Tigers close season 5-5 with 34-33 win over Clarkston
Chance Lee and Mitch Morford set five-year program highs and nine Tigers made All-CWAC.
Updated
Cooper Kriete (63) and Owen Fitch (70) sack Clarkston quarterback Kendry Gimlin (18) during Ephrata’s 34-33 win on Friday, Nov. 6 at Kiwanis Field. Gimlin threw for 266 yards and five touchdowns, but the Tigers held on for a one-point win in Kriete’s and Fitch’s final game as Tigers. Photos by Casey Devine
EPHRATA — Ephrata finished its football season at .500 on a rainy Friday night in front of a thin crowd at Kiwanis Field, holding off Clarkston 34-33 on Nov. 6 in a nonleague consolation game after missing the Central Washington Athletic Conference’s last playoff spot by a game.
The Tigers ended 5-5 overall and 4-4 in the Central Washington Athletic Conference, fifth in a nine-team league that was very competitive among the mid-finishers. The Tigers lost to third-place East Valley by four points and fourth-place Othello by one point in September contests.
"I was proud of the way that the team stayed together after a rough start where we lost some close games early and our chances at making the playoffs were slim after the Othello loss," head coach Patrick Mitchell said. "I thought that they continued to work hard and competed down the stretch and played one of our better games of the season week nine versus Prosser."
The Tigers' Chance Lee ran 23 times for 181 yards and three touchdowns against Clarkston; the junior running back finished the season with 1,093 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, plus 11 catches for 116 yards and a receiving score. Senior receiver Mitch Morford caught eight passes for 120 yards in the finale and ended the season with 56 catches for 744 yards and seven touchdowns.
Mitchell said both totals are the most by an Ephrata player in his five seasons as head coach.
Chance Lee (7) pushes through the Clarkston defense as Benson Bair (55) blocks at Kiwanis Field. A first-team All-CWAC selection at running back, Lee ran for 181 yards and three touchdowns against the Bantams.
How the numbers compare pre-Mitchell era Tigers is harder to say. According to Ephrata High School staff, the school keeps a record of its team championships and individual state champions, but not historical individual season statistics.
Lee scored in the first, second and third quarters, including a 52-yard run. Sophomore Cannon DeLong, starting at quarterback for the second straight week, ran for touchdowns of 11 and 7 yards and completed 9 of 14 passes for 130 yards. Junior Yahizee Alvarado made four of five extra-point kicks.
Ephrata had no turnovers in the game and converted all three of its fourth-down attempts.
Cannon DeLong (11) scrambles away from Clarkston's Ty Fleishman (12)during Ephrata’s final win of the season. DeLong ran for two touchdowns and threw for 130 yards in his second start.
Clarkston (2-7) threw for 272 yards. Junior QB Kendry Gimlin completed 20 of 30 passes for 266 yards and five touchdowns, two each to seniors Niko Ahhi and Brodie Wessels, and the Bantams pulled within a point after a short pass to junior Leavitt Hyde and a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
Junior Nate Krautscheid led Ephrata's defense with six tackles, four assists and two tackles for loss. Senior Owen Fitch had eight tackles and assists and a TFL, and senior Cooper Kriete added a sack.
For the season, Fitch totaled 60 tackles, 13 for loss and a sack, and Kriete had 41 tackles and three sacks.
"I'll remember these seniors for their contributions to the program in many ways," Mitchell said. "Some of them have been starting games for us since they were sophomores, so it seems like they have been around for a long time, and it's always sad to see them move on." He called Kriete and Fitch "anchors for us on offense and defense this season."
Despite missing the last two games with injuries, Tiger QB Cooper Vasquez finished with 794 total passing yards and nine touchdown passes. DeLong threw for 434 yards and two scores on the season. Senior Carson Andrus, another contributor on offense, ran for 335 yards and five touchdowns before an injury ended his season.
Mitchell pointed to three juniors on defense who had "breakout seasons" — Krautscheid; Tucker Simmons, who tallied six sacks; and Caleb Newton, who intercepted five passes. All three finished in the team's top five in tackles and made the all-league teams.
Mitch Morford (10) fights for yards after a catch as a Clarkston defender holds on. Morford caught eight passes for 120 yards in his final game and finished the season with 56 catches for 744 yards.
Lee and Morford were named first-team All-CWAC at running back and receiver. Newton made the second team at cornerback and as a returner, Fitch was second-team linebacker and honorable mention at offensive tackle, Simmons was second-team defensive end, and Kriete was second-team offensive tackle and honorable mention at defensive end. Krautscheid (safety), Trent Taylor (guard) and Jake Ayers (tight end) were honorable mention.
Trent Taylor (53) celebrates after a Chance Lee touchdown during Ephrata’s win over Clarkston. Taylor was named honorable mention All-CWAC at offensive guard.
Other season-ending stats: Ephrata outscored its opponents 285-236. Three of its five losses were by one score or less, including a 14-13 loss to Othello on Sept. 25 that decided the playoff spot. And the Tigers liked to gamble: they went for it on fourth down 42 times this season and converted 17 times.
