Kamiakin rolls into semifinals with 44-19 win (w/ gallery) | Tri-City Herald

KENNEWICK -- So much for that vaunted Mount Spokane offense.

The Wildcats ran into a buzz saw Saturday in the form of the Kamiakin defense at Lampson Stadium.

The Braves manhandled the line of scrimmage, intercepted three passes, forced a fumble, recorded three sacks and had their way with their Class 3A quarterfinal opponent in a 44-19 rout.

"Nobody can get past our defense," Kamiakin defensive back Dom Davis said. "We're too good for anybody right now."

SIGN UP

With the win, Kamiakin will face Capital next weekend at Lampson Stadium at a time and date to be determined.

On Saturday, Davis got the party started, intercepting a Carson Blumenthal pass and returning it 32 yards for a score less than 5 minutes into the game.

That result would be a recurring theme for Blumenthal and the Wildcats offense, which entered the game averaging 515 yards and 55 points through their first two playoff games.

On Saturday, the Wildcats finished with 342 yards -- but 141 of those came against the second-string defense.

"Our defense has been lights out," Kamiakin coach Scott Biglin said. "They are outstanding. I'm glad they are on my team and I don't have to prepare for them."

With the defense flexing its muscles early, the Braves offense went to work.

After a three-and-out, Davis had three carries for 28 yards and Garrett Bowe booted a 21-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.

Mount Spokane squeaked out a first down, but nothing more. Joey Jansen completed three passes of 10, 11 and 10 yards, the final connecting on a fade ball to the left corner to Tyler Holle for a quick 17-0 lead.

The Wildcats looked as though they didn't know what hit them.

"I figured the defense would be strong," Jansen said. "We just wanted to be patient and see what (Mount Spokane) would give us and we got going."

The Braves defense then put the game away, as Blumenthal completed a 10-yard pass to Trevor Kissinger, but Kissinger fumbled and James Swinyard recovered.

Two players later Jansen found Holle on a post right. Holle came back to the ball, made the catch and dove into the end zone to put Kamiakin up 24-0 with 4:07 left in the second quarter.

On the next possession, Shad Fletcher intercepted Blumenthal and five plays later, Drew Oord scored from a yard out for an insurmountable 31-0 lead at halftime.

"It doesn't matter who gets the ball," Jansen said. "They'll make plays."

The Kamiakin offense was consistently in good position as Mount Spokane tried throughout the game to punt away from Kamiakin returner Tim White -- who had returned four kicks for touchdowns in his last three games.

"Pick your poison with Tim," Biglin said. "You can kick it to him and see what happens or kick it short and give us good field position. Tim is such a threat whether he has the ball or not.

"I think he only touched the ball once (five times) today, but on offense they were double-teaming him which opened up Tyler (Holle) ... and none of these guys care. They are all such great friends."

In the first half, the Braves held the Wildcats to just four first downs and no points. Quite a difference from what Mount Spokane had been used to.

Zach Umemoto and Davis added rushing touchdowns in the second half for Kamiakin, which advances to its third state semifinals trip in school history.

"When I took this job, we focused on winning championships," said Biglin, who is in his second season coaching the Braves. "We're one step closer, and it will be fun next week playing a good Capital team."

Jansen finished 14-of-19 for 136 yards with no interceptions and two touchdowns. Davis ran for 101 yards on 16 carries with a score, and Holle had four receptions for 52 yards and two touchdowns.

Kamiakin 44, Mount Spokane 19

Mount Spokane 0 0 6 13 -- 19

Kamiakin 10 20 0 14 -- 44

SCORING PLAYS

Kam--Dom Davis 32 interception return (Garrett Bowe kick).

Kam--FG Bowe 21.

Kam--Tyler Holle 10 pass from Joey Jansen (Bowe kick).

Kam--Holle 28 pass from Jansen (Bowe kick).

Kam--Drew Oord 1 run (kick failed).

MS--Kellen Clute 26 pass from Skyler Davis (kick failed).

Kam--Zach Umemoto 4 run (Bowe kick).

Kam--Davis 7 run (Bowe kick).

MS--Chase Naccarato 69 run (Alex Hval kick).

MS--Tyler Green 72 run (Hval kick).

STATISTICS

RUSHING--MS, Naccarato 16-154, Green 7-95, Carson Blumenthal 11-34, Davis 4-(-1). K, Davis 16-101, Umemoto 8-75, Cody Wilmoth 7-29, Jansen 1-4, Oord 1-1, team 3-(-33).

PASSING--MS, Blumenthal 6-12-3--37, Davis 2-2-0--23. K, Jansen 14-19-0--136.

RECEIVING--MS, Naccarato 4-20, Green 2-4, Clute 1-26, Trevor Kissinger 1-10. K, Holle 4-52, Tim White 4-34, A.J. Griffiths 3-24, Jesse Houser 2-19, Umemoto 1-7.

FIRST DOWNS--MS, 15; K, 21. FUMBLES-LOST--MS, 1-1; K, 0-0. PENALTIES-YARDS--MS, 2-17; K, 1-10.