KENNEWICK -- The moment the referee ruled the ball a fumble, the Kennewick defenders told Grant Woods not to worry they'd get the ball back.
The Lions did just that all Friday night long, dominating Mt. Spokane 27-0 in a Class 3A regional football playoff game at Lampson Stadium.
Woods fumbled inside the 15-yard line early in the third quarter and the Wildcats took the next two plays 35 yards. But the Lions defense stiffened and forced a punt.
"That was a big stop," Kennewick's Brock Schuh said. "We knew we'd get the ball back. We told Grant not to worry about it and that we'd get it back."
After the punt, the Lions went 76 yards on seven plays highlighted by Reggie Clinton's catch-and-run 51-yard gain. Bryce Leavitt scored from 2 yards out for a 20-0 lead.
"It was only 13-0 at the half, but I felt we controlled things," Kennewick coach Bill Templeton said. "I felt like if we could punch it in, it would go a long way toward winning the game."
The victory puts the Lions into the state playoffs for the first time since 2007. Kennewick will face Southridge in the first round next weekend.
