Prep football: Prairie 49, Kelso 0

Prairie wide receiver Jesse Zalk lead the team with five of the seven touchdowns, two of which came off of punt returns, while the defense shutout visiting Kelso.

“Our defense has been playing really well the past three games,” Prairie coach Terry Hyde. “These kids are looking to go far for the playoffs.”

Prairie’s defense held the Highlanders to 163 yards of offense while the team’s offense gained 302 total yards.

“Tonight we played great together from the offense to the defense,” Zalk said. “Everyone has the same goal in mind and tonight we are that much closer to the playoffs. It is fun to be a Falcon right now.”

The Falcons took over offensively in the first 10 seconds of them game after Colin Seitz threw a 65 yard touchdown pass to teammate Ansel Cecil, only to have the offense excel from there, winning 49-0.

“The credit doesn’t just go to the offense tonight,” Seitz said. “The defense really played their hearts out. I am excited to see what we can do after we clean up our game some more.”

After scoring on its first four possessions, Prairie had to punt the ball away, which ended up being the only punt of the night for the Falcons.

Running clock came into affect in the first three minutes of the third quarter after Seitz threw a 21 yard touchdown pass to Zalk to have the team go up 42-0.

With the win tonight, Prairie improves to 5-3, which brings the team to its first winning season since 1997.

“This is the type of season us seniors have been playing for our whole lives,” Seitz said. “Its great to be apart of this team right now and to know that we all had a part in bringing Prairie back from being the team that always gets beat.”

Prairie take on rival Battle Ground next week.

“The guys are pumped for this game,” Hyde said. “It’s is great to see the players focused and come Monday we will be out on the practice field preparing for this next match-up.”

Next up: Prairie at Battle Ground; Kelso vs. Camas

PRAIRIE 49, KELSO 0

Kelso 0 0 0 0— 0

Prairie 28 7 7 7—49

First quarter

P — Ansel Cecil 65 pass from Colin Seitz (kick failed)

P — Jesse Zalk 60 punt return (Zalk pass from Cecil)

P — Zalk 9 run (Max Riemer kick)

P — Zalk 51 punt return (Riemer kick)

Second quarter

P — Zalk 51 pass from Seitz (Riemer kick)

Third quarter

P — Zalk 21 pass from Seitz (Riemer kick)

Fourth quarter

P — Nick Gawley 22 run (Riemer kick)

Individual statistics

Rushing — Kelso — Chauncey Goudy 10-20, Slate Miller 13-48, Corbin Sims 5-0, Taylor Radcliffe 12-47, Tyson Johnson 1-3, Aaron Adams 5-25; Prairie — Colton Prestwich 2-(minus 1), Jesse Zalk 1-9, Colin Seitz 2-(minus 27), David Taylor 1-1, Tyler Vea 5-60, Zach Poulin 1-2, Nick Gawley 2-35, Andy Hak 2-2, Brendan Bussey 2-0.

Passing — Kelso — Sims 3-11-2-20, Adams 0-1-0-0; Prairie — Seitz 13-19-1-221

Receiving — Kelso — Alex McCormick 1-2, Radcliffe 1-7, Cole Osborn 1-11 ; Prairie: Ansel Cecil 1-65, Zalk 5-94, Prestwich 3-32, David Taylor 1-6, Vea 3-24.