HS Football: River Ridge’s late game heroics knock off Central Kitsap

10/14/2022

River Ridge 33, Central Kitsap 28

(Lacey, WA) The River Ridge Hawks and Central Kitsap Cougars came into this game with similar records and similar teams. Both are young led by sophomore QB’s and both had not found the winning combination coming in winless. Neither team played like they hadn’t won and it turned into an offensive slugfest.

River Ridge got on the board first when a snap went over CK’s Riley Kolda’s head for a safety and the 2-0 Hawks lead. The Hawks would add another touchdown on an 8 yard run by Darian Harper the 2pt try was no good and the quarter would end with River Ridge leading Central Kitsap 8-0.

Riley Kolda would punch in a touchdown from 1 yard out to make it a 8-7 game after the PAT was good. Later in the quarter Nathan Soung would pick Kolda and take it back for the touchdown again the extra point was missed and River Ridge led 14-7. The Cougars then scored on a 34 yard touchdown run by Kolda and go into the half tied at 14.

The Hawks started the 2nd half with a 1 yard touchdown run and made the PAT to make 21-14. CK would answer with a 20 yard touchdown pass from Kolda to Tristan Hall to tie it at 21 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

The 4th quarter saw the Hawks score a different way this time Harper finds Jacob Tracy on a 16 yard pass the PAT failed and River Ridge was up 27-21. The Cougars countered when Kolda found Hall again with a 16 yard touchdown pass of their own the PAT was hit and the Cougars took a 28-27 lead. River Ridge hits the final blow with Harper finding Gavin Alfau on a 47 yard score to put the Hawks up 33-28 after the 2pt attempt failed.

For a full re-cap of the game check out the ESN crew’s post game show below.

River Ridge is now 1-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play with North Thurston and Capital left on the schedule. Central Kitsap is now 0-7 overall and 0-5 in League with Gig Harbor and North Thurston left to play. The Thorbeckes MVP winner went to the Hawks Darian Harper.