Trailing late in the fourth quarter, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley embarked on a game-winning drive followed by a key interception to emerge with a 14-12 victory over fifth-ranked Raymond-South Bend at a wet Crogstad Field on Friday in Menl0.

The game started in an ominous fashion for Raymond-South Bend (4-2, 1-1 2B Pacific) when a fumbled kickoff was recovered by the Titans (5-2, 3-2).

The wet weather meant poor footing and a slippery football for both teams, leading to a scoreless first quarter.

The Ravens got on the board when quarterback Austin Snodgrass capped off a 15-play, 96-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, giving RSB a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point.

Neither team would score over the next four offensive drives of the game proved fruitless.

The Titans had two drives that ended on fourth-down incomplete passes while the Ravens had two possessions into PWV territory end with fumbles.

The half ended when a Snodgrass pass into PWV territory was intercepted.

In the second half, the Titans wasted little time in tying up the game.

Using sweep plays and runs up the middle, the PWV offense scored on its sixth-play from scrimmage of the third quarter, tying the game when senior running back Blake Howard broke a 39-yard touchdown run up the middle with just over nine minutes left on the game clock.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Pe Ell-Willapa Valley running back Blake Howard (32) carries the football during a 14-12 win on Friday at Crogstad Field in Menlo.

Raymond-South Bend’s offense responded with a drive to midfield, but an interception by PWV sophomore defensive back Cody Mican gave the ball back to the Titans.

The Ravens got the ball right back when senior defensive back Ashton Kongbouakhay intercepted a pass from PWV quarterback Nathan Fluke at the RSB 32-yard line.

Raymond-South Bend would take the lead seven plays later when senior running back Ferrill Johnson burst through the line and scampered 38 yards for a go-ahead touchdown.

Snodgrass had trouble holding on to the ball on the subsequent failed two-point attempt, giving RSB a 12-6 lead with exactly 6:00 remaining in the game.

The Titans then put together arguably their best offensive drive of the game.

Starting just over midfield, PWV drove inside the Ravens red zone – thanks in large part to two long bubble-screen passes to receiver Blaine King – to earn a 1st-and-goal from the 4-yard line.

Two plays later, Howard was stopped behind the line of scrimmage but continued to churn forward, reaching across the goal line for the game-tying touchdown with 2:19 left in the game.

The Titans took the lead when Howard blasted through the left side for the two-point conversion.

Raymond-South Bend’s final drive started deep in its own territory after the kickoff skittered down to the Ravens’ 14-yard line.

Running a hurry-up offense, the Ravens faced 3rd-and-10 at the 46 with just over 30 seconds left in the game. Snodgrass dropped back to pass but was intercepted by Mican, who wisely slid to the ground after a short return.

“My job was to play deep middle in Cover-3 … I was supposed to play over Ferrill Johnson, but he was up the sideline and out of the play, so I turned back the other way and (Snodgrass) rolled out with me. I just followed the ball, timed it right and picked it,” Mican said of his sixth interception of the season. “As soon as I caught it I thought, ‘This is crazy,’ and I just wanted to get the win so I slid down.”

Mican’s clutch play set off a jubilant celebration on the Titans sidelines and amongst its fans.

“Best feeling ever in my life, easy,” Mican said of his teammates congratulating him after the play.

The Titans offense then took a knee, ending the game and giving PWV the upset victory.

“Raymond-South Bend has a very good offense and some great kids over there. It’s fun to play them,” PWV head coach Nate Smith said after his first rivalry-game win over the Ravens. “To slow Stigall, Snodgrass and Johnson down is on our defense and our defensive coordinator Dave Strozyk. … I got some great coaches with me and that makes a big difference, and the kids played outstanding.”

“We communicated better than we ever did,” Mican said of the PWV defense. “We played really outstanding coverage, we broke down and made tackles, we did everything we could. We got in their heads a little bit.”

Fluke completed eight passes for 127 yards, most of those to King, who had seven catches for 119 yards.

Howard had 14 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns.

RSB was led by Johnson, who had 18 carries for 149 yards.

Snodgrass had 82 yards on the ground while senior running back Robbie Stigall added 72 yards for a Ravens offense that moved the ball well between the 20’s but was often its own worst enemy with six turnovers.

“Tough to win games when you have three fumbles, three interceptions and you continuously shoot yourself in the foot against a team you shouldn’t be doing that to, it hurts,” RSB head coach Luke Abbott said. “Probably the best thing for us though moving forward is understanding that you can’t make mistakes against teams like that and expect to win.”

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Pe Ell-Willapa Valley receiver Spud Swogger (44) makes a catch against Raymond-South Bend defensive back Christopher Quintana during the Titans’ 14-12 win Friday at Crogstad Field in Menlo.

PWV’s defense was the top unit of the game, with three interceptions – two from Mican and one by junior defensive back Brayden Ruddell – and four players with nine or more tackles.

Mican and sophomore linebacker Spud Swogger had 12 tackles apiece to lead PWV with teammates Cody Strozyk (11 tackles) and Lucas Lusk (10 tackles) each in double digits.

“We played outstanding on defense. We really held them in check,” Smith said. “After the Toledo game, I wrote on the board (in the locker room): Fourth quarter. So the fourth quarter is when I think we play our best football right now. … They knew it was going to be our quarter and that’s what they proved tonight.”

The loss was the first for RSB since a season-opening defeat to Toledo.

“No one picked us to win,” Mican said. “The only people that picked us to win were people from our school. This is just incredible.”

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Pe Ell-Willapa Valley sophomore Cody Mican had 12 tackles and two interceptions to lead the Titans defense in a 14-12 victory over Raymond-South Bend on Friday in Menlo.

Abbott said the weather had an impact on his team, which is known to have a fast, high-scoring offense.

“The weather is something that played in their favor,” he said. “We’re a quick team. The grass and the rain didn’t help us at all. It definitely played in to PWV’s hand, that’s not an excuse. You still have to respond and play football and do the right things.”

The Titans wore yellow socks in the game to raise awareness for childhood cancer and honor Kameron Holloway, a Willapa Valley student who passed away due to cancer.

PWV plays at Forks at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Raymond-South Bend hosts defending state-champion Napavine at 7 p.m. on Friday at South Bend High School.

Raymond-South Bend 0 6 0 6 — 12

Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 0 0 6 8 – 14

Scoring

First quarter

None

Second quarter

RSB – Snodgrass 5 run (kick fail), 11:39

Third quarter

PWV – Howard 39 run (run fail), 9:09

Fourth quarter

RSB – Johnson 38 run (pass fail), 6:00

PWV – Howard 2 run (Howard run), 2:19

Leading rushers: RSB – Johnson 18-149, Snodgrass 10-82, Stigall 17-72. PWV – Howard 14-74, Strozyk 10-41, Swogger 6-19.

Leading receivers: PWV – King 7-119, Swogger 1-8.