MATTAWA - There is an old football adage that weather is the great equalizer, and that could be the reason Wahluke upset River View, 20-7, Friday night in SCAC East prep football.

It could also be that the Warriors finally figured out what first-year coach Mike Foristiere means when he's teaching his brand of football. They still had some bug-a-boos, but they played a "complete game," as Foristiere has been asking.

Especially the defense. The same passing team that scored 30 points on Royal a week earlier was held to seven points and less than 200 yards.

The Warrior victory threw the league into a tizzy. It's fairly certain Royal and Connell will be Nos. 1-2 to the postseason. Wahluke could be No. 3. All it has to do is defeat Kiona-Benton this Friday and Burbank next Friday.

"One game at a time," Foristiere cautioned. "You know it doesn't get any easier."

Foristiere acknowledged that Friday's rainy weather had an impact on the game. Several passes slipped through receivers' hand. Still he gave his defenders all the credit.

"What we haven't done for four quarters is keep the ball in front of us and make tackles," Foristiere said. "It seemed we did those things Friday night. Not perfect, but enough to keep them away from the end zone."

Meanwhile, the ground attack of the Warrior offense slogged its way to 20 points. A team that averages more than 200 yards rushing bruised the Panthers for 219.

In addition, quarterback Collin Ahmann produced 76 yards with 3-for-7 passing. There were a couple of slip-throughs

"It wasn't perfect by any means," Foristiere said. "Four times we were inside the red zone and came away with zero points. We seemed to be out of sync on offense at times."

"Give our kids credit," he added. They played hard on both sides of the ball."

And they played the fourth quarter without bruising tailback Randy Foristiere. Before the end of the third quarter, he suffered severe leg cramps and left the game.

"The other players rose and came through," Foristiere said.

Defensive standouts were Alex Chiprez with three tackles and one interception and Ahmann with four tackles and a quarterback sack.

"He did an outstanding job of going both ways," Foristiere said.

Randy Foristiere led the rushing attack with 140 yards on 20 carries, and he scored a touchdown.

Daniel Corrales had seven carries for 32 yards, Jose Alejo had seven carries for 37 yards and two touchdowns, Jason Cruz had 10 carries for 47 yards and Matt Yorgensen had one carry for three yards.

Corrales caught one pass for 10 yards, Eathan Kinney snagged one for 63 yards and Mike Coulson made one catch for three yards and a 2-point conversion.