COULEE CITY — Top-ranked Almira/Coulee-Hartline was defeated 34-16 by Touchet in a regional playoff game that brought the season to an abrupt end for the now 9-2 Warriors.

Touchet, also ranked in the top 10 among B1 schools, appeared as if they could do no wrong in the game's early going. After stopping an ACH screen pass on a fourth-and-20, the Indians took over on their own 20-yard line.

Just short of midfield, Touchet quarterback Vader Castillo dropped back to pass on a third down and long. ACH's Caden Grenier broke into the backfield and wrapped up Castillo for what looked as if it would be a big sack. Instead, Castillo desperately flipped the ball into the air at the last second. The improvised pass was nearly intercepted before a Touchet player caught the ball for a short gain. The ball was thrown so late and so wildly that officials initially threw a penalty flag for intentional grounding, but the completion nullified the penalty call.

On the next play, Castillo was again hit by the ACH defense, but as he was going to the ground, the Indians' quarterback threw a shovel pass to an open receiver that turned into a huge gain. A few plays later, Touchet converted their good fortune into the game's first points, when Castillo scored on a 5-yard quarterback draw to make it 6-0.

Jordan Hughes ran for a 23-yard gain on ACH's next drive, but the Warriors turned the ball over when they failed to convert on a fourth-and-two deep in Touchet territory.

The Indians, facing a third-and-11 from the 50-yard line, surprised the Warriors with a screen pass that went the distance for another Touchet touchdown. After a two-point conversion, the Indians took a 14-0 lead.

ACH took over at midfield after recovering an onside kick, but fumbled the ball away on their first play from scrimmage. The Indians took advantage of the Warrior miscue, driving down the field to score a touchdown with 1:15 left in the first half.

The Warriors battled back in the second half, scoring on a 36-yard Hughes run and a 2-yard touchdown run by Greg Giese to close to within four points of the Indians. However, Touchet responded with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to secure the victory and state-tournament berth.

"We came out flat and just didn't get it going until it was too late," said Warriors' coach Brandon Walsh. "As a coach you expect to have games like this throughout the season."

"You just kind of hope that they don't happen at the wrong time," Walsh added. "Ours happened at the wrong time."

Hughes led the Warriors with 128 yards rushing on 16 carries, while Giese ran 14 times for 91 yards.

"The bottom line is that they just outplayed us," said Walsh of the loss.