"Ultimately, I'm proud of the work the kids and coaches put into this season," Mitchell said. "I'd like to thank our community of Ephrata for all of the support this season, with our program sponsors, anyone who bought a gold card, came to a Friday or Monday game, all of our game workers, teachers, staff and administrators. It takes a lot of people giving up a lot of time to make this season go."
"As we look towards the future, we bring back a number of starters on offense and defense," he said, "and I look forward to watching them compete in their other sports and then setting some high goals for next football season."
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Tigers close season 5-5 with 34-33 win over Clarkston
Chance Lee and Mitch Morford set five-year program highs and nine Tigers made All-CWAC.
EPHRATA — Ephrata finished its football season at .500 on a rainy Friday night in front of a thin crowd at Kiwanis Field, holding off Clarkston 34-33 on Nov. 6 in a nonleague consolation game after missing the Central Washington Athletic Conference’s last playoff spot by a game.
The Tigers ended 5-5 overall and 4-4 in the Central Washington Athletic Conference, fifth in a nine-team league that was very competitive among the mid-finishers. The Tigers lost to third-place East Valley by four points and fourth-place Othello by one point in September contests.
"I was proud of the way that the team stayed together after a rough start where we lost some close games early and our chances at making the playoffs were slim after the Othello loss," head coach Patrick Mitchell said. "I thought that they continued to work hard and competed down the stretch and played one of our better games of the season week nine versus Prosser."
The Tigers' Chance Lee ran 23 times for 181 yards and three touchdowns against Clarkston; the junior running back finished the season with 1,093 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, plus 11 catches for 116 yards and a receiving score. Senior receiver Mitch Morford caught eight passes for 120 yards in the finale and ended the season with 56 catches for 744 yards and seven touchdowns.
Mitchell said both totals are the most by an Ephrata player in his five seasons as head coach.
How the numbers compare pre-Mitchell era Tigers is harder to say. According to Ephrata High School staff, the school keeps a record of its team championships and individual state champions, but not historical individual season statistics.
Lee scored in the first, second and third quarters, including a 52-yard run. Sophomore Cannon DeLong, starting at quarterback for the second straight week, ran for touchdowns of 11 and 7 yards and completed 9 of 14 passes for 130 yards. Junior Yahizee Alvarado made four of five extra-point kicks.
Ephrata had no turnovers in the game and converted all three of its fourth-down attempts.
Clarkston (2-7) threw for 272 yards. Junior QB Kendry Gimlin completed 20 of 30 passes for 266 yards and five touchdowns, two each to seniors Niko Ahhi and Brodie Wessels, and the Bantams pulled within a point after a short pass to junior Leavitt Hyde and a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
Junior Nate Krautscheid led Ephrata's defense with six tackles, four assists and two tackles for loss. Senior Owen Fitch had eight tackles and assists and a TFL, and senior Cooper Kriete added a sack.
For the season, Fitch totaled 60 tackles, 13 for loss and a sack, and Kriete had 41 tackles and three sacks.
"I'll remember these seniors for their contributions to the program in many ways," Mitchell said. "Some of them have been starting games for us since they were sophomores, so it seems like they have been around for a long time, and it's always sad to see them move on." He called Kriete and Fitch "anchors for us on offense and defense this season."
Despite missing the last two games with injuries, Tiger QB Cooper Vasquez finished with 794 total passing yards and nine touchdown passes. DeLong threw for 434 yards and two scores on the season. Senior Carson Andrus, another contributor on offense, ran for 335 yards and five touchdowns before an injury ended his season.
Mitchell pointed to three juniors on defense who had "breakout seasons" — Krautscheid; Tucker Simmons, who tallied six sacks; and Caleb Newton, who intercepted five passes. All three finished in the team's top five in tackles and made the all-league teams.
Lee and Morford were named first-team All-CWAC at running back and receiver. Newton made the second team at cornerback and as a returner, Fitch was second-team linebacker and honorable mention at offensive tackle, Simmons was second-team defensive end, and Kriete was second-team offensive tackle and honorable mention at defensive end. Krautscheid (safety), Trent Taylor (guard) and Jake Ayers (tight end) were honorable mention.
Other season-ending stats: Ephrata outscored its opponents 285-236. Three of its five losses were by one score or less, including a 14-13 loss to Othello on Sept. 25 that decided the playoff spot. And the Tigers liked to gamble: they went for it on fourth down 42 times this season and converted 17 times.
"Ultimately, I'm proud of the work the kids and coaches put into this season," Mitchell said. "I'd like to thank our community of Ephrata for all of the support this season, with our program sponsors, anyone who bought a gold card, came to a Friday or Monday game, all of our game workers, teachers, staff and administrators. It takes a lot of people giving up a lot of time to make this season go."
"As we look towards the future, we bring back a number of starters on offense and defense," he said, "and I look forward to watching them compete in their other sports and then setting some high goals for next football season."