WHITE SWAN–The Cougars drew first blood with a touchdown aided by two Dayton-Waitsburg pass-interference penalties, but the Wolfpack settled down and scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, going on the defeat White Swan 40-12 in the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference cross-over game Tuesday, March 30.

With the win, the Wolfpack finished the spring covid 2021 season even at 3-3.

"After they scored that first touchdown," said Head Coach Troy Larsen, "they couldn't stop us. By halftime we were ahead 32-6. It was 'game over.'"

"From that first touchdown on," Larsen said, "the Wolfpack defense held White Swan in check as their multiple formations and numerous halfback and double passes did not faze the defense." Junior Theo Anderson led the defense with 14 tackles, two pass break-ups and a sack.

Sophomore quarterback Monte Pettichord, who passed for four touchdowns and 270 yards in the game, found his favorite receivers Shawn Evans, Mason Finney and Colton VanBlaricom through the remainder of the first half. Pettichord threw touchdown passes of 48 yards (Evans), 25 yards (Finney), 62 yards (Evans) and 65 yards (VanBlaricom).

Taking a 32-6 lead into the second half, the Wolfpack looked to the coming season and worked on their game, like five receivers and no backfield, Pettichord working from the shotgun, Larsen said. "I was proud of the fight the defense showed us against White Swan. It allowed our offense to work on other parts of the playbook to get ready for next season."

DW's run-pass-option offense has developed and should play a big role in the fall, Larsen said. "The rest of the game we went to the ground game, to let Hudson Reser gain some confidence," he said. "He's really quick and they [the defense] don't see him. He's so low behind the line and when Pettichord does the 'mish,' nobody knows who has the ball. They work it to perfection.

"It's going to be really excellent for the next couple years with those two (Pettichord and Reser), they're both sophomores," Larsen said.

DW 34 8 0 8-40

WS 6 0 0 6-12

Scoring

DW-Evans 48 yd pass from Pettichord. Pass to Finney.

DW-Finney 25 yd pass from Pettichord. Reser run.

DW-Evans 62 yd pass from Pettichord. Pass to Evans.

DW-VanBlaricom 65 yd pass from Pettichord. Reser run.

DW-Pettichord 3 yd run. Reser run.

Passing: Pettichord 11-25-4 TDs-1 270 yards.

Receiving: Evans 4-116-2 TD; VanBlaricom 2-70-1 TD; Finney 3-36-1 TD, Mohney 2-48.

Rushing: Pettichord-7-48-1 TD, Reser 10-39.