Kelso scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, and the Evergreen offense struggled throughout the second half in a non-league game at McKenzie Stadium.
Gage Townsend was wide open after a play-action, bootleg fake by the quarterback, and Makai Mobbs lobbed the ball into Townsend’s hands for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 8:15 remaining in the game. Sam Schmidt’s extra point gave the Hilanders a 14-13 lead.
After Evergreen went three-and-out for the third consecutive series, Kelso (5-1) got back in the end zone on a 37-yard run from Slate Miller.
The Plainsmen (1-5) were looking for their second consecutive victory. For three quarters, the Evergreen defense was up to the challenge. Kelso managed 99 yards from scrimmage at the half, then did not score in the third quarter.
Evergreen’s offense, though, was held to two first downs in five second-half possessions. After gaining 141 yards in the first half, the Plainsmen were held to 33 yards and two first downs in the second half.
Kelso’s Jared O’Neill blocked an extra point in the first half, then blocked a field goal early in the second half after Evergreen squandered a long return to open the half.
Miller, who finished with 129 yards on 19 carries, scored the first touchdown of the game on a 21-yard run.
Evergreen responded by catching the Kelso defense off guard with a couple of passes. Anthony Thomas found Artem Konkin for a 51-yard score to tie the game at 7. In the second quarter, Nemo Beavers outleaped the defensive back to haul in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Thomas for a 13-7 Evergreen lead.
Next up: Kelso (5-1) at Mountain View; Evergreen (1-5) at Skyview
Kelso 7 0 0 14—21
Evergreen 7 6 0 0—13
First quarter
Kel — Slate Miller 21 run (Sam Schmidt kick)
Eve — Artem Konkin 51 pass from Anthony Thomas (Timur Zhividze kick)
Second quarter
Eve — Nemo Beavers 15 pass from Thomas (kick blocked)
Fourth quarter
Kel — Gage Townsend 4 pass from Makaio Mobbs (Schmidt kick)
Kel — Miller 37 run (Schmidt kick)
Leaders
Rushing — Kelso: S. Miller 19-129, Jared O’Neill 11-40, Riley Miller 9-31; Evergreen: Chase Lawrence 12-47, Thomas 9-34, Richie Townsend 8-25.
Passing — Kelso: Mobbs 4-13-0-47; Evergreen: Thomas 3-14-1-64.
Receiving — Kelso: S. Miller 1-25, Chaz Leppert 1-14, Townsend 1-4, Cedrique Chaney 1-4; Evergreen: Konkin 1-51, Beavers 2-13.
