The Pe Ell-Willapa Valley football team’s defense came away with two massive stops in the fourth quarter to lift the Titans over the Adna Pirates 22-20 on Friday.
After the Pirates (0-2) scored late in the fourth quarter to get within two, the Titans (2-0) stuffed Adna quarterback Lane Johnson on the two-point attempt that would have tied the game.
Adna got the ball back with an onside kick moments later, but the Titan defense stood tall again, forcing a turnover on downs that allowed the offense to melt away the rest of the clock and move to 2-0.
“When we needed to we stepped up and played really well,” PWV coach Nate Smith said. “We bent but we didn’t break.”
The last defensive stand put the final stamp on an impressive second half for the Titans, one where they were able to work around big plays from Johnson.
Johnson finished the day with three long touchdowns; a 34-yard pass to Gavan Muller, a 34-yard run and a 65-yard pass to Luke Mohney.
The Titan offense was much more methodical, as all three of their touchdowns were punched in from inside the five.
Nate Fluke rushed it in from one-yard out twice while Cody Strozyk scored a 4-yard touchdown. Strozyk’s ensuing two-point conversion after his score was ultimately the game-winner.
The Titans also got a boost from a key special teams play, as they blocked a punt early in the fourth quarter to give the offense stellar field position. They took advantage, tying the game at 14 before taking the lead later in the quarter, one the defense would not relinquish.
The Pirates will go for their first win at White Swan next Friday, while the Titans will look to improve to 3-0 at Wahkiakum.
