The Hermiston Bulldogs were 3:29 seconds away from defeating the defending Idaho state 5A champions and opening the season with five straight wins – but it wasn’t to be.
Leading 27-24 and having just forced the Coeur d’Alene Vikings (5-1) to punt with under four minutes to play, Hermiston had a chance to milk the clock and ice the game away, but a fumble gave the Vikings new life.
The Vikings’ good fortune continued when they had to settle for a game-tying field goal attempt in the closing minutes, but an offsides penalty against Hermiston gave Coeur d’Alene a first down and a few plays later, the Vikings scored the winning touchdown to wrap up a 31-27 win over the 4-1 Bulldogs.
Both teams got off to slow starts offensively until Bob Coleman intercepted an Austin Lee pass to give Hermiston the ball on the Vikings’ 15 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Sam Colbray put Hermiston ahead, 7-0, on a 15-yard touchdown run.
The lead didn’t last long, however, as on their first play on their next series, Coeur d’Alene scored on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Lee to Brian Skinner to tie the game at 7 apiece.
Hermiston later forced the Vikings to punt, but were called for roughing the punter, giving Coeur d’Alene new life. The Vikings took advantage when Drew Berger ran 43 yards for the score to give Coeur d’Alene a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs came right back with a 50-yard drive capped off by another Colbray touchdown run, this one from 11 yards out.
Coeur d’Alene took the lead early in the third quarter when returned Berger returned a Chase Knutz interception 40 yards to give the Vikings a 21-14 lead. A field goal later extended the lead to 24-14.
Hermiston then went on their best drive of the game, repeatedly giving the ball to Colbray, who ate up big yards and eventually cut the Vikings’ lead to 24-20 on a short touchdown run with about 8 minutes left in the game. The extra point attempt was no good.
The Bulldogs regained the lead with less than 6 minutes left in the game when Knutz hit Carson Morter in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown pass to put Hermiston up, 27-24 to finish up the Bulldogs’ scoring for the evening.
Colbray had 117 yards on 24 carries, while Morter led the Hermiston receiving corps with 6 receptions for 43 yards.
Hermiston will be on the road again next Friday when they travel to Sandy to take on the 3-3 Pioneers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
