On further review, Mavs lose tiebreaker

YAKIMA, Wash. — There really is a situation when a win is really a loss.

Just ask the Yakima Mavericks.

By accepting a forfeit victory for their May 15 game against Columbia Basin, instead of playing the game, the Mavericks wound up one of two teams on the outside looking in when the season ended with a four-team tie for the Washington Football League’s final two playoff spots.

Originally, Yakima thought it had snuck in, edging Spokane based on the league’s point system. But that was because the Mavericks thought they would receive the maximum 14 points for the forfeit. Instead, they got just two and landed behind Spokane.

South Sound, Spokane, Yakima and Okanogan County all tied for third with 5-3 records. South Sound took third with 63 points with Spokane fourth with 55, and Yakima (46) and Okanogan County (39) left out.

“It’s definitely disappointing the way the season ended,” Yakima general manager Nathan Soptich said Thursday. “But at the same time, it’s our own fault. If we had beaten Wenatchee, Spokane or South Sound (during the regular season) we’d be in.”

Soptich said the initial confusion came because there is nothing definitive in the league rules about awarding points for forfeits. Instead, Yakima found out, the league used high school rules, which calls for two points.

Had he known that at the time, Soptich said he would’ve insisted on playing Columbia Basin, which had offered the forfeit because injuries had left them with an extremely limited roster.

“Had Yakima played Columbia Basin, I do believe that we would have beat them by the 14 points that a team can earn,” Soptich said in a statement posted on the team’s website. “When Columbia Basin let us know that they would not be able to field a team, I was under the impression that we would receive 14 points. But we will only get two.

“Are we getting short end of the stick? Yes. … There are no hard feelings on this end. We would have loved to play Hermiston … but the rules are rules.”

Saturday’s first round pairings have Spokane at Hermiston, and South Sound at Wenatchee.

The decision capped a frustrating season for Yakima, which harbored championship hopes coming in. However, losing quarterback Jordan Slesk early in the season, and several other factors prevented the Mavericks from realizing their potential, Soptich said.

“We had high hopes,” he said. “On paper, we had one of, if not the most-talented team. For whatever reason, we just couldn’t pull it all together.”

Mavs lose, but make playoffs

ROYAL CITY, Wash. — Despite a 31-27 loss to the Wenatchee Valley Rams on Saturday, the Yakima Mavericks qualified as the No. 4 seed in the Washington Football League playoffs.

In Saturday’s loss, Yakima (5-3) was led by quarterback James Phillips, who threw two touchdowns — one to John Lobbestael and another to Alex Mahre — and ran for another.

Aaron Blakeley also scored on the ground for the Mavericks.

Dave Mott led Wenatchee Valley (6-2) with two touchdown runs and a 70-yard scoring strike to Ron Fila that proved to be the winning score for the Rams.

Yakima Valley opens the postseason on the road against Hermiston on June 5.

Wenatchee    0    10    14    7    —    31
Yakima            7    7    7    6    —    27

First quarter

Yak — John Lobbestael 17 pass from James Phillips (Alex Mahre kick)

Second quarter

Wen — FG Lance Ballew 40

Yak — Mahre 48 pass from Phillips (Mahre kick)

Wen — Dave Mott 5 run (Ballew kick)

Third quarter

Wen — Mott 3 run (Ballew kick)

Yak — Aaron Blakeley 1 run (Mahre kick)

Wen — John Rossi 3 run (Ballew kick)

Fourth quarter

Yak — Phillips 2 run (kick failed)

Wen — Ron Fila 70 pass from Mott (Ballew kick)

YAKIMA LEADERS

Passing: Phillips 9-18-192-3, Rushing: Brandon Tate 16-104, Receiving: Lobbestael 4-83.

Mavs can clinch playoff berth with win today

YAKIMA, Wash. — The Yakima Mavericks will need a playoff-like intensity today — or they may not have a playoff experience next week.

Yakima closes out the regular season at 5 p.m. today at Royal High School against the Wenatchee Valley Rams in a game where the winner advances to the playoffs while the loser could be eliminated.

