TD Football finishes with 'respect'
Riverhawks come to the field ready to play on Friday night against Redmond. Photo: Shortt Supply
By Xavier Orion Olaez
The Dalles Riverhawks faced off against league rivals the Redmond Panthers at 7 PM, Friday night. It was the final game of the season and it ended in a blowout loss.
In a tough season that was delayed and shortened by a pandemic and resulted in a smaller team, the Riverhawks impressed and gave it their all. They have my respect, and I'm sure that of the whole town’s. They ended the season with a 2-3 record.
For seniors, Alex Gonzales, Kenape Stewart, Jesse Larson, Skyler Leeson, Enrique De La Cruz, Francisco Medina, Spencer Taylor, and Dusty Dodge Friday’s game against Redmond was the last game of their high school career.
It was a tough way to end and it left them emotional. They played their hearts out and left it all on the field. Leaving the school, the coaches, their teammates, and their town proud.
The game started off slow and a back and forth. Then Redmond got the ball and threw the ball deep to an uncovered wide receiver that took it to the house with 7:15 left in the first quarter. Their kicker nailed the extra point, leaving it 7-0. The Dalles came back and couldn’t do much. Then a big sack by senior Kenape Stewart that turned into a fumble that was recovered by Redmond. That was a big confidence boost for the RIverhawks. They kept Redmond’s offense at bay for the rest of the first quarter. The second quarter was a tough one.
At the beginning of the quarter, Redmond scored what seemed to be a touchdown, but then it was called back for holding. The Dalles capitalized off of that penalty and got the ball back and began pounding it.
Yet they were held scoreless.
When Redmond got the ball back they seemed to score again, but it was called back again on the penalty. The Riverhawks were catching a ton of breaks.
But that all changed a minute later when Redmond scored off a touchdown run. They did not succeed with their two-point conversion, leaving the game 13-0.
Little happened until Redmond scored another touchdown with 1:52 left in the first half. They scored their two-point conversion and the game was 21-0. The Dalles then came back, and on their first play of the drive, senior quarterback Skyler Leeson threw the ball deep to sophomore receiver Riley Brock and gained 50 yards. But three plays later the RIverhawks threw an interception with 15 seconds left and the half ended.
Riverhawks’ enthusiasm in the second half was met again with a resurgence of Redmond's effort. Redmond soon intercepted the ball and three plays later scored off a touchdown pass with 2:50 left in the third, 28-0. Then Leeson attempted a punt, but it was blocked by the defense, resulting in a safety, which put the game at 30-0. Redmond got the ball back and scored right away with a passing touchdown. The kick for the extra point was good, leaving the game 37-0. The Panthers would eventually score again with 4 minutes left in the game making it 44-0 - the final mark of the game.
