Commands run into stout defense, fall 16-13 on late field goal
     YAKIMA - A 44-yard field goal separate Okanogan County Commandos from playing for the Evergreen Football League championship.
     Yakima Mavericks made the long boot in the third quarter en route to a 16-13 victory over the Commandos (8-3) in a semifinal game June 15 at Zaepfel Stadium.
     Yakima's kicker, Alex Mahre, also had kicks of 34 and 31 yards in the low scoring contest.
     Yakima (10-1) will travel to the only team it's lost to this season, Blue Mountain Stars (8-1), in Evergreen Bowl IV June 21. Blue Mountain won the other semifinal 40-11 over Tri-City (same two teams met in the first three EFL championship games).
     Where the Commandos defense came through again against a high-scoring offense, Yakima's defense proved just as stingy while causing three Commando turnovers.
     The Commandos scored first on a 15-yard run by Shawn Townsend (6-58) in the first quarter. Tom Cox kicked the extra point.
     Yakima came right back in the same quarter to score on a 15-yard pass to tie the game at seven-all.
     After three straight Maverick field goals, Carson Mills (5-34) would dive in from a yard out with 13:23 left in the game. The extra-point kicked was no good.
     The Commandos stopped Yakima at the OC's nine-yard line with 5:53 to go, but Yakima's defense allowed only one first down before getting the ball back and running out the clock.
     Also for the OC on the ground, Reese Stanfield rushed 17 times for a team-high 80 yards, Brice Boesel ran for six yards, Robby Bradshaw rushed twice for a yard and Clayton Ives rushed once for 11 yards.
     Bradshaw caught three passes for 50 yards and Shane Martin two catches for 15 yards.
     Levi Heyen completed five passes for 65 yards with two interceptions.
     Commando defense finished with an interception.