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Just about to break the plane, Kaylub Prather (24) scores the first of four touchdowns in Dayton's 62-38 win over Yakama Nation. Running interference on the play were Will Durham (2) and Adrian Ramirez (35).
Jordan McCowen (13) intercepted a Yakama Nation pass and beat would-be tacklers to the end zone to knot the score at 18 all with under two minutes to play in the first half. Pursuing McCowen is Cole Amboh (56) and Marcus Eyle (43).
DAYTON–The Dayton Bulldogs overcame a deficit in the first half to tie the score, then went on to register a seismic 62-38 win over the Yakama Nation Tribal Eagles, winning the first home game for the Dawgs since a game against LaCrosse-Washtucna-Kahlotus in November, 2014.
Dayton is now 1-1 in S.E. 1B Eight-Man play and visits Waitsburg where some former teammates will clash this Friday, kick off at 7 p.m.
"They started out really good and then as number three [Andrew Sampson] and then as number 12 [Gunner Wallulatum, Jr.] got hurt," observed Head Coach Lucas Collier, "that kind of crippled their team, but eight-man football is kind of complicated.
"I was a little disappointed on the first half but they came out second half firing on all cylinders," he added. "I couldn't ask for more, especially from such a young team."
Kaylub Prather counted 30 points for Dayton on four touchdowns and two extra point runs, and was joined by four other teammates in the scoring column. Quarterback Byron Collier ran for two touchdowns and hit Denver Hutchens with a 15-yard pass for another score, and he ran in two point-after conversions. The throw to Hutchens appeared to be right into a Yakama defender's hands but Hutchens cut in front of the player, caught the ball and hustled into the end zone. Jordan McCowen snagged a Yakama throw and romped the 35 yards to paydirt and an 18-18 tie. Will Durham pulled in a high on-side kick at the fifty and had just a couple Eagle defenders to clear before ripping into the end zone unmolested.
Dayton's decision to defer the opening kick and receive the ball in the third paid dividends as Prather turned that kick receive into a 26-18 lead from which Yakama never recovered.
In the opening minutes, both teams duked it out to a 6-6 standoff. Yakama's next possession ended when Durham recovered a fumble but the Dawgs didn't capitalize on that and the Eagles scored on their next possession, 12-6.
Dayton fumbled on second down and Yakama's Wallalatum Jr. scored for a 18-6 Eagle lead. In four plays, the Bulldogs punched in with a three-yard Prather score for an 18-12 margin.
The Eagles struggled with a pair of bad snaps, which drove them back to their 28-yard line where on fourth and 24, Isaac Jaech halted the drive with an interception, giving Dayton the ball, first and ten on the 27.
Dayton's drive stalled with two minutes remaining in the first half, but on Yakama's next first down, McCowen snagged an errant pass and scored, tying it 18-18.
Opening the third quarter, Prather fielded the onside kick then cleared defenders for a 52-yard return. But Yakama, turning to 5-9, 210 lb. lineman Cole Amboh grinding up the middle, advanced and scored on a 22-yard Berlanga to Onepennee pass. The PAT was no good and Dayton held 26-24.
The next three touchdowns were Dayton's: Prather and Collier rushing and Hutchens angling in front of a defensive back to snatch the interception almost out of his hands for six.
The teams traded touchdowns down the stretch to finish 62-38.
The last win for the Dayton eight-man program was at St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse in 2015.
Dayton 62, Yakama Nation 38 (9-8)
Day 6 12 16 28-62
Ykm 6 12 6 14-38
Ykm-Onepennee 49 yd pass from Berlanda. Run failed.
Day-Prather 8 yd run. Run failed.
Ykm-Wallalatum Jr. 34 yd run. Run failed.
Ykm-Amboh 10 yd run. Run failed.
Day-Prather 12 yd run. Run failed.
Day-McCowen 35 yd interception. Pass failed.
Day-Prather 52 yd kickoff return. Prather run.
Ykm-Onepennee 22 yd pass from Berlanga. Run failed.
Day-Prather 15 yd run. Collier run.
Day-Collier 16 yd run. Prather run.
Day-Hutchens 15 yd pass from Collier. Run failed.
Ykm-Onepennee 41 yd pass from Berlanga. Saluskin pass.
Day-Collier 31 yd run. Run failed.
Ykm-Saluskin 7 yd pass from Belanga. Pass failed.
Day-Durham 50 yd kick off return. Collier run.
Individual Stats:
Byron Collier: 106 rushing, 55 yards passing, 3 tackles, 2 TDs.
Kaylub Prather: 86 yards rushing, 12 tackles, 1 sack 4 TDs.
Denver Hutchens: 77 yds receiving, 3 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TDs.
Will Durham: Kick-off return for a 51 yds. 1 TD.
Jordan McCowen: 4 tackles, 1 interception with a 43 yd return.
Isaac Jaech: 1 interception for 37 yard return.
