Trenton Bhoward’s 80-yard kickoff return with 46 seconds remaining gave White Salmon a wild 54-49 victory over Elma in a non-league game Friday, Sept. 9 at White Salmon.

Bhoward’s runback spoiled a dramatic Elma comeback. Down 21-0 at the half, the Eagles did all their scoring in the final two quarters and took a 49-48 lead on Avery Brown’s 5-yard TD pass to tight end Liam Baxter and Alejandro Hernandez’s conversion kick with 59 seconds left.

“This team has a never-die attitude,” Elma coach Ron Clark said of his club. “They have responded really well in the second half of both games. I really think the kids took a look inside and found something they didn’t know they had.”

The Eagles (0-2) began their rally with four touchdowns within a four-minute span in the third quarter.

Senior running back Ira Hartford, who turned in a spectacular performance with 336 yards and six touchdowns on 23 carries, scored all four TDs during that span on runs of 62, 13, 55 and 15 yards.

Hartford then added TD runs of 49 and 23 yards in the fourth quarter.

Hernandez was perfect on seven conversion attempts.

Clark cited Brandon Butcher for outstanding play at wide receiver, cornerback and kick returner. He also praised the offensive line and the defensive work of Baxter and A.J. Brown.

The Eagles return home to face Aberdeen on Friday, Sept. 16.