Adna snapped a four-game losing streak and extended Pe Ell-Willapa Valley losing skid to four games with a 33-0 shutout over the Titans at home Wednesday in a regular-season finale.
It’s been a long road for both teams, who each entered the matchup winless and have been struggling with key injuries all season, a stark difference for the perennial-state contender Pirates and Titans. Adna’s seniors entered this season with a combined 30-7 record the past three seasons.
“A lot of positive things happened,” Adna coach K.C. Johnson said. “I was happy to see the kids smiling at the end. The kids needed that.”
Zach Berg rushed for 141 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries to lead the Pirates, while 6-foot-2, 180-pound freshman Lane Johnson took over at quarterback for the first time this season.
“That kid’s going to be a player,” Johnson said. “Once he settles down, he’s going to be good. It was nice to see a young kid step in and help us get a win. He handled it very well.”
Johnson also praised senior Tyler Minkoff, who spent the past two games at running back after starting the season at guard. Minkoff switched back to guard Wednesday and led a young offensive line to victory in the trenches.
“He’s played a lot of football for us at a high level,” Johnson said. “He did a great job of keeping everyone motivated and being a positive, emotional leader.”
Adna (1-4) totaled 391 yards of offense, including 249 rushing and 143 passing. Asa Ingle led the Pirates in receiving with one catch for 79 yards and a score. The Pirates 14 first downs.
PWV (0-4), which fell to 0-4 on the season, was led by sophomore running back Kaidan Perkins’ seven rushes for 38 yards. Quarterback Tyler Adkins completed 2 of 7 passes for 21 yards and an interception. The Titans finished with 10 first downs and 132 total yards, including 43 rushes for 111 yards.
“Really proud of PWV for showing up and playing hard,” Adna coach K.C. Johnson said. “They’ve had a similar year as us.”
The two teams will get one last crack at each other in the crossover playoffs at 10 a.m. in Montesano on Saturday.
