Tonasket sophomore running back John Stedtfeld scoring the fifth Tonasket touchdown during the Tiger’s game with the Lake Roosevelt Raiders on Friday, Oct. 16. Also shown is Raider freshman linebacker Shawn Waters, who was unable to stop Stedtfeld’s f
TONASKET – The Tigers were pumped up and roaring to go before their game against the Lake Roosevelt Raiders on Friday, Oct. 16 and their intensity stayed high during their 50-6 victory.
On the Tigers’ first possession of the night, with 9:29 left in the first quarter, senior quarterback Wade Detillian connected with senior running back Andrew Grillo on a 15-yard touchdown pass and the first score of the night. Detillian’s extra point kick failed, making the score 6-0.
During the Raiders first possession, they lost the ball on a fumble, recovered by senior defensive end Chas Jones on the Tigers’ 43-yard line. Junior running back Keegan McCormick then made a 57-yard touchdown run with 6:14 left in the first quarter. Detillian’s extra point kick fell no good again and the score was 12-0.
The rest of the first quarter saw a McCormick 13-yard touchdown run with an extra point kicked in by Detillian and a 20-yard touchdown run from McCormick with Detillian’s extra point no good. Going into the second quarter, the Tigers were up 25-0.
The Raiders were unable to get a first down on their first second-quarter possession and were forced to turnover to the Tigers on their own 45-yard line. From there, the Tigers worked the ball down the field and Detillian made a 26-yard field goal, bringing Tonasket’s lead to 28-0 with 7:22 left in the first half.
“I was really pleased with how our kids came out and played with a lot of maturity,” Jay Hawkins, Tonasket head coach, said. “We prepared ourselves well. We knew we were facing an undermanned team and we played with a lot of class. I was really happy with that.”
Raider head coach James Caddy said he thought it was a fun game because each team played all of their players.
“Tonasket knew coming in that we were really beat up and they played a really classy game,” Caddy said. “They played all of their players and we played all of ours.”
For the third quarter, sophomore quarterback Dylan Fewkes took over for the Tigers. With 8:22 left in the third quarter, sophomore running back John Stedtfeld scored on a five-yard run. When Detillian’s extra kick was once again no good, the score was 34-0.
The younger Tiger players were able to force the Raiders to turn the ball back over and then work the ball down the field. After a touchdown from junior running back Dustin Silverthorn was called back due to a holding penalty on the Tigers, the team was able to get into field goal range and Detillian kicked in a 24-yard field goal, increasing the Tiger lead to 37-0 with 2:02 left in the third quarter.
For the fourth quarter, freshman quarterback Jeff Stedtfeld took over for the Tigers. The first and only Raider score came when senior quarterback Harley Frank connected with senior tight end Cade Egbert for a 29-yard touchdown pass. The extra point attempt from sophomore tight end Phoenix Shepard was no good, making the score 37-6 with 5:45 left in the game.
The following kick-off brought in another score. Raider senior wide back Cole Stanger kicked off to the Tigers; Jones received the kickoff and then returned it for a touchdown with 5:32 left in the game. After Detillian was unable to kick in the extra point, the score was 43-6.
The final touchdown of the night came from Tiger freshman running back Derek Rimestad on a 75-yard run with 1:33 left in the game. Detillian kicked in the extra point and the final score was 50-6.
“The defense played really good tonight,” Tom Peery, senior defensive lineman, said. “We stayed low, got on them and didn’t get distracted overall.”
Peery added that he thinks the upcoming game against Okanogan will be a really good fight.
“I think the offense had great execution,” Silverthorn said. “We ran the ball really well, passed really well and didn’t have any turnovers. Lake Roosevelt showed a lot of enthusiasm and courage.”
Caddy said the Raiders, who only had 23 athletes suited up for the game, have had at least nine concussions and have been dealing with the flu passing through their area. He said nine starters are out for the season. Hawkins applauded the Raiders for rallying up with all of the injuries they have and for competing as hard as they could.
Hawkins also said it was nice to be able to play all of the kids.
“It was really a team victory and it was nice to see the younger kids excel,” he added. “We’ve got a great bunch of kids and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. They play hard and have a lot of respect for their teammates and their opponents.”
The Tigers (2-3, 3-3) play in Okanogan on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.
“In the past eight or nine years, we’ve had close, exciting games against Okanogan,” Hawkins said. “They’ve got a really good quarterback who’s going to throw a lot so we’ve got to stop them with the secondary and move the ball against them.”
