PASCO – Ethan Meek was as cool as ice, even when Chiawana called a timeout to freeze him.

But the junior kicker for the Southridge Suns had done what he was about to do every day at football practice this season: kick a game-winning field goal as time expired.

That 30-yard field goal gave Southridge a 30-27 victory over the Riverhawks on Thursday night at Edgar Brown Stadium in Mid-Columbia Conference football play.

It was the first time in Southridge school history that the Suns defeated Chiawana. The Riverhawks had won the first 13 meetings.

“I knew I was gonna make it,” said Meek. “We practice that (drill) every day. I knew we were gonna execute. In our field goal and special teams play in practice, we make sure we get it down.”

When Meek made that kick, it was the only time that evening that the Suns ever led in the contest.

“I’m still trying to let this sink in,” said Southridge head coach Matt Johnson. “Ethan has a leg on him.”

Johnson, the former Dallas Cowboy, knew he might have the horses to get the Suns their first MCC win of the season.

Scott Bond was also aware of it.

The Chiawana head coach said his team didn’t have a good week of practice.

“We were flat, and it was a short week,” said Bond. “I told the guys ‘You have a target on your back. You’re gonna get everybody’s best shot. Southridge has a good program. And it showed on the game film this week that they were rolling.”

Each time that Chiawana took the lead Thursday, Southridge found a way to answer.

The game was tied three different times. But it looked like maybe the Riverhawks had taken the lead for good with 11:13 to play when Cooper Cissne bounded into the end zone from 5 yards out for a 27-20 lead.

Cissne had a monster game, rushing 24 times for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, the junior defensive back had 6 tackles, one for loss.

But it wasn’t over. Southridge answered with an 11-play, 68-yard drive that culminated with Jacob Korotkov’s 3-yard TD run — his second score of the game.

That tied the game at 27-27 with 6:33 to play.

Starting from their own 20, the Riverhawks methodically moved the ball up the field, going 41 yards on 10 plays and chewing up the clock.

But on a 4th-and-1 situation at the Suns’ 36, a handoff to Cissne ended badly, as Southridge senior Tayton Jackman burst through the line and stopped the Chiawana standout on a 4-yard loss.

“Tayton is so much fun to watch,” said Johnson. “He plays hard every single snap.”

Jackman would finish with 81 yards rushing. But he also led his team defensively with 12 tackles (two for loss).

The Suns took over at their own 40 with 2:03 to play, marching up the field.

The key play came on a 4th-and-2 at the Riverhawks’ 36 and 24.2 seconds remaining.

“We were gonna give it to 7 (Korotkov),” said Johnson.

Why not? He gets a lot of tough yardage.

Korotkov bulled his way through the middle of the line for a 22-yard gain for a first down, and a chance to win the game.

“That’s something that we knew our offense can execute,” said Korotkov. “We knew we’d be able to get that 1 yard.”

Plus 21 more.

Johnson had his offense get to the middle of the field to set up Meek’s kick with just 2.5 seconds remaining, and Southridge had its first-ever win over Chiawana.

Notes: Korotkov finished with 133 yards rushing on just 14 carries. He also had 8 tackles, 3 for loss. … Suns linebacker Azonom Osokogu added 8 tackles. … Chiawana quarterback Emmett Osterdock finished 17 for 23 passing for 187 yards. … Treigh Maldonado had 7 tackles and a cover for the Hawks defense, while Cole Hultgrenn added 6 tackles from the defensive line.

WALLA WALLA 38, HANFORD 7: At Walla Walla, Kalama Roberson scored three rushing touchdowns — including a 66-yard TD scamper on the game’s first play — to lead the host Blue Devils to an MCC win over the Falcons.

“We ran the ball the most effectively I have ever seen since I’ve been here,” said Wa-Hi head coach Justin James.

The Blue Devils forced Hanford into four turnovers, and Derrick Bingham had two receiving touchdowns.

“We’re finding ways,” said James. “Last week, we played well in all three phases of the game (in a 44-28 win over Lakeland, Idaho). Our kids played well in all three phases tonight — offense, defense and special teams.”