TENINO — Everyone knew Tenino and Onalaska’s matchup on Friday would be old-school, smash-mouth, run-straight-into-the-opponents’ faces football. It’s just no one knew who would come out on top.
The Loggers blasted out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, led 14-6 at the half and the Beavers came roaring back for two second-half scores to complete a 20-14 comeback victory in non-league action.
“Our defense played extremely physical and, offensively, we found some holes and the kids kept grinding,” Tenino coach Cary Nagel. “Onalaska came extremely prepared. The ball just bounced our way.”
The Loggers stole the momentum early, starting with Kolby Mozingo’s 45-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the game. After stopping the Beavers’ offense, the Loggers scored on their second drive, a 4-yard touchdown blast by Gunnar Talley that was set up by Mozingo’s 63-yard jaunt to the 10-yard line.
Trailing 14-0, Tenino’s offense finally came alive when Hickle converted a 4th and 3 and the Loggers 7-yard line, followed by his 4-yard TD run moments later to make it 14-6.
Onalaska nearly made it a two-score game at the half when Marshall Haight broke free for a 50-plus yard run as the halftime siren wailed, only to be ran down by Dylan Spicer inches from the end zone.
“Play of the game,” Nagel said. “That was all effort.”
From then, it was all Tenino.
Onalaska drove inside the Beavers’ 30-yard line and committed three-straight penalties on 3rd and 2 that stalled the drive. The Loggers finished with 12 penalties for 90 yards.
“For us, it’s just the mental mistakes,” Onalaska coach Mazen Saade said. “The little things are important. It’s the little things that determine our character.”
Later, with 9:26 left in the game, Triston Whitaker broke through for a 2-yard TD scamper to pull the Beavers within two, trailing 14-12.
Spicer then torched the Loggers’ defense for a 61-yard touchdown jaunt with 5:08 left in the game to put Tenino up for good.
Spicer finished with 11 carries for 82 yards, while Hickle carried the ball 21 times for 80 yards.
For Ony, Mozingo had six carries for 111 yards and one TD, Haight carried 19 times for 97 yards and Talley had seven rushes for 24 yards and a score.
Onalaska (1-2 overall, 1-0 league) hosts Toledo in league action on Friday. Tenino (4-0) travels to No. 2 Eatonville on Friday.
