Yakima Herald

Prosser escapes Ellensburg

ELLENSBURG — Down 13 points late in the third quarter, the top-ranked Prosser Mustangs scored twice in the final 4:22 to reclaim the lead and hold on in the fourth quarter for a 41-33 win to preserve the team’s undefeated record.

With 9:40 to play in the third, Ellensburg put together an 11-play, 87-yard drive culminating with Ethan Sterkel hitting Kramer Ferrell from 31 yards out for the score and the 13-point advantage.

However, Prosser’s Matt Young took the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to the Ellensburg 40, and two plays later Jordan Durbin found a diving Anthony Flores in the end zone for the score. Flores caught the two-point conversion to make the score 26-21.

After a three-and-out by the Bulldogs, Prosser again scored quickly, immediately before the end of the third, mostly on the legs of Dylan Bolt. Bolt gained 36 yards on four carries, including an 11-yard rush into the end zone. Prosser tacked on another two-point PAT, taking the three-point lead with 6 seconds left on the third quarter clock for its first lead since late in the first quarter.

But Ellensburg quickly responded back, taking just 49 seconds early in the fourth to reclaim the momentum. Sterkel again connected with Ferrell for 51 yards to the Prosser nine. Three plays later, the junior quarterback dove across his offensive line into the end zone for the 33-29 advantage.

“I thought we made enough plays offensively,” Ellensburg coach Randy Affholter said. “I don’t know if we made enough defensively.”

The lead was short-lived as the Mustangs put another score on the board, but it wasn’t easy. Twice the Ellensburg defensive line broke through for what looked to be sacks on third down, only to watch Durbin scramble free and connect for first downs.

“That’s just guys making plays,” Prosser head coach Tom Moore said. “Forget about the Xs and Os. When it’s crunch time, guys just have to make plays.”

After getting inside the red zone, Bolt scampered in for Prosser’s next score and the 35-33 lead.

The Mustangs would add an insurance score midway through the fourth to seal the game.

Ellensburg challenged once more, including converting on a fake punt when Sterkel hit Mike McKinney with the 9-yard strike on fourth and six from the Ellensburg 28. But three incompletions later, Prosser took over on downs and ran out the clock.

The final 18 minutes were completely different from the initial 24 as Ellensburg took advantage of two Prosser fumbles to score twice for the 17-7 lead.

Prosser opened the scoring on the game’s opening drive, but Ellensburg quickly answered with a 26 yard field goal. On Prosser’s next possession, the Bulldogs pounced on their first fumble and scored the very next play.

The Mustangs again fumbled on their next possession and eight plays later Ellensburg scored for the 17-7 advantage after one quarter.

“We made an amazing amount of mistakes that first half,” Moore said. “We were really fortunate to only be down by seven at the half.”

Affholter was thrilled with that early success.

“We got those turnovers and we converted on them,” he said.

Sterkel rushed the ball 19 times in the first half, something Moore said was predictable, but was obviously successful for the Bulldogs.

“They kept winning that battle,” he admitted.

But Affholter said Prosser made halftime changes to limit Ellensburg’s success with the quarterback keeper. That defensive change, coupled with the Mustang offense finding its groove, made the win a reality.

“They knew they had a game,” Affholter said, “so they had to kick it up another level.”

— Jon Guddat/For the Yakima Herald-Republic