WARDEN - The Warden Cougars earned a return berth to the 2B state playoffs Friday with a convincing 34-2 win over the Oroville Hornets.

"We played pretty good ... no doubt about it," coach Erik Skone said. "We hadn't really run the ball much this year, but felt confident we could and had a lot of success in doing so."

Warden amassed 188 yards on the ground and 139 yards through the air, while holding Oroville to zero passing yards and 132 yards rushing.

Cougar running back Adam Hansen led offensive attack for the home team with 75 yards rushing, 102 yards receiving and three touchdowns.

"Adam really makes our engine go," Skone said. "He's really kind of a quiet kid and doesn't like the spot light. But once he gets on the field, he's a different kid."

The game got underway on cold dark night as Orville returned the opening kickoff to the Wildcat 21.

The Cougar defense forced the Hornets to go three and out on their first possession and punt the ball. Warden began its initial drive on the team's 45 yard line.

On the second play from scrimmage, Hornet defender Leo Delgado was injured and the action was halted for approximately 10 minutes.

"I believe he suffered a broken ankle," Skone said. "One of our kids got blocked and fell backward and landed on him. It was unfortunate."

The Cougars offense began to heat things up following the injury time out, scoring on an 18-yard TD run by Conrad Ruge that was set up off a 28-yard scamper by Hansen. The PAT by Orlando Alba was good and Warden led 7-0 with eight minute left in the first quarter.

The Hornets drove the ball to the Cougars 34 on their next possession, but turn the ball over on downs. A 22-yard run by Ruge pushed the pig skin to the Oroville 44. Warden moved the ball to the 26, and with three seconds left on the clock, Hansen hit pay dirt. Alba's kick was successful and the Cougars increased their lead 14-0.

The Hornets were unable to sustain much of a drive to start the second quarter action and to punt. Warden's JP Martinez returned the ball to the Hornets 10 with six minutes left in the first half.

A 5-yard run by Hansen for his second score of the game (Alba kick), put Warden up by three scores. The lead held up through intermission.

"We got off to a quick start and were up by 21 at half time," Skone said. "So I told the kids (in the locker room) to be the best they can be and not get complacent."

The team took his words to heart and put 13 points on the board in the second half with Hansen's third score of the game and a pass from Trent Bates to Ernesto Orozco, while giving up just two to put the game away, 34-2.

"I am really proud of the way the guys played," Skone said. "We had one particular offensive lineman ... Rudy Martinez ... who hasn't seen much playing time this season but had to fill in at left tackle and played the position like there was no tomorrow. He opened a lot of hole and gave our backs a lot of room to run."

Warden will play No. 1 ranked Colfax Bulldogs in Colfax Friday at 7 p.m., in a loser out first round game of the state playoffs.

"There a good team, but not as good as they were last year. And we're a better team than we were last year, so it should be a heck of a ball game," Skone said. "The kids are stoked. They know that if you want to be the best you, have to beat the best."