Joey Connell returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown as the Stevenson defense dominated in leading the Bulldogs to a 13-0 win over Columbia-White Salmon on Friday in Stevenson.
The defensive lineman jumped up and batted a pass from Columbia’s Wesley White, caught it and then ran untouched for a touchdown, giving Stevenson a 6-0 lead in the second quarter.
Connell had a 60-yard fumble return for a touchdown in last week’s loss to King’s Way.
“I never thought my top scorer would be a defensive lineman,” Stevenson coach David Waymire said.
In the third quarter, the Bulldogs recovered a fumble deep in Bruin territory, setting up Kasen Bach’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Sean O’Neal.
After giving up 458 yards passing to King’s Way last week, the Bulldogs defense allowed Columbia to minus-1 yard passing and intercepted four passes.
It was Stevenson’s fourth win in the past five meetings for the Gorge Cup.
STEVENSON 13, COLUMBIA-WHITE SALMON 0
CWS 0 0 0 0— 0
Stevenson 0 7 6 0—13
Second quarter
S — Joey Connell 45 interception return (Sam Ledesma kick)
Third quarter
S — Sean O’Neal 12 pass from Kasen Bach (kick failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Columbia: Wesley White 16-65, Petey Schlegel 14-46, Landon Castilla 5-15, Kai Brausell 1-4, Dylan Nortz 1-6, Hunter Wang 1-(-5), W. Schlegel 1-2.
PASSING — Columbia: White 4-10-3-(-1), Stelma 0-1-1-0.
RECEIVING — Columbia: Brausell 1-1, Avery Schalk 3-(-2).
