Final momentum swing goes River’s way

BATTLE GROUND — In a game that featured an opening statement from Columbia River followed by a rebuttal from Prairie, Remick Kawawaki delivered the final verdict Friday.

Kawawaki ran 13 yards for a touchdown with 3:43 to play, breaking a tie and giving Columbia River a 27-21 victory at District Stadium.

“Not much to it but a lot of blocking up front,” Kawawaki said of what proved to be the game-winner. “Untouched. I have to give all the credit to my offensive line.”

If only it were so simple. River led 21-0 late in the first half, but Prairie battled back and forged a 21-all tie early in the fourth quarter.

The Chieftains got on the board first when defensive lineman Tylor Jaskierny picked up a Prairie fumble and ran 27 yards for a touchdown.

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” he said. “My first touchdown in high school.”

After a 5-yard scoring run by quarterback Clayton Frank and a 17-yard TD pass from Frank to Jordan Erdman, it looked as though Columbia River (4-2, 2-2) was in for an easy night in the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League game.

But Prairie (2-4, 1-3) had other ideas.

The Falcons marched 63 yards in the final moments of the first half, with quarterback Colin Seitz repeatedly throwing underneath the coverage and giving his receivers room to run. Seitz capped the drive with a quarterback sneak in the final minute of the half.

Led by a stellar defensive performance, Prairie continued the comeback through the second half, starting with a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jesse Zalk.

Early in the fourth quarter, Zalk delivered a 2-yard run that evened the score. That play was set up by a third-and-18 conversion in which a Columbia River defensive back deflected a pass, only to have Prairie’s Ansel Cecil run in and make the catch.

“I’ll just say this,” Prairie coach Terry Hyde said. “They battled a lot of elements tonight. The kids played hard; I’m really proud of them.”

With six minutes to play and the score tied 21-21, Columbia River took over at the Prairie 38 after a crunching hit by Andrew Morgan caused a fumble and set up the winning drive.

“They had me on a blitz,” Morgan said. “I was running full speed. I don’t think he quite expected me because he had just gotten the ball.”

Columbia River coach John O’Rourke said: “We had made several mistakes on offense. I think the kids were disappointed, but the defense popped that big turnover. We felt we weren’t playing with the intensity and the smoothness you need.”

One of the key plays on the winning drive came when Frank was being pulled down but made a long pitch to Kevin Cotter, who reversed field for a 9-yard gain. That set up the touchdown by Kawawaki, who finished with 26 carries for 150 yards.

For Prairie, the game was a question of what might have been. Zalk had a 65-yard kickoff return and a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown wiped out by penalties.

For Columbia River, it was a glimpse of what might be to come.

“We haven’t played a full game,” Morgan said. “We’ve had moments of greatness.”

COLUMBIA RIVER 27, PRAIRIE 21

Columbia River 14 7 0 6—27

Prairie 0 7 7 7—21

First quarter

CR—Tylor Jaskierny 27 fumble return (Ben Kraft kick)

CR—Clayton Frank 5 run (Kraft kick)

Second quarter

CR—Jordan Erdman 17 from Frank (Kraft kick)

P—Colin Seitz 1 run (Max Reimer kick)

Third quarter

P—Zalk 49 interception return (Reimer kick)

Fourth quarter

P—Zalk 2 run (Reimer kick)

CR—Remick Kawawaki 13 run (kick failed)

Individual leaders

Rushing: Columbia River — Remick Kawawaki 26-150, Clayton Frank 17-68, Kevin Cotter 1-9. Prairie — Jode DeKlerk 10-33, Tyler Vea 5-6.

Passing: Columbia River — Clayton Frank 6-11-1-18; Prairie — Colin Seitz 16-27-1-157.

Receiving: Columbia River — Jordan Erdman 1-17, Kevin Cotter 1-4; Prairie — Ansel Cecil 3-48, Jesse Zalk 5-46, Tyler Vea 3-32, Jode DeKlerk 3-17, Avi Slifer 2-14.