Connor Noah rushed for 183 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown in the first half as Kelso held off Prairie 28-20 as both teams opened 3A Greater St. Helens League play Friday in Kelso.
Zeke Smith opened the scoring with a 53-yard pass from Tucker Amrine.
After Noah’s touchdown run, Judah Calixte broke off a 54-yard touchdown run to put Kelso ahead 21-0 early in the second quarter.
Prairie responded with a 36-yard touchdown catch by Nathan Phongphouvanh. Alex Juhl’s 9-yard touchdown catch pulled Prairie within 21-14 in the third quarter.
But Amrine once again found Smith, who finished with 133 receiving yards, for a 15-yard touchdown with 4:24 left in the game to put Kelso ahead 28-14.
The Hilanders rushed for 309 yards and outgained the Falcons 436-278.
Kelso 28, Prairie 20
Prairie 0 6 8 8—20
Kelso 14 7 0 7—28
First quarter
K — Zeke Smith 53 pass from Tucker Amrine (Tate Meade kick)
K — Connor Noah 51 run (Meade kick)
Second quarter
K — Judah Calixte 54 run (Meade kick)
P — Nathan Phongphouvanh 36 pass from Isaac Watson (kick blocked)
Third quarter
P — Alex Juhl 9 pass from Braeden Slamp (Aiden Miller pass from Slamp)
Fourth quarter
K — Zeke Smith 15 pass from Amrine (Meade kick)
P — Aiden Miller 15 pass from Slamp (kick blocked)
Individual statistics
RUSHING — Prairie: Colby Majewski 7-36, Braeden Slamp 4-24, Pierson Lameh 6-20, Isaac Watson 1-6, Aiden Miller 1-(minus-1). Kelso: Conner Noah 24-183, Judah Calixte 17-116, Lukas Naiser 4-21, Tucker Amrine 3-(minus-2).
PASSING — Prairie: Braeden Slamp 8-13-0-139, Isaac Watson 4-12-0-73; Kelso: Tucker Amrine 9-16-0-134.
RECEIVING — Prairie: Aiden Miller 3-72, Alex Juhl 3-39, Nathan Phongphouvanh 1-36, Even Davis 1-1. Kelso: Zeke Smith 5-133, Lukas Naiser 1-1, Brett Hoover 3-0.
