BANKS – The win streak is back to one, but you have to start somewhere.

Fresh off their first loss in nearly two years, the Astoria Fishermen bounced back in a big way Friday night, winning their 2009 Cowapa League opener at Banks, 30-3.

Unlike last year’s state title game (won by Astoria 19-11), the state championship rematch turned out to be more than a little one-sided.

And if anything, it just goes to show how inaccurate the state rankings can be.

Going against the No. 3-ranked Braves, the No. 5-ranked Fishermen set the tone on their first offensive possession, driving 75 yards in eight plays. Dane Lund did the bulk of the work, as the senior tailback had a few big first down carries and scored on a 3-yard touchdown run.

Lund sat out the Central game with an ankle sprain, but finished Friday’s game with 205 yards on 18 carries, thanks to an offensive line that dominated the Braves. Quarterback Jacob Davis galloped 11 times for 113 yards, as the Fishermen racked up 361 yards on the ground.

The Braves converted an early Astoria turnover into three points, but the Fishermen responded with another easy scoring drive, Lund capping it off with an 8-yard run and a 13-3 lead.

In nearly a repeat of the state championship game, the Astoria defense dominated, again.

But instead of Mason Brause harassing Gabe Linehan all day, it was Chance Banta chasing John Criswell all night.

The Fishermen sacked Criswell seven times (three by Banta) and forced four punts in the first half alone. Keifer Lucore and Jake Hatcher also had sacks for the Fishermen, who bagged Criswell nine times on the night. Ian Erickson had a sack, and Garrett Puckett even had an interception, the second this year for an Astoria defensive lineman.

Astoria’s lead reached 20-3 by halftime, as Jacob Davis scored on a 26-yard run with 5:57 left in the second quarter.

Lund scored his third touchdown late in the third period on a 48-yard sprint up the middle, while Max Johnson booted a 31-yard field goal to cap the scoring.

Astoria faces its fourth straight top 10 opponent this week, when the Fishermen host Scappoose for Friday’s Homecoming game.

Warrenton 28, Neah-Kah-Nie 6WARRENTON – Warrenton opened Lewis & Clark League play with a win Friday night, as the Warriors topped Neah-Kah-Nie 28-6 at Warrenton.

It was technically a come-from-behind win for the Warriors, who trailed 6-0 early in the second period.

Warrenton scored on its fourth possession of the game, and every possession after that to run away with the win.

Warrior quarterback Thomas McFadden scored on touchdown runs of five and 17 yards, and Josh Wheatley ran for a 6-yard score and caught a 20-yard scoring toss from McFadden to close it out.

Wheatley gained 118 yards rushing on 20 carries, and McFadden ran 13 times for 113 yards.

The Warriors have already lost fullback Stephen Petersen to a knee injury, and may have lost lineman Calvin Proctor to a knee injury.

Warrenton hosts Rainier Friday in a first-place showdown.

“Their players are a lot bigger, and they’re pretty darn physical,” Warrenton coach John Mattila said of the Columbians. “They may not run away from you, but they will run over you.”

Knappa 52, Gaston 0KNAPPA – Five weeks into the 2009 season, and the Knappa football team is still waiting for an opponent that can come within 30 points of the Loggers.

It didn’t happen Friday, probably won’t happen this week, and it’s not likely to happen anytime soon, as Knappa demolished another team, this time 52-0 over Gaston to open the Northwest League season.

The No. 1-ranked Loggers built a 29-0 halftime lead, and racked up 451 yards in total offense. Knappa had 343 yards on the ground, on 36 carries (9.5 yards per run).

The first three touchdowns were scored by Eddie Corder (28, 41 and 20 yards), the next three by Bryan Sablan (14, 26 and 2), while Jeremy Lemire added a TD and Trevor Oja kicked a 28-yard field goal.

Knappa plays Friday at Riverdale (1-4), which lost to Corbett 28-0.

Falls City 62, Jewell 30JEWELL – Jewell outscored Falls City 22-6 in the first and fourth quarters, but Falls City outscored the Bluejays 56-8 in the second and third, as the Mountaineers defeated Jewell 62-30 in a Casco League game Thursday night.

Jewell’s Cody Lowery scored on a 70-yard run the second play of the game, and the Jays led after one quarter, 6-0.

Falls City intercepted three passes in the second quarter, “and they capatilized on each of them,” said Jewell coach Shea Little. “They scored three touchdowns in the last four minutes of the half.”

Lowery had eight carries for 90 yards, while quarterback Haiden Culp completed 6-of-12 passes for 43 yards. Culp and Lowery scored two touchdowns apiece, while Alex Miller led the defense with 17 tackles.

“The athletes kept their heads in the game and stayed positive,” Little said. “They are improving each game, but we need to focus on our consistency. We had great moments during the game, but the little things came back to haunt us.”

Stevenson 32, Ilwaco 7STEVENSON, Wash. – Ilwaco gained 245 yards, with 189 of that coming on the ground, but Stevenson’s Zach Castro found the air route more effective as the junior completed 18-of-32 passes for 267 yards to lead the Bulldogs past Ilwaco 32-7 in a Trico League game Friday.

Ilwaco coach Kevin McNulty said, “Castro throws a nice ball and he had a few very good receivers. We had four first-year football players in our secondary and they got their share of experience back there trying to defend Stevenson’s passing attack.”

Tyler Starks scored a touchdown on a four-yard run for the Fishermen in the fourth quarter.

Naselle 47, NW Christian 14LACEY, Wash. – Northwest Christian scored first, but Naselle scored next, last and in between in a 47-14 rout over the Navigators Friday night in Pacific 2B League football action.

Naselle’s Austin Burkhalter ran for two touchdowns and threw another to John Hines, while Alan Erickson, Leo Mendoza and Logan Scrabeck each ran for a touchdown.

Jesus Martinez returned a punt 44 yards for a Comet touchdown and a 33-6 halftime lead.