By Loyal Baker

POMEROY––Despite the Pomeroy Pirates chalking up four passing touchdowns, three by rushing and a game-opening, 100-yard, kick-off return by Walker Flynn, the Buccaneer defense had no answer for Naselle's squirrelly quarterback, 5-8, 165-lb junior Jacob Lindstrom, who churned through defensive formations for 346 yards and six touchdowns to boost the Comets to a 78-58 play-off win here on a windy and rainy Saturday, Nov. 4. The Comets also successfully converted four on-side kicks, adding three touchdowns that were crucial to the 20-point loss.

The Pirates wrapped the 2023 season with a 9-2 record and a second-place finish in the Southeast 1B league behind unbeaten Liberty Christian. Liberty Christian faces Neah Bay, Naselle plays Wilbur-Creston-Keller, Almira-Coulee-Hartline will battle Mossyrock and Wellpinit takes on Liberty Bell in this week's playoff games Saturday.

Head Coach Kyle Kimble said the Pirates were led by Jett Slusser, who threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns on 12 of 20 passing. Slusser also added 82 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns. Ollie Severs was Slusser's favorite receiver, catching three touchdown passes

"I've been impressed by our kids all year long and today was no exception," Kimble said. "They competed and battled all night, but we just couldn't overcome the speed of Lindstrom and the extra possessions from their tremendous on-side kick team."

The Pirates gave hometown fans something to cheer about with Walker Flynn's opening kick-off return for six.

With a six-point lead, Naselle's offense went to work, but a bad-snap fumble was pounced on by Severs at the Pirate 35. Two plays later, Jacob Reisinger darted to daylight for a 61-yard touchdown scamper. Severs add the point after for a 14-0 lead.

But the Comets rallied with two touchdowns by slippery Lindstrom, tying the score, 14-14.

Lindstrom broke loose for a third straight score to give Naselle the lead 22-14 as the first quarter expired.

Flynn recovered one of Lindstrom's two fumbles in the game to give the Pirates possession at the Comet three yard line. Next play, Flynn got the ball and punched in for six. Slusser added the two-point conversion and the Bucs were tied at 22 all.

The Comets' next possession was a quick touchdown after two pass completions and an offside penalty on the Pirates set up a first and 10 on the Pirate 17 where Caiden Burke ran in the score for a 30-22 lead.

Slusser threw a 59-yard reception to Severs, who was tackled by Lindstrom at the Naselle 10. Reisinger got the ball for a short gain, and on the next play, coughed it up, Naselle recovering on the five yard line.

The Comets dug out of the hold with a 72-yard Lindstrom to Strange connection to the Pomeroy 10 yard line. Strange ran it in on the next play for a 36-22 Comet lead.

Naselle executed one of its on-side kicks, and in a few short plays, Burke scored from the Pomeroy 38, and a 20-point lead, 42-22.

The Comets' next on-side kick didn't fly and the Pirates went to work, mashing out a 50-yard, six-play drive, culminating with a 25-yard Slusser run and a 42-28 margin.

Naselle started its next drive at midfield and couldn't contain Lindstrom, who got loose for a 49-yard scoring ramble. He added the PAT for a 50-28 lead.

The Pirates' next drive faltered when the Comet defense sacked Slusser for a ten-yard loss and on fourth and fifteen, Slusser's throw to Severs dropped uncaught. The Comets answered with another touchdown, a Lindstrom to Henington throw, with Lindstrom's PAT run made it a 30-point ballgame, 58-28.

But it wasn't half time yet and the Pirate put together a drive which finished on a 35-yard Slusser to Severs pass for six. The connection worked for the point after and the teams headed to half time with a 58-36 difference.

Naselle scored two touchdowns and the Pirates one in the third quarter, implying the effects of coaching, and offensive and defensive adjustments. Naselle got the ball and promptly scored on a 35-yard Lindstrom run. The PAT was no good and the Comets had a formidable 64-36 lead.

