Hornets swamp Manson

OROVILLE – After last week’s gut-wrenching loss, the Oroville football team needed a “get well” game.

The Hornets got just that on Friday, Oct. 5, steamrolling winless Manson for 32 first quarter points on the way to a 59-6 victory, Oroville’s first Central Washington League win of the year.

Luke Kindred and Tanner Smith combined to rush for 355 yards and five touchdowns on just 14 carries as the Hornets led 46-0 at the half.

Kindred started the onslaught with a 47-yard run to cap a two-play 50-yard drive with 8:37 left in the first quarter. Less than two minutes later, Smith returned a Manson punt 37 yards to the Trojan 6-yard line. Dustin Nigg scored on the next play.

Kindred added a 21-yard touchdown run, Smith had a 50-yard score and Nigg returned an interception 14 yards to paydirt before the first quarter was done.

Smith added scoring runs of 41 and 72 yards in the second quarter.

Sean DeWitte and Logan Mills each added 5-yard touchdown runs in the second half.

Smith finished with 207 rushing yards on six carries, while Kindred added 148 yards on eight carries. The Hornets, who didn’t attempt a pass all night, totaled 454 yards rushing to Manson’s 72. The Trojans added 64 yards through the air, but needed to attempt 30 passes (completing eight) to do it.

Smith, Lane Tietje, Nigg and Kindred led the defensive effort.

Oroville (3-1, 1-1 CWL) hosts Liberty Bell (2-0, 2-0) on Friday, Oct. 12, in a game that will go a long ways toward sorting out the league’s playoff picture. With only two state playoff spots available, the game is particularly key for the Hornets chances.

The Mountain Lions, who didn’t play any non-league games thanks to an initially low turnout, nonetheless has rolled through it’s first two CWL games of the year, ripping Manson 50-7 and Bridgeport 61-13.