A 5-yard touchdown run by Cory Adams in overtime gave Hermiston a 52-45 come-from-behind victory over the Lewiston Bengals Friday night at Kennison Field.
The overtime score capped off a second-half offensive explosion for Hermiston as the Bulldogs scored 38 points after trailing 24-14 at halftime. Hermiston’s defense was generous in the first quarter as Lewiston raced out to a 21-0 lead. The Bengals scored on their second possession of the game when running back Jake Ralstin broke free on the left end for a touchdown a little more than five minutes into the game. On their next series, quarterback Drew Melton took the first snap and ran 50 yards for a quick touchdown. With just a little more than a minute left in the quarter, Melton scored on another touchdown run to make it 21-0.
But the Bulldogs found their offensive mojo in the second quarter when Chase Knutz found Ramon Contreras on a screen pass and the senior receiver ran it 50-plus yards to cap off an 88-yard drive. A turnover led to Hermiston’s second touchdown when Colby Alexander recovered a fumble in Lewiston territory and Knutz later connected with Ethan Snow to cut the Lewiston lead to just 7.
The Bengals added a late second-quarter field goal to give them a 10-point halftime lead. Lewiston scored about 4 minutes into the third quarter when Melton threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Dickeson.
A 22-yard run by Hector Rangel helped set up another Knutz-to-Contreras touchdown pass to make it 31-21 midway through the third quarter. Lewiston, however, struck again when Melton hit Mason Ulrich on an 11-yard touchdown pass to give the Bengals a 17-point lead.
The tide began to turn for the Bulldogs when a punt was fumbled by Lewiston and recovered in the end zone by Snow to cut the lead, once again, to 10 at 38-28. A Hermiston field goal made it 38-31 near the end of the third quarter.
Then came the fourth-quarter fireworks. Starting at their own 14, Hermiston began a drive that benefitted from a 65-yard pass from Knutz to Contreras to set up first and goal at the 5. On the next play, Adams ran it in to tie the game at 38.
After a quick 3-and-out by Lewiston, Hermiston got the ball back with just over 7 minutes left in the game and made Adams the workhorse by repeatedly handing him the ball. Hermiston grabbed its first lead of the game with just over 4 minutes left when Knutz hit Contreras over the middle for a 30-yard touchdown.
Then things got crazy On the final series of regulation as Lewiston began marching down the field. Andres Nunez caught a 35-yard pass before being tackled at the Hermiston 15. A few plays later, the Bengals were knocking the door, facing a first and goal at the Hermiston 1. Two straight running plays netted minus 3 yards. Then, facing a fourth and goal at the 1, Lewiston scored on a touchdown pass with just 19 seconds left. Instead of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, however, the Bengals snatched a tie from the jaws of victory – at least momentarily. They fumbled the snap on the extra point attempt, but, in the mad scramble that ensued, managed to toss the ball into the end zone where an open receiver caught it for an unlikely 2-point conversion and an apparent 46-45 win. A penalty, however, nullified the 2 points and the Bengals settled for an extra point on the second attempt to tie the game at 45 and send it into overtime.
The Bulldogs showed no letdown, however, and scored on Adams’ 5-yard run. Hermiston kept Lewiston out of the end zone on their series to seal the victory.
Hermiston (3-1) is on the road next week to take on The Dalles-Wahtonka.
