Tekoa-Rosalia falls to Sunnyside Christian

The Timberwolves fell against the Knights 52-30 in closely-contested game in Rosalia on Friday.

Tekoa-Rosalia was down at halftime 24-14, but following an interception by the Timberwolves and a touchdown run on the ensuing possession, managed to crawl back to within two points with 3:47 left in the third quarter.

Sunnyside Chrstian scored on the next drive, having a short field after a long kick return. The Knights recovered an onside kick on the subsequent kickoff and proceeded to go down the field and convert a two-point conversion to go up 16 with 3:04 left in the third quarter. Sunnyside Christian scored two touchdowns in 43 seconds.

Tekoa-Rosalia gave the Knights the ball again after a fumble and Sunnyside Christian proceeded to put eight points on the board to go up 24.

The Timberwolves responed on the next possession to cut the lead back to two scored, but a final touchdown drive by the Knights resulted in a 22 lead and would ultimately be the final result.

It was a game where the team with the fewest mistakes won: Tekoa-Rosalia was unable to recover the onside kick, fumbled, dropped a pass on a "Philly Special" play and turned the ball over on downs, all in the second half.

"The boys came out and played hard and competed," Tekoa-Rosalia coach Ron Rogers said. "And that's what I wanted them to do. This is their first time together playing as a team. That's what it's about. Team. The team, the team, the team. And I stress that and they played as a team, they fall as a team, they win as a team."

Rogers said that he's confident in his team's ability as the season progresses.

"They'll get there," Rogers said. "This is the first game that these guys are all together. We only had four players coming back, everyone else is all-new."

Despite the result, the game was an encouraging sign for the young Timberwolves team, being able to compete with a Sunnyside Christian team that won eight games the previous season.

The team saw great performances from its young playmakers, as well.

Junior running back Isaac Bone and sophomore quarterback Westley Bryan were two players who made big plays for Tekoa-Rosalia, accounting for touchdowns and two-point conversions alike.

The Timberwolves will get another chance at home to add a game to the win column against the Garfield-Palouse Vikings 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 9, in Rosalia.