Prep Football: On-field fracas ends Toutle Lake at Toledo early
Fighting Foes: Riverhawks run off with 48-0 win in heated exchange
Matt Baide for Blast Zone Media
There was no love lost between Toledo and Toutle Lake on Friday night. Two high schools separated by 20 country miles and a scenic backroad did not seem to enjoy each other’s company in a 48-0 win for the host Riverhawks.
As the game went on, tensions between the players, coaches and fans continued to rise, culminating in two players fighting on a kickoff with 3:42 left in the game. Players were trying to join the fray before coaches from both sides broke the fight up. Toledo coach Mike Christensen, Toutle Lake coach Jacob Green and the officials decided to call the game after the incident.
“Football is a high passion game and both sides were very passionate. You’re out there every play trying to have a controlled battle and things got a little out of hand,” Christensen said. “I don’t like that but I mean for the most part, our guys were composed. Our guys did what we coached them to do.”
Toutle Lake held their own in the first half. After a 3-and-out, Toledo quarterback Eli Weeks threw a ball that was tipped and intercepted by the Ducks. Toutle Lake has some sustained drives in the first quarter but had a fumble, and interception and failed to convert on fourth down in their first half possessions. Carter Swofford and Eli Weeks each had touchdown runs for a 13-0 Riverhawk lead at halftime.
“Rough first half, we couldn’t move the ball, we had 14 plays in the first half total, which is crazy,” Christensen added. “Kudos to them for holding onto the ball and executing their gameplan and we turned the ball over twice in that first half. A much better second half as far as holding onto the ball and doing what we do offensively.”
Meanwhile, the Ducks from East Cowlitz County felt they finally had a fighting chance.
“First half, we were happy with where we were at. Toledo’s the No. 5 team in the state and 13-0 at halftime so we were happy with what we were seeing,” Green said. “We shot ourselves in the foot a couple times there, they actually scored on turnovers in that first half.”
The second half was all Toledo, even after fumbling on the first play in the second half but the defense stepped up to keep Toutle out of the end zone.
Tensions really started to rise on a 43-yard touchdown run by Weeks, with Toutle Lake players, coaches and fans getting upset over an alleged blindside block that injured a Toutle Lake player. The Fighting Ducks sidelines appealed passionately to the officials looking for a flag but receiveed a game misconduct penalty instead.
The game devolved rapidly from there.
“We thought we had a good gameplan coming out in the second half and you were here and saw what happened,” Green said. “I’ve never been around anything in my years of sports so it’s hard to describe.”
Both sides started to get chippy at that point, with extracurricular activities and hard hits happening almost every play. Nathan Beaver had two touchdown runs in the second half and the Toledo defense pitched a shutout.
“Defense played real well. I think that Mike Croy, he’s been defensive coordinator around here for a long time and doesn’t get enough credit but the guys were ready to play defensively,” Christensen said. “First half, also missed tackles, just kind of things that are uncharacteristic of Toledo football. Let them extend drives but overall defensively, when you put up a zero for the other team, I think that’s something to be proud of and I think our guys played really good defense overall.”
Weeks found Trevin Gale for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 3:42 left in the game and a 48-0 lead.
The fight broke out on the ensuing kickoff, and after the field was cleared with players following the scuffle, two Toutle Lake students took their shirts off and stormed the field. Students from the Toledo student section did the same, and both coaches took their teams to the locker rooms to avoid anyone else getting hurt.
“I’m proud of these kids because last year, we looked back on film and last year when we played Toledo, it was 14-0 in a minute and a half. So to go in 13-0 at halftime and play a half with them, that shows where we’re at and where we’re progressing,” Green said after the dust had mostly settled.
“The score doesn’t really give this game justice,” he added. “I mean, you’re up 40-0 in the second half with two minutes left and you’ve got all your starters in and you’re still passing, there’s a reason things got out of hand.”
Weeks was the player of the game with nine carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns. He completed the lone pass for a touchdown, and had one interception on five attempts.
“I think we played pretty good. I mean there were some mistakes that cost us like the penalties and all that but I’d say second half was a lot better,” Weeks said. “We got it together. Confidence was a little too high and they came out and surprised us maybe a little bit. We were off a little bit, we weren’t staying home for stuff so they cut back and all the little stuff and they got yards off of it. I think we executed overall.”
Toledo (4-0, 1-0) is scheduled to host Mossyrock next Friday.
Toutle Lake (2-2, 0-1) is scheduled to host Hoquiam next Friday in a non-league game.
Toutle Lakes coach should remind himself that he is a role model. Encouraging unsportsmanlike conduct will get you nowhere. I'm a grandparent from Toledo, Castlerock, Toutle area. I enjoy our community and all the friends we make in our surrounding areas. We have friends in our adjacent community's, I would hate to see this community relationship dwindle. It seems to me that instead of encouraging hate and spite a coach should be a good example and end bad sportsmanship. My children have played these schools and have made friends for life not foes for life. Growing up is hard enough without making it harder. Hopefully it's not to late to make better choices.
I was at the game, absolute awful Officiating !!