BATTLE GROUND – Prairie’s football team took a few steps forward on Friday.
But familiar frustrations sunk the Falcons in a 14-6 loss to Kelso at District Stadium.
In losing four fumbles in the second half, Prairie could not capitalize on a strong defensive performance that kept the Falcons in the game.
Three times in the second half, Prairie’s defense stopped Kelso on fourth down in Falcons territory.
But penalties and turnovers hindered Prairie’s offense for a third consecutive game. Only once in the second half did the Falcons move into Kelso territory, a fourth-quarter drive that ended with a lost fumble on the 27 yard line.
The mistakes irked first-year coach Kevin Baker. But Prairie didn’t lose because effort was lacking, he said.
“Our kids play hard and they want to win,” Baker said. “They want to do the right thing, but sometimes in trying so hard they don’t let things develop. So instead of letting the quarterback pull the ball, they tug on the ball and all of the sudden the ball goes on the ground.”
Trailing 7-6, Prairie fumbled on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. On the next play, Kelso quarterback A.J. Hoggatt hit Jared Bowlby for a 14 yard touchdown pass.
“We’ve been working on ball security all week,” Baker said. “We’re going to work on it again this week.”
Unfortunately for Prairie (0-3, 0-1), Friday was one of just three league games in the four-team 3A Greater St. Helens League. Kelso (3-0, 1-0) has an early lead, while Columbia River and Fort Vancouver have yet to play a league contest.
Prairie quarterback Kevin Aguirre said his team will try to build on the positives of Friday’s game. The Falcons scored on their first drive, marching 44 yards in six plays. Kody Keyt caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Aguirre.
But Prairie’s offense bogged down from there. Prairie had less than 200 yards of offense and more than 70 yards of penalties.
“We’re just going to work off those big plays that we got,” Aguirre said. “We’d get a good play, but then immediately a penalty. It’s just working on knowing your assignment and knowing where the ball is at.”
KELSO 14, PRAIRIE 6
Kelso 0 7 7 0 – 14
Prairie 6 0 0 0 – 6
First quarter
P – Kody Keyt 3 pass from Kevin Aguirre (run failed)
Second quarter
K – A.J. Hoggatt 1 run (River Liepa kick)
Third quarter
K – Jared Bowlby 14 pass from Hoggatt (Liepa kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Kelso: Sonny Chhim 3-9, A.J. Hoggatt 18-51, Jerson Flores 22-76, Max McDaniel 7-28, Jordan Gladson2-8. Prairie: Kevin Aguirre 8-20, Kyle Schulson 12-73, Alec Gawley 2-7, Carson Slagle 7-37, Tyler Feeney 1-minus-3.
PASSING –Kelso: A.J. Hoggatt 12-19-98. Prairie: Kevin Aguirre 7-15-50.
RECEIVING – Kelso: Branson Williams 2-12, Jared Bowlby 6-70, Emmitt Kinch 1-5, Jerson Flores 1-1, Sonny Chhim 1-0, Riley Noah 1-1. Prairie: Kody Keyt 2-18, Alec Gawley 4-33, Jaelen Stephen 1-minus-1.
