Pirates blank Mules; Mossyrock here tonight

The league-leading and fourth ranked Adna Pirates shut out the Wahkiakum Mules 27-0 in a Central League football game last Friday at Adna.

The win clinched the league championship for the Pirates; the loss left the Mules in a battle with the Mossyrock Vikings for the third and final playoff berth from the Central League.

Mossyrock comes to Cathlamet tonight (Thursday), and the two teams will settle the question in a 7 p.m. game. The winner will play a pigtail game next Tuesday, place and time to be determined. The winner of that game plays on Saturday versus Central Washington District 5/6 number two entry.

The Pirates showed a lot of balance last Friday. The offense scored in the air, on the ground and on special teams, and the defense kept the Mule offense in check.

Adna scored twice in the first quarter, first on a 28-yard pass play and next on a 70-yard punt return. Leading 13-0 at halftime, the Pirates added a 44-yard touchdown run and closed the scoring with a short run.

The Pirates had 224 yards rushing and 139 yards through the air.

The Mules gained only 77 yards on the ground, none through passing. Bryce McClain picked up 36, Zach Schneider 29, and Joel Nicolazzi 10.

Taylor Russell led the defense with 12 tackles. Schneider had nine, and McClain, Ty Bain, Zach Pierce and Cameron Elliott all had seven. Pierce intercepted two passes; Ryan Helms batted down a pass, and Jeff Vik recorded a quarterback sack.

"I thought our defense played well with great efforts from Zach Pierce, Ty Bain, Bryce McClain and Joel Nicolazzi," said Mule Coach Eric Hansen."Adna did a nice job defensively as we were unable to sustain any drives."

By The Associated Press

PREP FOOTBALL

October 30

Adna 27, Wahkiakum 0

Napavine 45, Toutle Lake 0

Naselle 22, South Bend 8

Pe Ell 47, Raymond 8

Willapa Valley 28, Northwest Christian 6