Yakima, Wenatchee Valley and Spokane are all currently tied for second with 5-2 records, although Yakima has 58 points, Spokane 55 and Wenatchee Valley 37.

South Sound and Okanogan County are tied for fifth at 4-3, with 49 and 37 points, respectively.

Spokane closes out the season against first-place Hermiston, while South Sound and Okanogan County face two of the league’s worst teams — South Sound vs. winless Columbia Basin (0-6), and Okanogan County vs. Palouse (2-5).

The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.

Gates for Yakima’s game open at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $7 for adults, $5 for juniors (ages 6-12) and seniors (65 and over). Kids under 5 and active military personnel are free.

Mavs to get forfeit win

YAKIMA, Wash. — The Yakima Mavericks picked up a victory this week without even taking the field, but whether that helps or hurts their playoff chances remains to be seen.

The injury-depleted Columbia Basin Riverhawks were forced to forfeit Saturday’s home game, allowing the Mavericks to improve to 5-2 but only earning them seven points in the Washington Football League’s scoring system.

Had Yakima played the game and won convincingly against the winless Riverhawks (0-6), the Mavericks could’ve earned up to 14 points.

With Yakima (44 points entering this week), South Sound (49) and Wenatchee (25) all tied for third at 4-2, the additional points would’ve certainly helped as Yakima seeks one of the league’s four playoff berths.

Instead, Yakima will have 51 points and wait to see how South Sound and Wenatchee do this week against Okanogan County (3-3) and winless North Sound (0-6), respectively. However, those results may not matter since Yakima and Wenatchee meet in the regular-season finale on May 22 at Royal City.

Mavericks fall to Spokane

SPOKANE, Wash. — Scoring all its points in the second quarter and then hanging on at the end, the Spokane Wolfpack beat the Yakima Mavericks 12-6 at West Valley High School on Saturday.

John Lobbestael’s 14-yard scoring pass to Mike McGee drew the Mavericks within a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Yakima (4-2) hosts the Grays Harbor Bearcats on Saturday in a 4 p.m. game at Naches Valley High School.

Yakima      0    0    0    6    —    6
Spokane    0    12    0    0    —    12
Spo — Safety
Spo — FG David Streidick 20
Spo — Chad Haverkamp 9 pass from Tim Mitrobith (Streidick kick)
Yakima — Mike McGee 14 pass from John Lobbestael (kick blocked)

YAKIMA STATISTICS

RUSHING: Brandon Tate 18-58. PASSING: Lobbestael 11-23-108. RECEIVING: Alex Mahre 5-44.

Mavericks rally for victory

NACHES, Wash. — After trailing most of the game, the Yakima Mavericks managed some late magic to secure a victory over the Okanogan County Commandos on Saturday.

John Lobbestael threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Alex Mahre to tie the game with 3 seconds left in regulation, and then Brandon Tate scored on a 10–yard run in overtime to give Yakima a thrilling 26-23 victory.

Okanogan Country got the ball first in overtime, but couldn’t get a first down and had to settle for a field goal.

On it’s possession, the Mavericks (4-1) gave the ball to Tate on three straight running plays, capped by the winning burst.

In addition to his game-tying TD catch, Mahre also kicked a 49-yard field goal and scored on a 67-yard kick return.

Yakima travels to Spokane next Saturday.

No statistics were available at press time.

Local report — Mavericks to play at Naches Valley

YAKIMA, Wash. — While still not back in their intended home stadium, the Yakima Mavericks have found a venue much closer than their previous site for this Saturday’s game.

Yakima will host the North Sound Sting at Naches Valley High School. Kickoff for the Washington Football League game is set for 1 p.m.

Unplayable conditions at Zaepfel Stadium has forced the Mavericks to move their first two home games, with the team playing its season opener in Royal City.

This is Yakima’s first home game since the opener, with the Mavericks splitting two road games the past two weeks to move to 2-1 for the season.

PDL SOCCER

Reds host preseason game Sunday

The Yakima Reds will face Gonzaga University in a preseason soccer match Sunday at Marquette Stadium.

The match begins at 11 a.m. and is free to the public.

Fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation for Northwest Harvest, which will be in attendance.

