Sept. 23

Kamiakin at Kennewick, Lampson Stadium

Mountain View at Hanford

Pasco at Walla Walla, Borleske Stadium

Richland at Chiawana, Edgar Brown Stadium