Timberwolves let one slip away

October 12, 2011

Dustin Wyborney picks up second half yardage.

Woulda-coulda-shoulda.
So it has gone this season for the Columbia-Inchelium football team.
The Timberwolves (1-2, 2-4) couldn’t take advantage of a once powerhouse Cusick team (3-1, 4-2) that because of graduation and some injuries to key players this season, is a shell of its former self. Cusick did just enough offensively to pull out a 36-28 win at Hunters last Friday afternoon in a key Northeast 1B North game.
“We had our opportunities,” conceded C-I coach Chuck Wyborney. “The table was set for us to knock them off. But we made too many mistakes.”
Punt return issues and a major sideline gaff that gave Cusick a key first down on an illegal participation call (nine men on the field) kept a scoring drive alive.
So it went on a sunny afternoon at Hunters. Opportunity knocked, but the Timberwolves couldn’t take advantage.
Columbia-Inchelium had a shot to tie the game in the game’s final seconds and send this one into overtime. But Cusick was able to hold on and limp out of Hunters.
Despite another disappointing loss, Wyborney saw some positives. For one thing, after a slow start led to 16 quick Cusick points, C-I woke up and started playing more effectively.
“I saw some good signs,” Wyborney said. “I think we are playing better. “
Columbia-Inchelium certainly did enough to win this one. The Timberwolves rushed 71 times for 427 yards. Dustin Wyborney was five of 11 passing for 65 yards.
Marvin Reyes rushed 25 times for 132 yards. Wyborney, in his best game to date, ran for 111 yards on 16 carries.
Nick Hill added 116 yards on 23 carries for C-I.
On defense, Hill led the way with 12 tackles. Dustin Elliott added 10 more.
THIS WEEK
Columbia-Inchelium will host Odessa-Harrington (2-0, 4-2) on Friday at Inchelium. Game time in Inchelium’s Homecoming game is 3 p.m.
Odessa-Harrington is coming off a 42-28 Northeast 1B South win over Wilbur-Creston last Friday.
In that game, O-H’s Jared King threw for touchdowns of 26, 45 and 48 yards. King also ran in one touchdown for 10 yards and returned a kickoff 85 yards for another score.
“They like to spread it out and let King take over,” Wyborney said. “He’s the show.”
Wyborney said the 2011 season isn’t lost yet and is still very much a work in progress.
“We are still in the middle of it,” Wyborney said. “But we need to do a better job of coming out of the locker room with a little better will to win and a zip in our step.”

Cusick 36, C-I 28
CHS 16 6 6 8—36
C-I 8 6 6 8—28

CHS—Bluff 12 yd. pass from Sample (Sample run)
CHS—A. Bluff 47 yd. pass from Sample (Sample run)
C-I—Cohen 14 yd. run (Wyborney run)
CHS—E. Peterson 20 yd. run (run failed)
C-I—Hill 24 yd. pass from Wyborney (pass fail)
CHS—A. Bluff 53 yd. run (run failed)
C-I—Wyborney 13 yd. run (pass failed)
CHS—E. Peterson 61 yd. run (E. Peterson run)
C-I—Wyborney 3 yd. run (Hill run)