South Sound edges Mavericks

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 1:51 remaining, South Sound rallied for a 21-14 win over the Yakima Mavericks on Saturday.

John Lobbestael’s 26-yard scoring reception in the second quarter gave the Mavericks (2-1) a 14-7 lead at halftime.

Dewayne Murphy had 10 tackles and three sacks for Yakima, which will host North Sound next Saturday at a site to be determined.

Yakima              6    8    0    0    —    14
South Sound    7    0    0    14    —    21
Yakima — Brandon Tate 3 run (kick blocked)
Yakima — John Lobbestael 26 pass from Jordon Slesk (Alex Mahre pass from Sleck)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Tate 17-83.
PASSING: 16-22-0-191.
RECEIVING: Lobbestael 7-111.

Mavericks shut down Hermiston

HERMISTON, Ore. — A fast start, and a big effort by Brandon Tate against his former team helped the Yakima Mavericks remain undefeated.

Yakima scored three first-quarter touchdowns, and Tate ran for 110 yards as the Mavericks turned back the Hermiston Hurricanes 27-14 on Saturday evening.

John Lobbestael was pressed back into quarterback service with new starter Jordan Slesk unable to make the trip, and last year’s starting signal caller responded by throwing for 130 yards and two touchdowns, while running for a third score.

Lobbestael hit Alex Mahre on a 16-yard pass to open the scoring, and capped the big first quarter with a 19-yard scoring toss to Heath Reeves.

Inbetween, Tate scored on a 1-yard run.

Lobbestael added a 1-yard scoring run in the third quarter.

Yakima’s defense was solid against their league rivals, who were called the Blue Mountain Stars last season, led by Jeremy Franck, who had two interceptions.

Former Sunnyside High running back R.J. Elizondo scored on a 41-yard run for Hermiston.

Next Saturday, Yakima (2-0) will face the South Sound Shockers in Lacey

Yakima          20    0    7    0    —    27
Hermiston    0    7    0    7    —    14
Yak — Alex Mahre 16 pass to John Lobbestael (Mahre kick)
Yak — Brandon Tate 1 run (kick failed)
Yak — Heath Reeves 19 pass from Lobbestael (Mahre kick)
Herm — R.J. Elizondo 41 run (kick good)
Yak — Lobbestael 1 run (Mahre kick)
Herm — Steve Rivas 10 pass from Jorge Martinez (kick good)

YAKIMA INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING — Tate 21-110.
PASSING — Lobbestael 10-21-130.
RECEIVING — Aaron Blakeley 3-50.

Mavs roll over Thunder in opener

ROYAL CITY, Wash. — Yakima’s new additions paid quick dividends as the Mavericks rolled in their season opener Saturday night.

Former Blue Mountain standouts Brandon Tate and Mike McGee both scored a touchdown, and new quarterback Jordan Slesk threw for two scores and ran for another as Yakima crushed the Palouse Thunder 35-0 in their “home” opener at Royal High School.

The Mavericks were forced to find a new, temporary home because of unplayable conditions at Zaepfel Stadium.

That didn’t bother them Saturday as Yakima dominated on both sides of the ball.

Tate, a former league MVP with Blue Mountain, ran for 74 yards on 10 carries, including a 7-yard TD run. McGee caught three passes for 139 yards, highlighted by a 66-yard scoring catch from Slesk.

Slesk also threw a 45-yard scoring pass to John Lobbestael, who moved from quarterback to tight end this season. Slesk, who threw for 228 yards, also ran for a score.

Palouse    0    0    0    0    —    0
Yakima    7    7    14    7    —    35

Yak — Brandon Tate 7 run (Alex Mahre kick)

Yak — Jesse Cardenas 15 run (Alex Mahre kick)

Yak — John Lobbestael 45 pass from Jordan Slesk (Alex Mahre kick)

Yak — Mike McGee 66 pass from Slesk (Alex Mahre kick)

Yak — Slesk 1 run (Alex Mahre kick)

YAKIMA INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing — Tate 10-74.

Passing — Slesk 9-16-228.

Receiving — McGee 3-139.

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