Tornados Light Up Scoreboard in 71-0 Victory Over Capital

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The Yelm Tornados football team continued their dominant win streak on Friday, Oct. 7 with a 71-0 victory over the Capital Cougars.

Seven different Tornados reached the end zone during the contest, spreading the wealth to their back ups and reserves once again.

After winning the coin flip, the Tornados received the opening kickoff and marched down the field deep into Cougar territory. Senior fullback and linebacker Ray Wright was the first to reach the end zone after he took a one-yard carry up the middle for the score. Wright also converted the two point try, giving the Tornados an early 8-0 lead.

Following their touchdown, the Tornados forced Capital to a quick third and long that saw Wright strip-sack the quarterback. Sophomore Kenji Scanlan recovered the fumble and Yelm took over possession just inside the Cougars’ 20-yard line.

After three plays, the Tornados found themselves on Capital’s one-yard line again. Senior center Kolby Henry, who usually snaps the ball for the Tornados’ offense, lined up at running back and took the carry into the end zone for Yelm’s second touchdown of the first quarter. After a successful two point conversion, the Tornados led 16-0.

Capital briefly moved the ball into Tornados’ territory, but Yelm forced a fourth and long that saw the Cougars throw an incomplete pass, turning the ball over on downs. After a couple of plays forced the Tornados to a third and seven situation, junior linebacker and running back Brayden Platt took the handoff to the right before cutting back to the left. He went nearly untouched for a 75-yard touchdown. William Carreto converted the two point try to give Yelm a 24-0 lead in the first quarter.

Following Platt’s touchdown, senior wide receiver Aden Schaler hauled in touchdowns on consecutive drives. Schaler’s first touchdown of the evening was a 48-yard reception from junior quarterback Damian Aalona. Aalona found Schaler on their following drive for a 22-yard touchdown.

After both Schaler touchdowns, the Tornados found themselves leading 39-0 at the end of the first quarter.



In the second quarter, Capital found themselves driving into Yelm’s territory after a couple of long passes. However, the Cougars quarterback was drilled as he lofted a pass into the end zone and senior Trevontay Smith intercepted the pass, returning it 102 yards for a touchdown. After an unsuccessful point after touchdown kick, Yelm led 45-0.

The final Tornado touchdown of the first half was a 46-yard touchdown pass from Aalona to Smith. Aalona caught the snap and rolled to his right before he found Smith wide open in the middle of the field. Smith outran several Cougar defenders and took it into the end zone to give Yelm a 52-0 lead.

After the Tornados defense forced another stop, the first Tornados play of the second half was a quick pop pass to senior wide receiver Kyler Ronquillo, who took it up the Tornados’ sidelines 37 yards for a first down. Carreto took the handoff to his left on the next play and secured a 44-yard touchdown. Yelm led 58-0 in the third quarter.

Yelm found themselves back on offense after sophomore Nathan Ford recovered the ball on a kickoff that Capital left untouched inside their 10-yard line. Following the recovery, Ford took a handoff for six yards and a touchdown. The Tornados led 65-0 at the end of the third quarter. The final touchdown of the game went to sophomore Neeko Taylor, who punched in a rush from five yards out to extend their lead to 71-0.

The Tornados totaled 431 yards of offense. Aalona was 11 for 15 for 232 yards and three touchdowns.

Platt led the Tornados in rushing with just two carries, totaling 88 yards and a touchdown. Eleven different Tornados recorded carries or catches in the contest. Schaler led Yelm in receiving with three catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He was followed by Ronquillo, who finished with three catches for 48 yards.

Defensively, Wright put on a show as he was everywhere for the Tornados’ defense. He finished the contest with two sacks, one forced fumble, four tackles for loss and seven total tackles. He was followed by Schaler with eight tackles and Platt with five.

Up next for the Tornados, they will host South Sound Conference rival Timberline on Thursday, Oct. 13 at Yelm High School. The contest will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased prior to the contest online.