Turnovers cost Cougars in playoff loss

Published 9:31 am Monday, October 23, 2023

WALLOWA — The playoffs are in process, but for now, the Rattlers of Spray/Mitchell/Wheeler are still the reigning state 1A 6-man state champions and played as such, downing the Wallowa Cougars 49-38 on Friday, Oct. 20 in Special District 1 crossover action.

The loss ends the first season of 6-man football for the Cougars with a 3-5 overall record and a third-place finish in league action.

The turnover issue again cropped up in the loss to the Rattlers, a problem that has arisen for the Cougars earlier this season.

“You don’t win when you fumble in your own red zone,” said Wallowa coach Bill Robb. “This entire game was back and forth. We had problems stopping their short pass game and they could not handle our run game. It was ours to win and we gave it away with turnovers.”

Wallowa committed six turnovers in the loss to the Rattlers, two of those coming on good drives that ended with no points after the Cougars handed the ball back to Spray/Mitchell/Wheeler.

The close game included numerous Wallowa highlights. Shane Wenke intercepted a Rattler pass with the resulting 60-yard runback ending with a touchdown. Jose Mendez added to the score with a strip of the ball on a run play and returned the fumble for a score.

“In the end, they just turned the ball over less than we did,” Robb said. “Ty (Prince) was a workhorse for us, carrying the ball on numerous plays for great yardage and smart plays. Looking at the entire season as a whole, we were 19 points away from a championship.”

Wallowa ends its first year in 6-man ball with a 3-5 overall record and a 3-2 1A 6-Man Special District 1 record.

The Cougars will take the field next season without the play of graduating seniors Lucas Hulse, Orrin Brockamp, Kasey Atkins, Mendez and Prince.

“The seniors really paved the way for us going forward,” Robb said. “It has been really tough on that group with the forfeits last season and then playing an entirely different style of football this year.

“Whatever success we have in the future is because of this year’s seniors. They are the one who taught our younger guys how to win.”