HS Football: PWV tops RSB in pivotal 2B Showdown

10/15/2022
By Tyler Hergbert

P-WV 28, R-SB 14

(South Bend, WA) In the Oyster Capital of the World, the Pe Ell-Willapa Valley Titans (3-3) were looking to pull of a shell shocking upset over the #3 Raymond-South Bend Ravens (6-0). The Ravens started the season rolling through their 2B opponents, winning every game by double digits while the Titans struggled to begin the 2022 campaign, but came into Saturday afternoon winning 3 of their last 4 games.

PWV would get the ball first to begin the game and after a nice drive that saw them get into Raven territory, the Titans would be forced to punt and give RSB star QB Austin Snodgrass the ball. Snodgrass would lead his Ravens into Titan territory and after a holding penalty negated a 1st down, the Ravens were faced with 3rd and long. Snodgrass, who hadn’t thrown a touchdown pass in the previous three games, found WR Kai Huey over the middle of the field who broke a tackle and ran into the end zone for a 54 yard touchdown giving the Ravens a 7-0 lead with just under 4 minutes remaining in the 1st quarter.

With their backs against the wall early, Titans QB Kolten Fluke and company put together a nice drive that included a great catch and run by RB Blake Howard and a near turnover as Fluke was out of the shotgun and had the snap go through his hands and was fortunately able to recover the ball as a flock of Ravens were trying to recover the loose ball. The Titans ran out the clock in the 1st quarter driving all the way inside the 20 yard line as the teams switched sides. After picking up a first down at the 1 yard line, Fluke called his own number and sneaked the ball up the middle and into the end zone to put the Titans on the board but they would miss the PAT, making it 7-6.

After an RSB punt, the Titans were driving down the field once again but Fluke threw an interception to Ravens defender Kai Huey. On the next play, Austin Snodgrass called his own number and after dodging some Titans defenders, fumbled the ball at around midfield and after the ball careening off of everything but the hot dog stand, Garrett Keeton picked up the ball and ran it back into Ravens territory, giving PWV great field position. On 2nd down, Fluke threw a wonderful pass to his target Canyon Clements for a 35 yard touchdown pass and the Titans took their first lead of the game. After a missed 2 point conversion, the score was 12-7.

Snodgrass took matters into his own hands, after a penalty on the kickoff backed up RSB to their own 14 yard line, Snodgrass took the triple option himself and picked up some great downfield blocking to spring him loose for an 86 yard touchdown run, his longest run of the season. The Ravens would convert the extra point to put them back in the lead, 14-12.

PWV would once again put together a nice drive to bring them into Ravens territory but Fluke threw an interception to Snodgrass giving the Ravens a chance to extend their lead. However, with 34 seconds left, RSB fumbled the ball and defensive lineman Owen Little fell on the ball at the 24 yard line, giving the Titans a great chance to recapture the lead. On the next play, Fluke would find Derek Fluke through the air for a 24 yard touchdown but the Titans would be unsuccessful on the 2 point conversion again to bring the score to 18-14.

The Ravens were looking to strike one more time before halftime but Austin Snodgrass threw his first interception of the year to Derek Fluke, who returned the interception to the 25 yard line, giving the Titans a chance to build on their 4 point lead. Kicker Garrett Keeton smashed a 39 yard field goal through the uprights as time expired to give PWV a 21-14 lead at halftime.

Coming out of the half-time break, the Ravens started the second half with the ball but were forced to punt as the Titans defense looked more confident as the game went on. Garrett Keeton blocked the punt and Owen Little would recover the ball, giving the Titans the ball at the 20 yard line for their first drive of the second half.

PWV had the ball at the 7 yard line as Fluke handed off to Howard who appeared to be stopped by the RSB defense but instead spun out of a tackle and plowed his way into the end zone for another Titans touchdown Keeton added the extra point as the Titans were able to double their lead at 28-14.

After a scoreless 3rd quarter, RSB was able to drive the ball all the way to the 4 yard line but was faced with 4th and 3. The Titan defense would stand tall as Cody Strozyk made a fantastic tackle behind the line of scrimmage, forcing the Ravens to turn the ball over back to PWV.

The Titans were able to drive the ball down the field and force RSB to jump offsides twice to give PWV two key first downs. As the sunset approached South Bend, the sun set on RSB’s perfect season as PWV was able to run out the clock and upset the number 3 ranked team in 2B.

With a final score of 28-14, RSB was held under 20 points for the first time this season while PWV won their first game of the season when scoring under 40 points. PWV also is above .500 for the first time this season with the win as the Titans increase their win streak to three games.

Our Thorbeckes MVP went to Kolten Fluke who’s senior leadership helped the Titans knock off one of the last remaining undefeated 2B teams. He ran the ball swiftly but his passing was the difference as his two touchdown passes proved to be the difference in the game.

PWV (4-3) will finish the regular season with a tough test next week playing Forks (4-2) at home and then at Rainier (1-6).

RSB (6-1) will play head to #1 Napavine (7-0) in the most important regular season game for the 2022 2B season and will finish the regular season against a very good Morton-White Pass (5-2) squad.

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