HS 2B: Toledo breaks open scoreless 1st half with shut out win at Adna

10/14/2022
by Tyler Hergert

Toledo 18, Adna 0

(Adna, WA) In the foreground of Mt. Rainier, the #9 Adna Pirates (4-2) were celebrating homecoming week by playing the #6 Toledo Riverhawks (4-1) in a very important 2B Central League battle. Toledo came into the game riding a 4-game win streak while Adna came into the game winning 4 of their last 5 games, including two in a row.

The game started with Toledo getting the ball first and they had a nice drive going, moving across midfield, until the Pirates forced a fumbled. That would be the theme of the first half. After an Adna punt, Toledo fumbled on the first play of their second drive giving the Pirates the ball at the 30 yard line. Adna star QB Lane Johnson had a nice designed run that gave the Pirates a first down and brought the ball inside the red zone for the first time in the game. The Riverhawks defense bent but did not break as on 4th and 1 from the 4 yard line, Toledo sacked Johnson and the Pirates turned the ball over once again. The Riverhawks defense theme of the night would be “bend but not break”. Both teams turned the ball over on downs again to close out the 1st quarter.

In the second quarter, both offenses still wouldn’t be able to put points on the scoreboard as Toledo and Adna would trade turnovers heading into the halftime break. While the homecoming court was being announced, both offenses were trying to figure out how to break the 0-0 tie.

Coming out of the half, Adna would get the ball first but the Pirates were unable to score on their first drive of the second half. Toledo took over and they were able to put together a great drive all the way down the field that ended with Geoffrey Glass punching it in from 6 yards out on a tough run up the middle. Toledo missed the extra point so the score would be 6-0.

The Pirates tried to respond but the resilient defense of the Riverhawks kept forcing turnovers and held Adna scoreless through the first three quarters. In the 4th quarter, Adna had great field position but on 4th and long the Pirates were stopped short once again by Toledo. Riverhawks QB, Austin Norris had been quiet for the majority of the night but made lots of noise as he called his own number and dodged multiple Pirates defenders as he was able to weave his way to an impressive 73 yard touchdown run to double the Riverhawks lead. After an unsuccessful 2 point conversion attempt, Adna was faced with a 12-0 deficit.

The Riverhawks defense would be able to hold Adna out of the end zone yet again as the Pirates were able to drive into Riverhawks territory all night but could not get into the end zone. Then as the clock was winding down, Norris took matters into his own hands again by running through the Pirate defense and into the end zone, this time from 40 yards out to make the score 18-0. There was too little time remaining for a homecoming miracle as Adna would run the clock out on a tough loss.

For three quarters our Thorbeckes MVP appeared to be Geoffrey Glass, who had the first touchdown of the game and was everywhere defensively, making crucial tackles, sacks and anchored the mighty Riverhawks defense. Ultimately, it went to the Split End turned play caller, Austin Norris. He racked up over 100 yards on his two touchdowns alone and played a wonderful second half on the road while not completing a pass all game.

Toledo moved to 5-1 and will potentially move up in this week’s 2B AP poll while Adna moved to 4-3 and will likely fall out of the AP Poll. Both teams will be a formidable threat in the playoffs as 2B is shaping up to produce another thrilling finish to the regular season.

Toledo’s next game is vs. Kalama and the Riverhawks finish the regular season against Stevenson with both games taking place at home. Adna will travel to Onalaska and the Pirates will close out the regular season against Kalama at home.