The Chronicle
     
     OKANOGAN - The Okanogan County Commandos wrapped up their season with a 37-6 win May 22 over a combined Palouse and North Sound minor league football team.
     The Palouse Thunder would have had to forfeit the game otherwise, Commandos coach Malcolm Townsend said. By combining with North Sound, which also had a tough year finding players, everyone was able to get a final game.
     The Commandos finished 5-3 and in a four-way tie for third place. Only four teams advance to the league's playoffs.
     Hermiston, Ore., finished first at 7-1. Wenatchee was second at 6-2.
     Townsend said the league has yet to figure out the final two teams, though his Commandos have been eliminated based on a point-system.
     South Sound would be seeded third by points.
     But depending on how you score a forfeit, either Yakima or Spokane would be the fourth seeded team.
     Townsend will try to get the league to award points next year for defense-minded teams like the Commandos, who do not overpower teams on the scoreboard.
     "I like to play my guys when I get ahead in a game instead of crushing the other team and getting the points," he said.
     The playoffs start June 5, with South Sound most likely at Wenatchee. The No. 4 team will be at Hermiston. The championship game will be played June 12 at the higher seeded team's field.
     Townsend said this season was the best in attendance by players and fans.
     "It was a pleasant coaching year for us," he said.
     The Commandos led 16-0 at half time after Craig Hall scored on an 11-yard run, quarterback Iain Ashley passed 15 yards to Steve Stockton (7-95) and Andy Clark made a 30-yard field goal.
     Stockton led the league in yards despite missing the first three games of the season, Townsend said.
     In the second half, Taylor Horner picked up a fumble and ran 65 yards for a score.
     Ashley (18-27, 3 TDs, 0 INTs) passed 24 yards to Stockton and 60 yards to Carter Coates for touchdowns.
     The Palouse/North Sound team scored on a 45-yard run by Casey Gomez.
     The Commandos rushed 160 yards on 25 carries led by Ryan Cate 10-83, Hall 6-36 and John Soulier 4-12.
     Other receives included Josh Cotner 1-26, Eli Super 3-20, Jesse Jones 2-14, Ryan Cate 1-9, Virgil Tonasket 1-5 and Shawn Townsend 1-9.
     Defensively, Super and Roy Bradshaw each got an interception. Coates and Horner each recovered a fumble.
     Bradshaw led with six tackles. Justin Koepke had five tackles.
     Dustin Heindselman and Ryan Anderson each had a sack.
     "We really appreciate those guys putting a team together to give us a last home game," Townsend said. "It's important people get their four home games and let fans see you."