Tonasket junior wide receiver Tyler Laurie trying to evade Cashmere’s senior line backer Christian O’Neal during Tonasket’s loss at Cashmere on Friday, Oct. 9. Also shown are senior quarterback Wade Detillian (12), senior running back Andrew Grillo

CASHMERE – Despite scoring the first touchdown of the night, the Tonasket Tigers were unable to leave Cashmere victorious on Friday, Oct. 9, where they lost 49-7 to the number four ranked Bulldogs.

The game began with Tonasket in possession of the ball. The Tigers’ first drive ended with a 37-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Wade Detillian to junior tight end Tyler Thornton with 10:17 left in the first quarter. With Detillian’s extra point kick, the Tigers led 7-0.

Cashmere responded to the Tigers’ score with one of their own. Senior side back Ben Allen ran in an eight-yard touchdown with 5:48 left in the first quarter. With senior kicker Hernan Hernandez’s extra point kick, the score was tied 7-7 going into the second quarter.

“I was absolutely surprised with how hard Tonasket fought in the first quarter,” Phil Zukowski, Cashmere head coach, said. “Jay Hawkins had a great game plan with excellent plays. His plan was to control the ball for as long as possible and that showed because in the first quarter, we only had one drive.”

The second quarter, scoring-wise, was all Cashmere. With 8:41 left in the half, senior side back Josh VanHoven scored on a 25-yard run and Hernandez kicked in the extra point. Then, with 1:36 left in the half, VanHoven scored on another 25-yard run. With Hernandez’s extra point kick, the game went into half-time with the Bulldogs up 21-7.

“The first half went in terms of the style of game we were hoping for,” Jay Hawkins, Tonasket head coach, said. “We were able to move the chains and make Cashmere do longer drives.”

The third quarter opened on a big note for the Bulldogs when freshman side back Moe Roberts returned the opening kick off for a touchdown just 16 seconds in the second half. Hernandez again kicked in the extra point. The third quarter saw two more Bulldogs touchdowns, one a 26-yard run from senior fullback Christian O’Neal, the other a nine-yard pass from junior quarterback Tyler McNair to VanHoven. Hernandez kicked in each of the extra points.

“I was a little disappointed in the first quarter but after that I was very happy,” Zukowski said. “It certainly helped to get the big break at the beginning of the second half returning the kick off for a touchdown. I thought that swung the momentum our way.”

Hawkins said the third quarter got away from the Tigers and the Bulldogs were shutting the team’s offense down.

The final score of the night came with just 2:40 left in the game when senior full back Jonah Terrell-Lewis scored on an eight-yard run and Hernandez kicked in the extra point, making the final score 49-7.

“The score was a little bit lopsided,” Zukowski said. “Tonasket played very hard and clean like they always do and it was closer than the score shows.”

Hawkins said he thought the team fought very hard the whole game but that they were up against a very good football team.

Senior defensive back Chas Jones said he thought the defense did very well and succeeded in doing their jobs.

“I think the game is more about heart and passion instead of winning,” Jones added.

Thornton said he felt the team competed.

“We went out there and did what we were coached to do,” he said. “I wish we could have put more points on the board but we moved the ball against the number four team in the state. Ultimately, if somebody picks up the paper, we’re not going to look like we played hard but nobody gave up, we didn’t roll over and I’m proud of how we did.”

Hawkins said the Tigers (1-3, 2-3) are looking forward to a good week of practices and a good game against Lake Roosevelt at home on Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.

“It’s getting to that time of the season where you need to be playing your best football,” Hawkins said.