The Yelm Tornados imposed their will against the Union Titans in all three phases of their away game on Sept. 9, coming away with a 46-6 win.
After receiving the opening kickoff, the Tornados faced third and 20 midfield. Junior quarterback Damian Aalona took the snap in the shotgun and hit junior Brayden Platt on a swing pass. Platt, the Tornados’ two-way superstar, took the pass in the flats for 50 yards and a touchdown as he hurdled a Union defender along the way.
The Tornados were quickly up 7-0 and were right back on offense after a Union three-and-out backed up against their own endzone. It was Platt’s game early on, as he took a run for 28 yards and another touchdown. Yelm led Union 14-0, just minutes into the game.
With Union’s backs against the wall, their offense needed to get going, but Yelm’s defense had different plans.
Senior linebacker Ray Wright, who is the back-to-back defensive player of the year in the South Sound Conference, caused the first turnover of the game with an interception off of a pass break up by senior cornerback Aden Schaler.
Yelm marched closer to the endzone for several plays when senior running back and linebacker William Carreto punched in another Tornados touchdown from four yards out. Yelm missed their extra point attempt, but led 20-0 in the first quarter.
Now back on defense, Wright decided he wanted one more interception. The senior linebacker read a pass and picked it off in the middle of the field.
All it took was one offensive snap for the Tornados to get back into the endzone. Platt scored once again on a 36-yard rush. The junior took the handoff to the left and followed two of his big linemen, Tyler Blevins and Ami Fakava, before planting his foot and making a hard cut to the right. Platt carried the ball untouched to the endzone.
After a failed extra point attempt, Yelm led 26-0 to close out the first quarter. Union had the ball on their side of the field to start the second quarter, but the Tornado defense would not budge. The Titans attempted a fourth down conversion on fourth and short, and senior Carreto came up with the sack, ending the drive.
Yelm started their scoring in the second quarter when Platt punched in his fourth touchdown of the game, carrying several Union defenders into the endzone. The Tornados failed at their two-point try, but led 32-0 just minutes into the second quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff after the touchdown, kicker and offensive lineman Chris Hauss delivered a pooch kick which landed on Union’s 30, before it bounced in the direction of the Tornados. Yelm was able to recover it. The Tornados drove into the red zone where quarterback Aalona found a wide open Schaler in the endzone for a four-yard touchdown. The Tornados led 40-0, after a successful two-point try on a Platt run.
After forcing another Union turnover on downs, Yelm was back on the field with limited time left to score in the second half. The Tornados put together another drive, and from 14 yards out, Aalona faked a sweep to Wright, before rolling to his right and finding a wide open Kyler Ronquillo in the endzone. Yelm led 46-0 going into halftime.
Union was able to muster some points in the second half when their quarterback threw a 26-yard touchdown to start the third quarter.
The Tornados took the win, 46-6.
Wright finished the game with nine tackles, one sack and two interceptions.
“Ray has a nose for the football,” said Daniel Caldwell, the Tornados linebacker coach and special teams coordinator following the game. “Whether it’s a run or a pass, he always seems to put himself in a position to make plays.”
Wright quoted Head Coach Jason Ronquillo in reference to the team’s victory, saying “it doesn’t matter, get better.”
“I credit (our performance) to our preparation and goals for the season,” Wright said.
Wright gave a shout out to his teammate and linebacker running-mate Platt, calling him a “real life cheat code.”
As far as Wright’s interceptions? He was happy he could contribute to the team’s momentum.
Yelm will host its next game at home against the Central Kitsap Cougars at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16.
