The Pullman Greyhounds rebounded against their state border rival the Moscow Bears after losing their season opener to the Lakeland Hawks of Rathdrum, Idaho.
The Greyhounds started the first quarter fairly slow as their first two offensive possessions featured some miscommunication and they led to turnovers. Pullman starting quarterback (and kicker) Caleb Northcroft threw an interception and there was a fumble.
The game was a typical rivalry setting with both home and away crowds chanting at each other the whole game. The second quarter opened with a 25-yard field goal by Northcroft, putting Pullman up first 3-0.
The first touchdown of the game was a fade route to the corner of the endzone by Greyhound receiver Gavin Brown, who came down with the ball after a big, leaping grab. The second touchdown came on a 3-yard run by Pullman running back Brady Coulter, at the 2:30 mark of the second quarter. The Greyhounds took a 17-0 lead into halftime.
The start of the third quarter featured Moscow’s first score of the game with a 20-yard field goal, and Pullman went scoreless, resulting in a 17-3 score.
Backup Connor Stewart came in at quarterback for the Greyhounds near the end of the quarter, as Northcroft was injured. Stewart would remain at the helm for the rest of the game. Pullman went scoreless again in the fourth quarter, as Stewart could never seem to find his footing, throwing two interceptions.
Moscow kept pushing and made things interesting with a touchdown through the air to push the score to 17-10.
The Greyhounds had the ball with 15 seconds left in the contest, and a good punt left Moscow with little time left to score. The game finished on a run by Moscow with just under five seconds left in the game.
Pullman is now 1-1 on the season, with Moscow falling to 1-2.
The injury for quarterback and kicker Caleb Northcroft will be a key feature to watch heading into next week. While backup quarterback Connor Stewart was able to pull out the victory against Moscow, a long-term absence is something that could loom as a question mark.
The Greyhounds will look to continue their balanced attack as they face North Central, a division rival, at 7 p.m. at Pullman High School on Thursday.
