Pullman dominates St. Maries en route to perfect 3-0 start

Sep. 19—PULLMAN — Pullman defensive lineman Nata Fotofili said the Greyhounds coaching staff preach to the players to "establish dominance."

The Hounds could not have looked all that much more dominant Friday night in their 49-6 win over the St. Maries Lumberjacks at Hobbs Field at Pullman High School for their first 3-0 start since the 2018 season.

"The biggest thing is just (that) the community's proud of what's going on and are invested," Pullman coach Kevin Agnew said of the 3-0 start.

On the Hounds' first offensive possession, Joshua Ratliff carried the ball 52 yards for the score. Ratliff scored two more times, both near the goal line, and finished with 105 yards on just six carries.

Agnew said in the preseason that Ratliff would be the premier back. Friday night, the senior back showcased his ability to thrive between the tackles and get to the second level on multiple chunk runs.

This is Ratliff's first season on varsity football, as he missed the previous two seasons with back-to-back shoulder surgeries, but feels he's starting to shake off the rust.

"I've been rusty; it's taken me a lot to figure out how to ready my blocks and how to break tackles, but I'm getting better every week," Ratliff said.

Pullman quarterback Griffen Engle came out at the 6:46 mark of the second quarter and did not leave any points on the table. The Hounds came away with touchdowns on all five of their starting offense's possessions.

Engle's highlight play of the game came on a 36-yard run. He faked the give to Ratliff and plunged forward, breaking three tackles on the way to cross the end zone for the game's second score.

"Thought (the starting offense) did a really nice job," Agnew said. "Those are tough games to be in on both sides, and hats off to St. Maries for continuing to fight and putting one in there at the end. I was happy with how our offense came out and worked."

Through three games, the Hounds have allowed 12 combined points, and their performance against St. Maries Friday night looked perhaps their most dominant. The Lumberjacks felt the size of Pullman from the jump.

On the Lumberjacks' first offensive snap, Pullman defensive lineman Siua Fotofili blew up the exchange between the center and quarterback Gavin Durham. On second down, Engle recorded a sack, and the Hounds forced an incompletion on third down.

The Lumberjacks went three-and-out on their next possession and on the ensuing punt, Nata Fotofili got his hands on a blocked punt.

"I feel like (the defense has) a lot of chemistry that we had from last year and because of that chemistry we're able to go dominate, go execute, stuff like that," Nata Fotofili said. "I feel like our discipline is on a great level; elite defenses is what our coaches strive for."

The Greyhounds have enjoyed the presence of multiple key starters returning, and the group has only built on their end from last season. Over Pullman's last nine games, including six from last season, the Hounds are 7-2.

Pullman — Joshua Ratliff 52 run (Matteo Rehwaldt kick).

Pullman — Griffen Engle 46 run (Rehwaldt kick).

Pullman — Ratliff 2 run (Rehwaldt kick).

Pullman — Manuel Melendez 9 run (Rehwaldt kick).

Pullman — Ratliff 5 run (Rehwaldt kick).

Pullman — Alan Sontgerath 25 interception return (Rehwaldt kick).

Pullman — Vince Mader 26 pass from Harrison Focht (Rehwaldt kick).

St. Maries — Felly Spooner 4 run (pass failed).

RUSHING — St. Maries: Felly Spooner 20-72, Bryce Karn 1-20, Wyatt Stewart 7-17, Parker Thomas 3-3. Pullman: Ratliff 6-105, Engle 3-61, Manuel Melendez 6-15, Gregg Kekuta 6-14, Harrison Focht 2-10.

PASSING — St. Maries: Gavin Durham 3-10-2-21 Pullman: Focht 3-4-1-52, Engle 0-2.

RECEIVING — St. Maries: Brentin Sines 1-12, Jaxson Harold-Moore 1-9, Easton Nicholson 1-0. Pullman: Vince Mader 1-26, Brayden Northcroft 1-13, Markus Hauck 1-7, Aidan Owusu 1-6.