Tenino escapes Adna with a close victory

The Tenino football team trailed early at Adna on Friday, but the Beavers battled back and returned home with a 22-19 win.

Adna took a 12-0 lead in the first, but Tenino bounced back with a Michael Vassar 12-yard touchdown run in the second to cut the lead to one score.

At the end of the half, a trick-play double pass from Austin Johnson to Austin Gonia put the Beavers on top. Gonia caught another long touchdown pass, this time a 35-yard strike from Tenino QB Mason Medcalf.

Tenino coach Darren Tinnerstet commended Gonia, saying “he was pretty much lights out,” before turning his attention to his sophomore quarterback.

“He’s making strides each week,” Tinnerstet said of Medcalf. “He’s still young, but the good thing is he's been exposed to a bunch of different scenarios … He’s getting trial by fire.”

Tinnerstet also gave credit to his defense, which forced four turnovers and shut down the Pirates after their two early touchdowns.

Tenino will have one more non-league game before turning its attention to the Evergreen League, as Centralia will visit next Friday.