The Tornados faced Timberline High School in South Sound Conference play on Thursday, Oct. 13 at home, as they celebrated senior night, securing a 56-14 victory in the process.
Yelm’s captains won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball to get things going.
After several plays, including a first down run by junior running back Brayden Platt, junior quarterback Damian Aalona found his twin brother Marius Aalona wide open for a 32-yard touchdown. The Tornados led 6-0, following a failed two-point conversion attempt.
The Tornados’ defense saw the field for just two plays after the early touchdown, due to a Timberline fumble off of a high snap. After the ball rolled on the ground for several seconds, junior defensive end Onyx Carter recovered the fumble, placing Yelm’s offense deep in Timberline territory.
Now on offense, the Tornados found the endzone again when William Carreto took a handoff for five yards and a touchdown. Yelm successfully converted its two-point try and extended its lead to 14-0.
After a kickoff, Yelm’s defense forced a Blazers three and out, and the Tornados’ offense went right back to work. Damian Aalona led another Tornados’ touchdown drive, this time finding senior wide receiver Trevontay Smith in the endzone for a 14-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 22-0 after a successful two-point conversion.
Platt, who saw just five carries during the evening, found his first touchdown of the night during the second quarter. Platt, who just received his 10th division one offer from Duke, punched a two-yard rush into the endzone to put the Tornados up 30-0 after the two-point try succeeded.
Following Platt’s touchdown, the Tornados saw their first scare of the 2022 season. Timberline was able to find the endzone twice late in the second quarter to bring the score to 30-14 going into halftime.
Coming out of the half, it appeared Timberline’s momentum from the end of the first half carried over as they returned the kickoff deep into Tornados’ territory. Just when it looked like the Blazers were possibly going to find the endzone for their third straight possession, Kyler Ronquillo intercepted a pass in the endzone.
Following Timberline’s strong efforts, Ray Wright found the endzone on a six-yard run. The Tornados kept building momentum in the third quarter when Damian Aalona found Ronquillo for a 10-yard touchdown pass. After the failed two-point try, Yelm led 42-14.
The Tornados’ defense forced another Timberline punt before turning to Carreto once again. The senior took a handoff up the middle and made a move to his right to the Timberline sidelines and scored on an 80-yard run. Carreto finished the night with eight carries for 204 yards and two touchdowns. Yelm led 50-14, after a successful two-point try.
Junior running back Anthony Kiamco found the endzone with the Tornados’ reserves in the game, making it 56-14. Kiamco punched in a two-yard carry, to cap off the junior varsity’s only scoring drive of the contest.
Yelm defeated the Blazers 56-14 behind a strong rushing attack.
Yelm outgained the Blazers 456 to 141 in the contest, holding Timberline to negative eight rush yards in the contest. Damian Aalona finished 13 of 16 for 140 yards and three touchdowns, while Marius Aalona led Yelm in receiving with two catches for 39 yards and a score. Receivers Ronquillo and Smith also each found the endzone.
Defensively, Carreto led Yelm in tackles with 11 total. Carreto also totaled two sacks and an additional two tackles for loss. He was followed by Wright and Isaiah Patterson, who each had nine tackles. Patterson also had two sacks and two tackles for loss.
Yelm’s next matchup will be on Friday, Oct. 21 against Peninsula High School at Roy Anderson field in Gig Harbor. Peninsula will enter the contest with a 6-1 record, with their only loss being to Enumclaw High School.
