2A football: Columbia River beats Aberdeen 7-6 in abbreviated play-in game

Joey Ianello caught a 6-yard touchdown pass on fourth down and Aeden Pena made the critical PAT kick, sending Columbia River to a 7-6 win over Aberdeen in a Week 10 play-in game Tuesday night in Aberdeen.

Columbia River (3-6) advances to play Franklin Pierce (9-0) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma.

The play-in game was an abbreviated two-period game — or half of a traditional game.

According to a report by the Aberdeen Daily World, Aberdeen’s running game dominated early as the Bobcats had an 18-play drive that ate up nearly nine minutes of clock.

The drive culminated with a 6-yard touchdown run by Micah Schroeder that put Aberdeen up 6-0 with 1:39 left in the first period. But the Bobcats missed the PAT kick.

In the second period, River moved downfield and had fourth-and-goal at the Aberdeen 6-yard line.

Cole Pearson found Ianello in the back corner of the end zone, and the junior made a leaping catch for a touchdown with 6:00 left in the contest. Pena added the PAT to put River up 7-6.

Aberdeen then drove deep into River territory, but stalled with a fourth down at the River 16.

Instead of option for a 33-yard field goal attempt, the Bobcats went for it on fourth down. However, the snap went over the quarterback’s head, and Preston Shearer recovered the ball on the 35 yard line with 1:02 left.