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Turnovers thwart T-Birds in defeat

PREP HIGHLIGHTS: Tumwater loses four fumbles, throws two interceptions in 16-14 loss to R.A. Long

The Olympian | • Published November 07, 2009

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LONGVIEW – Tumwater was its own worst enemy Friday.

Turning the ball over six times, Tumwater lost, 16-14, to R.A. Long, giving up a touchdown in the closing minutes.

Tumwater, needing a win to advance into the Class 2A playoffs, finished its season 6-4.

“It wasn’t for a lack of effort,” Tumwater coach Sid Otton said. “Our kids played their hearts out. They gave it everything they had.”

Unfortunately for the Thunderbirds, they also gave away the football. They lost four fumbles and threw two interceptions.

Yet Tumwater led 14-10 Ronnie Hastie’s 1-yard touchdown with 7:15 left.

But R.A. Long came right back and scored on quarterback William Yordy’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Hopkins with 3:21 remaining. Tumwater’s Brady Grondel blocked the PAT after the touchdown, and R.A. Long led 16-14.

During the winning drive, R.A. Long faced a fourth-and-20 and faked a punt, picking up a first down on a pass.

“Hats off to them. They played well and made the plays when they had to,” Otton said. “We ended up with more turnovers than we’ve had all year.”

Early in the second quarter, Tumwater quarterback Kyle Warner threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Zach Wimberly for a 7-0 T-Birds lead.

It was 7-7 at halftime after Yordy scored with on a 32-yard keeper for the Lumberjacks.

R.A. Long led 10-7 on Kabel Carr’s 34-yard field goal with 9:26 left in the fourth quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Tumwater sophomore Chandler Rodriguez had a 64-yard return, setting up Hatie’s touchdown.

On Tumwater’s final possession, the T-Birds fumbled, ending their season.

“The hard part is dealing with the seniors,” Otton said. “It’s their last game.”

Chehalis 43, Hockinson 2: Brennan Casteel and Mitch Gueller scored two touchdowns apiece as the Bearcats rolled.

Casteel scored on a 20-yard fumble return and a 2-yard run during the first quarter. Gueller scored on a 71-yard run and a 13-yard pass from Ben Ternan.

Swimming

3A District: North Thurston’s Bre Schwarz, Katy Tiernan, Sam Anders and Arriya Hagan advanced to today’s championship finals at Hazen High School.

The Rams also qualified three relay teams – the 200 medley, the 200 freestyle and the 400 freestyle.

North Thurston broke school records it set earlier this season in both the 200-medley and the 200-freestyle relays.

“That was fantastic,” North Thurston coach Josh Stottlemyer said. “We have more people going to state than we’ve had in the last eight or nine years.”

Schwarz is going in the 200 individual medley, Tiernan in both the 50 free and 100 free, Hagan in the 100 butterfly and Anders in the 500 free.

North Thurston has nine in today’s consolation finals.

“Everybody who swam (Friday) for North Thurston is swimming (today),” Stottlemyer said. “We’re hoping to get third place.”

Capital’s Amanda Clark and Hansi Willoughby advanced to the championship finals in two events, and the Cougars advanced three relays.

Clark, a junior, won the 200 free and 500 free. Willoughby, a freshman, advanced in the 100 backstroke and the 100 free.

Capital’s 400 free relay and 200 free relay advanced to the championship finals, and its 200 medley relay reached the consolation finals.

“All my girls swam best times today,” Capital coach Burke Anderson said. “They swam really fast. It was a great day.”

Other Capital swimmers to reach the finals are senior Katrina Shelman in the 200 free and sophomore Michelle Cordell in the 50 free.