<p>Wallowa's Kody Swift (No. 5) wraps up a Powder Valley ball carrier late in the first half of the Cougars' homecoming game on Oct. 21. Arriving to help finish the tackle is Glen Spang (No. 56). At left is sophomore Chaz Murray (No. 43).</p>

WALLOWA – Football was fun once again for players and spectators alike as the Cougars ended a four-game losing streak, celebrating homecoming 2011 with a resounding 46-18 victory over Powder Valley on Friday, Oct. 21.

The contest saw Wallowa jump out to an early, two-touchdown lead and periodically tease the visiting Badgers after that. The visitors pulled to within 10 points after one quarter, and to within 12 after three, but at other times the gap was larger – 18 points at the half (score 30-12) and increasingly unbridgeable throughout the fourth.

On a day when Wallowa had virtually everyone on its roster healthy enough to play, the Cougars were hitting on all cylinders nearly the entire game, producing a 364-yard rushing attack complemented by 183 yards of passing, and playing hard-nosed defense when needed.

The Cougars’ two first-quarter touchdowns both came on the ground, courtesy of backs Trever Schaefer and Dusty McDaniel (who was inserted at the less-punishing slot-back position instead of his familiar quarterbacking post), with after-TD conversion runs furnished by quarterback Wes Conrad and McDaniel.

Second-quarter offensive highlights for Wallowa included Conrad’s 50-yard rush for a score, and Kody Swift’s short touchdown catch that was set up by a 40-yard pass to McDaniel.

The Cougars’ offense possessed the ball for only nine plays during the third quarter, a circumstance due partly to two Wallowa defensive penalties that gave the Badgers two extra first downs. Powder Valley managed to push the ball over the goal line only once during the period, though, a slow-moving offensive performance. “They just ground it out,” Robb said.

Wallowa’s own offense returned to life in the game’s final stanza, scoring two touchdowns – both on runs by McDaniel – and converting the points-after chances both times, on a Derek Shike reception and on a Conrad rush.

Conrad, who also had 100 yards on three kick returns in the game, was nine-for-12 in the passing department. On defense, he picked off two Powder Valley passes.

The Cougars (1-3 in league, 3-4 overall), no longer in contention for a post-season berth, wrap up their 2011 campaign on Friday, Oct. 28, at home against Cove (3-1 in league, 5-3 overall), the league’s second-place team.

Robb is happy to see his younger players gain still more playing time. “We’re playing for pride and for the young guys (returning) next year,” he said.