Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Few regions of the world have more differing landscapes than the state of Washington, and the Rosalia Spartans saw almost all of them on the way to Taholah last Friday.
Wheat country, arid flatlands, sagebrush foothills, cedar-covered mountains then coastline – it all led to their game site adjacent to the rainforests of Olympic National Park.
Once there, after loosening their legs on a Pacific beach of the Quinault Indian Reservation, the Spartans suited up and beat Taholah 65-38.
The game started close as the Spartans’ Craig Nelson scored, capping a four-play drive before Taholah answered right back in two plays.
"Initially it was a fight," said Rosalia Coach Kaleb Madison.
Then the Spartans opened a lead as Eli Richardson returned a fumble for a touchdown and Clay Shelton ran back a kickoff.
In the end, Nelson led Rosalia, running for three touchdowns and passing for two – both throws to Shelton. Quarterback Ryan Maley threw just nine times, completing six for 55 yards.
After the game, the team assembled in the Taholah gym and laid out sleeping bags and camping mats. The bus driver stayed at the Ocean Crest Motel.
"The trip was a great experience for the kids," said Madison. "All the way around."
Some of the players had never seen the ocean.
The next morning, after Taholah fed the Rosalia group in their cafeteria, the team loaded back on the bus.
"Very much appreciated," said Madison.
The bus arrived back in Rosalia at 7 p.m.
The win over also-independent Taholah puts Rosalia at 5-2 overall. With a bye this week, they have already clinched a spot in postseason play. On Nov. 1, they were scheduled to play at Joseph, Ore., but Madison got word this week that the Joseph team won’t be able to honor the game.
So Madison has been on the phone and expects that his team will still have a game Nov. 1. It may be in Rosalia as well.
In the meantime, the team will be out on the practice field.
"We’re always working on our offensive linemen finishing their blocks," Madison said.
"Stay on and finish. We’ll continue to look for that… Offensive line is the key to success."
He went on to say that the defense had a good night in Taholah, getting multiple tacklers to the football.
"Now it’s time to start preparing for the postseason," he said.
In 1997, Taholah beat Colton 47-42 in the 1B state championship game.
Correction: Rosalia senior running back Clay Shelton was misidentified as Blake Shelton in last week’s game account.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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