Racanelli tosses seven TDs as Hawks dominate with diverse passing attack

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The Pullman Greyhounds probably spent most of the week leading up to their 2A state football matchup with Hockinson focused on shutting down the Hawks’ dynamic brother-to-brother duo that has laid waste to defenses all year. 

If they could at least slow down sophomore wide receiver Sawyer Racanelli, then maybe his brother, senior quarterback Canon Racanelli, would feel more pressure and be placed out of his element. So the Greyhounds lined up with a corner right in front of the 6-foot-3 pass catcher and a safety over the top to start the game.

Maybe the Greyhounds didn’t know, or maybe it didn’t matter, but they, and everyone else at Battle Ground District Stadium last Friday afternoon, soon learned (or were reminded) that Sawyer isn’t the only Hawk who can chase down a ball — and school was in session early. 

On the first play of the game, Canon dropped back and spun a ball deep down the right side of the field to senior slot receiver Matt Henry for a 75-yard touchdown. 

Head Coach Rick Steele said they predicted the Greyhounds would heavily cover Sawyer, but knew they could count on all their playmakers. 

“We have so many other weapons,” he said. “We have so many other guys that we can go to. Sawyer understands he’s the big guy and everyone wants to double cover him, but when they do, we hurt ’em somewhere else.” 

The Greyhounds, with little to no passing game, tried to employ their ground-and-pound style on offense but were swallowed up by the Hawks defenses. 

It was more of the same for the Hawks on offense, as Canon spread the ball amongst his playmakers, unfazed that his little brother was still seeing double coverage. 

With 4:41 left to go in the first quarter, Henry collected another touchdown, this time a 27-yarder to the back of the end zone where he was wide open, putting the Hawks ahead 14-0, after they converted a two-point conversion.   

Then, with seconds left in the first quarter, sophomore wide receiver Peyton Brammer collected a 29-yard touchdown to put the Hawks up 20-0, after a failed extra point. 

Things slowed down in the second quarter and Pullman managed to get on the board midway through by sacking Canon in the Hawks’ own end zone for a safety. 

The cheers from the small Pullman crowd died down quickly, though, as the Greyhounds failed to contain Sawyer any longer and he scored an 11-yard touchdown to put the Hawks up 26-2 following a missed extra-point. 

Sawyer then turned around and snatched a Greyhound pass out of the air near the line of scrimmage and jogged it back 13 yards to put the Hawks up 33-2 after the extra-point.  



At the end of the half, it was Henry again, with an 18-yard touchdown reception this time, putting the Hawks up 39-2 at half, after a missed extra point. 

Although holding a lopsided lead already at the half,  Steelesaid after the game that the coaching staff saw some mistakes in pass protection in the second quarter, so the halftime chat wasn’t as jolly as one might think. 

“We kinda got on them a little bit,” he said. “Yeah we’re ahead, but we weren’t playing really well at that time.” 

Pullman managed a touchdown in the third, but the Hawks continued to run away with it on offense and defense.   

The Greyhounds stuck to the run game in the second half, but to little avail. The Hawks continued to hold a tight line, even forcing a turnover on downs on their own 7 yard line after Pullman had a fresh set of downs. 

Brammer scored again soon after that, giving the Hawks a 46-8 lead with the extra point. 

Greyhound cornerbacks then began to drop back, conceding a check-down catch, but hoping to not get beat over the top again. 

Another Sawyer touchdown, a 16-yard reception, started the fourth quarter, putting the Hawks up 53-8, with the extra point.  

Steele said when you play a team from across the state, it’s hard to really size them up that well in the week leading up to the game, so he was pleased to see his squad start the state tournament with such a big win. 

“To come out and play like this, it just feels good,” he said. 

In the final minutes, the Greyhounds scored on a field-goal and another touchdown to put the final score at 53-18. 

Canon finished the game 26 for 35, with 398 yards through the air and 75 yards on the ground and seven passing touchdowns. Henry caught six passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Sawyer caught six balls for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Brammer caught six passes as well, for 64 yards and two touchdowns.