South’s Cole Yarrington threw for 3 TDs. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
The Cook Inlet Conference’s top-ranked passer lived up to his billing Friday as Cole Yarrington threw for three touchdowns, including a 50-yard bomb near the final minute of play to lift the South High football team over Wasilla 28-25 in the Valley.
Yarrington beat the coverage by going over the top and connecting with Caleb Doerr for the game-winning score with 1:19 remaining – just moments after Wasilla had taken a 25-21 lead on a long pass of its own.
Yarrington threw two 50-yard TDs in the game and finished with 219 passing yards, including 131 in the second half when he hit bombs to Landon Drumm in the third quarter and Doerr in the fourth quarter.
Drumm stayed busy with seven receptions for 139 yards and two TDs. He hauled in a 26-yard score in the second quarter in addition to rushing for 37 yards on two carries and making an interception on defense.
Ethan Yarrington highlighted the rushing attack that piled up 202 yards behind a bevy of backs as seven different dudes carried the ball. Yarrington led the way with 112 yards on 15 carries while Kaedin Colman Arroyo was next with 29 yards on five carries.
The Yarrington boys made plays on defense as well with Ethan earning a sack and Cole forcing a fumble and delivering a big hit on fourth down that stopped a Wasilla drive.
Cole also called an audible early in the fourth quarter that resulted in a 17-yard run by Ethan.
Caleb Doerr ran for a TD and caught a TD. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
Early on, however, Wasilla looked like it might run away from the Division I Wolverines in this nonconference matchup as the Division II Warriors built a 19-7 advantage.
Wasilla got 1-yard TD plunges from Kade Russell and Brayden Sparrs in addition to a 5-yard TD run by Brandon Wadleigh. The Warriors threw the playbook at South, running all types of misdirection rushing plays and mixing in an efficient passing game using two different quarterbacks.
It wasn’t by choice. Russell started but left late in the first quarter, needing to be helped off after getting rocked on a play. He was replaced by Sparrs, who symbolized the ‘next man up’ mindset and orchestrated two scoring drives.
Wasilla ran all sorts of running plays, including a true option that resulted in several big runs including a 39-yard sprint.
The Warriors racked up 350 yards of total offense. Wide receiver Jimmy Lackey caught five balls for 90 yards and Ryan Mikkelsen rushed for 64 yards on 16 carries.
CIC Football
Week 4
South 28, Wasilla 25
East 26, Service 7
Dimond 29, West 12
Bartlett 36, Colony 0
Juneau 17, Bishop (CA) 6
Russell returned under center in the second half and late in the fourth quarter threw a nice ball to Adam Corneliussen for a 39-yard go-ahead TD.
But Yarrington needed one play to give South the lead back after throwing a 50-yard bomb to Doerr, who got free on a double move up the middle.
Yarrington came into the game ranked No. 1 in the CIC with 669 passing yards.
South 7 7 7 7 – 28
Wasilla 6 13 0 6 – 25
FIRST QUARTER
Wasilla – Russell 1 run (pass failed)
South – Doerr 5 run (Braun kick)
SECOND QUARTER
Wasilla – Wadleigh 9 run (Castro kick)
Wasilla – Sparrs 1 run (kick missed)
South – Drumm 26 pass from C. Yarrington (Braun kick)
THIRD QUARTER
South – Drumm 50 pass from C. Yarrington (Braun kick)
FOURTH QUARTER
Wasilla – Corneliussen 39 pass from Russell (kick missed)
South – Doerr 50 pass from C. Yarrington (Braun kick)
