By Nisqually Valley News staff
The Yelm Tornados needed just one defensive stop late in the team’s final South Puget Sound League (SPSL) South division matchup against Olympia on Friday, Oct. 24, to qualify for a week 10 district crossover playoff game.
With roughly four minutes to go against Olympia, senior running back Hunter Owens followed his fullback, Kobe Kidd, into the endzone for a 5-yard touchdown. After a failed two-point try by Yelm, the Tornados led the Bears 13-12.
Following Yelm’s go-ahead touchdown, Olympia’s offense led a 10-play scoring drive — including the go-ahead touchdown on a 2-yard quarterback dive. With a successful 2-point conversion, the Bears led the Tornados, 20-13, with less than 30 seconds remaining.
Ultimately, Olympia defeated Yelm 20-13 after the Bears’ game winning efforts late in the fourth quarter.
Earlier in the contest, the Bears would jump out to a 12-0 lead in the first quarter. The team’s first touchdown of the game occurred when Olympia running back Ibrahima Diallo scampered 83 yards into the endzone. Later in the quarter, quarterback Tucker Downing connected with his receiver Noah Miller for a 31-yard touchdown pass. The Bears were unsuccessful in both extra-point tries.
Yelm found the endzone for the first time in the second quarter when senior quarterback Owen Sletten kept the football on an option play and dashed two yards for a touchdown. After a successful PAT from Temple, the Tornados trailed 12-7 at halftime.
