PE ELL — The Adna Pirates are champions of the Central 2B League West after throttling Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 45-0 in Pe Ell Thursday night to win.
It's the first league title for the Pirates since 2018.
“It’s a big deal,” Pirates head coach Aaron Cochran said. “Our kids have worked really hard every day trying to get a little bit better. That’s a really good football team, and we're really excited to be able to get it done.”
Adna stormed out of the gates in the first quarter with a 45-yard punt return touchdown by Grayson Humphrey, a defensive interception by Kannen Kephart, an onside kick recovery and two rushing touchdowns by senior lineman Noah Hellem and Beau Miller to enter the second quarter with a 24-0 advantage.
The dominance continued into the second quarter as Miller scored his second rushing touchdown to make it 32-0. PWV's offense could not string together first downs, moving the chains just twice in the first half.
“They got us on our heels and kept us on our heels,” Titans head coach John Peterson said. “When you get down against a team like that, with the way we're built, we're a run-first team. We're not a passing team. That's a tough way to come back.”
Adna closed the first half with Miller's third touchdown scamper of the night to give the junior a season high in touchdowns. The running clock began midway through the third quarter when Naillon Ramirez got in on the scoring action to make it 45-0.
On top of the hat trick of touchdowns, Miller, whom Cochran called the “toughest kid in the league,” finished with 122 yards on 16 carries. As a team, the Pirates rushed for 278 yards and five touchdowns, averaging seven yards per tote. Quarterback Trevin Salme completed nine of his 11 passes for 134 yards.
The Titans (6-3, 3-2 C2BL) could only muster six first downs and 43 total yards, including -12 on the ground.
“They work hard. They've gotten better every week,” Cochran said of his defense. “They’re pretty physical, and I think they showed that today.”
Adna (7-2, 5-0 C2BL), which has won five straight since starting the season 1-2, will host Mossyrock in a crossover next week, and PWV will face either Friday Harbor or Coupeville in a crossover, with dates to be determined this weekend for both contests.