Again, Naselle successfully executed the on-side kick, starting at midfield and milking the clock as they marched 48 yards, Lindstrom scoring on a fourth-and-five running play from the 20-yard line. After Gill's conversion, the score was 72-36.

Naselle kicked deep and the Pirates moved on a Slusser-to-Boone Schmidt 18-yard passing gain. A few plays later, Slusser hit Severs for a 35-yard score. Slusser ran the PAT in for a 72-44 score, a 28-point difference.

The Comets started again around midfield, and again, Lindstrom moved the pigskin with a 55-yard run, Flynn and Schmidt tackling Lindstrom.

The Pirates got the ball back and were hoping to work their way out of their territory when Slusser's pass was picked by Burke, giving the Comets the ball on the Pomeroy 27. They moved to the 17 where the Pirate defense held, turning the ball over on downs.

The Comets squelched any offensive efforts, forcing Trace Roberts to punt from deep in the end zone and the ball took a Pirate bounce, careening headlong to the Naselle 29, a 66-yard punt.

As the fourth quarter started, Lindstrom and company chugged along in a time-wasting drive running every play until Henington scored on a two-yard run. The PAT failed.

The Pirates scored next on a 37-yard Slusser to Severs pass play, and Slusser found Flynn for the conversion and a 78-52 score.

The Comets' next drive stalled and Pomeroy took over on the Pomeroy 20. Slusser found Severs for a 44-yard gain, then hit Flynn for a 12-yard gain and another Pirate first down. Reisinger was Slusser's final target on a 24-yard connection for six points. The same combination didn't work for the point after, final score 78-58.

Naselle 78, Pomeroy 58 (11-4)

Pom 14 22 8 14-58

Nas 22 36 14 6-78

SCORING SUMMARY:

1st Quarter

POM: Flynn 100 yd Kick Return. Run failed 0-6

POM: Reisinger 61 yd Run. Severs run. 0-12

NSL: Lindstrom 25 yd Run. Lindstrom run. 6-14

NSL: Lindstrom 37 yd Run. Henington pass from Lindstrom. 14-14

NSL: Lindstrom 40 yd Run. 22-14

2nd Quarter

POM: Flynn 3 yd Run. Slusser run. 22-20

NSL: Burke 17 yd Run. Strange run. 28-22

NSL: Strange 10 yd Run. 36-22

NSL: Burke 38 yd Run. 42-22

POM: Slusser 25 yd Run. 42-28

NSL: Lindstrom 49 yd Run. Lindstrom run. 48-28

NSL: Henington 10 yd Pass from Lindstrom. Lindstrom run. 56-28

POM: Severs 35 yd Pass from Slusser. Severs pass from Slusser. 58-34

3rd Quarter

NSL: Lindstrom 35 yd Run. 64-36

NSL: Lindstrom 20 yd Run. Gill run. 70-36

POM: Severs 35 yd Pass from Slusser. Slusser run. 72-42

4th Quarter

NSL: Henington 2 yd Run. 78-44

POM: Severs 37 yd Pass from Slusser. Flynn pass from Slusser. 78-52

POM: Reisinger 24 yd Pass from Slusser. Conv failed. 78-58

Game Summary

Nas Pom

First Dns 31 16

Rshs-Yds 59/551 32/186

Rec-Yds 7/124 12/311

Passing Yds 124 311

Comp-Atts 7/13 12/20

-East Washingtonian photo

Ollie Severs (34) lays out to catch a Jett Slusser pass...but the ball was inches past his fingertips. Severs caught seven passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns, plus he rushed for 17 yards on three carries. On defense, Severs counted 11 solo tackles.

TD-INT 1/0 4/1

Fmbles-Lost 4/2 3/2

Pnlts-Yds 8/66 6/35

3rd Dn Conv 6/16 3/10

4th Dn Conv 4/6 1/4

FG-Att 0/0 0/0

Tackles 30.0 50.0

Sacks-Yds 1.0/-10 1.0/-4

Time of Poss 27:55 14:47