With an outburst of offense, Hoquiam earned its first win of the season with a 36-28 victory over Raymond-South Bend on Friday at Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam.
The Grizzlies (1-2 overall) got big games from quarterback Joey Bozich, running back Kingston Case and tight end Lincoln Niemi as Hoquiam was able to move the ball both on the ground and through the air against the Ravens (1-2).
RSB struck first with a 3-yard touchdown run from running back Isaac Schlueter, but Hoquiam took a 14-7 lead after one quarter with scoring passes to sophomore receiver Ethan Byron and Case.
The Ravens tied the game at 14-all when senior quarterback Chris Quintana hit Schlueter for a 25-yard touchdown pass with just over 10 minutes left to play in the first half.
Then Case capped off a drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to give Hoquiam a 21-14 lead at the 7:40 mark of the second quarter.
The Ravens responded with their high-powered offense when running back Chris Banker broke loose for a 41-yard touchdown run. A failed two-point conversion had Hoquiam holding on to a slim 21-20 lead with just over two minutes left in the first half.
PHOTO BY JIM THRALL | MATFOCUS.COM Raymond-South Bend running back Chris Banker (25) is pursued by Hoquiam defensive back Junior Soto (2) during a 36-28 loss on Friday at Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam.
With time winding down in the second quarter, Bozich found Niemi in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown, putting Hoquiam up 28-20 entering halftime.
The two connected again in the third quarter, this time for 29 yards. A Byron run for two points put the Grizzlies up 36-20.
RSB responded with just under five minutes in the fourth when Quintana hit Schlueter for a 6-yard touchdown, but time ran out on the Ravens as the Grizzlies held on for the 36-28 victory.
“Raymond-South Bend is a great program and they made us better Friday. RSB is a great non-league match up for our prep going into the next few weeks,” Hoquiam head coach Jeremy McMillan said. “I was happy with our team’s growth and response to adversity throughout the week. Our coaches had our players ready and our players showed a lot of improvement. We’re excited to see this group progress and play at their full potential.”
Bozich was 13 for 24 passing for 203 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Case rushed for 134 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown with Niemi catching seven passes for 87 yards and two scores.
PHOTO BY JIM THRALL | MATFOCUS.COM Hoquiam tight end Lincoln Niemi (81) hauls in a touchdown pass during a 36-28 victory over Raymond-South Bend on Friday at Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam.
“It was kind of a back and forth night,” RSB head coach Luke Abbott said. “We kind of made some mistakes offensively and defensively as well. … It’s a younger ground and we’re trying to learn as we go. The kids realized we have a lot of growing to do and we made a lot of mistakes. It’s not something I have to preach to them, they know it. … We’ve got a lot more work to do and they want it. They want to get better.”
After Quintana, Schlueter and Banker each rushed for over 100 yards a week ago, the three combined for 232 rushing yards on Friday, led by Quintana with 94.
With the victory, Hoquiam will have some momentum heading into the granddaddy of Washington high school football – the Myrtle Street Rivalry – against Aberdeen at 7 p.m. Friday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.
Raymond-South Bend will take on Adna at 7 p.m. Friday at Adna High School.
RSB 7 13 0 8 – 28
Hoquiam 14 14 8 0 – 36
Scoring
First quarter
RSB – Schlueter 3 run (PAT good), 7:51
H – Byron 14 pass from Bozich (PAT good), 3:22
H – Case 25 pass from Bozich (PAT good), 0:07
Second quarter
RSB – Schlueter 25 pass from Quintana (PAT good), 10:12
H – Case 3 run (PAT good), 7:40
RSB – Banker 41 run (2 pt. failed), 2:06
H – Niemi 14 pass from Bozich (PAT good), 0:07
Third quarter
H – Niemi 29 pass from Bozich (Byron run), 10:41
Fourth quarter
RSB – Schlueter 6 pass from Quintana (Banker run), 4:58
Passing leaders: RSB – Quintana 3-8-52. H – Bozich 13-24-2-203.
Rushing leaders: RSB – Quintana 23-94; Banker 10-76, Schlueter 11-62. H – Case 22-134; Kaikaka 5-33; Bozich 6-16; Byron 1-(-6).
Receiving leaders: RSB – Schlueter 2-31. H – Niemi 7-87; Case 5-69; 1-14; Dayton 1-33.
