9/6/2024

(Onalaska, WA) Nooksack Valley and Onalaska were State Semifinalists last year and are looking for more postseason success in 2024. Nooksack Valley was able to jump out to an early 7-0 lead after Onalaska fumbled on their first drive. Evan Brown threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Cole Bauman for the game’s first score. Onalaska fumbled again to set up Nooksack Valley around midfield, where the Pioneers went into their bag of tricks and pulled off a double pass with Cory Olney delivering a perfect pass to Cole Coppinger about 40 yards down the field. Coppinger walked into the end zone on the 51-yard strike to make it 13-0.

Nooksack Valley got the ball back and drove down the field to the one-yard line where Cory Olney found paydirt on the ground this time and the Pioneers converted on the two-point conversion to go up 21-0 late in the first quarter. The second quarter was competitive as both defenses stood up and held each other scoreless until the final minute of the half, where Nooksack Valley’s Colton Lentz ran it in from five yards out to extend the Pioneers’ lead up to 27 points. It was 27-0 with Nooksack Valley on top at the halftime break.

Onalaska’s offense found its stride in the second half as the Loggers drove down the field to the two-yard line where Blaze Underhill punched it in for the touchdown and Rodrigo Rodriguez picked up the two-point conversion on the ground to make it 27-8. Nooksack Valley responded with a one-yard touchdown run from Colton Lentz for his second score of the game. Evan Brown threw a nice pass to Cory Olney on the two-point conversion to give the Pioneers a 35-8 lead in the third quarter. Nooksack Valley struck again as Brown threw a rainbow into the back of the end zone and dropped it perfectly into the hands of Jaxon Hester for a magnificent 32-yard touchdown to give the Pioneers a 42-8 lead. Onalaska kept fighting and was able to get a touchdown in the fourth quarter from Lane Gordon, who ran it in from a yard out and Sam Pannkuk ran in the two-point conversion to make it 42-16.

Nooksack Valley would take the victory 42-16 to start the season 1-0. The Pioneers will take on Renton on the road next week. Onalaska begins the year 0-1 and will face PWV at home next week.

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