Prep Football Roundup: Blowouts dot the landscape in Week 4
Got You Covered: Scores and reports from all over the Blast Zone
Sam Barbee and Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com
Naselle 88, Evergreen Lutheran 0
The Comets find themselves in a tough spot. Relax, you might say, they’re winning and winning big. How hard is that?
Well, their starters played just 10 minutes Friday night in the 88-0 rout of Evergreen Lutheran. Comets coach Kevin McNulty is careful to inform other coaches pregame that his starters will come out of the locker room and play a series on both sides of the ball in the third quarter, because they have to get used to coming out of the locker room ready to play.
The trouble here is how do you maintain a competitive edge? How do you keep a group of high schoolers interested when their opportunities are limited?
The answer: practice.
The Comets’ backups provide a level of competition that Naselle is yet to see on Fridays, and that only serves to make games the easy part. It’s perfect. Everyone wins. Except for the Comets’ opponents, of course.
Naselle is also blessed with a loaded quarterback room.
The first in line should be Jacob Lindstrom, who is currently not playing after snapping his collarbone in Week 2. McNulty said his loss isn’t so much felt offensively, but defensively. He’s a talker on the field, which isn’t the norm in Naselle.
“We don’t have a lot of talkers. We have a lot of doers,” McNulty said.
The backup signal caller is Leith Chadwick, who is more of a stand-in-the-pocket-and-throw-it guy, as opposed to Lindstrom who is a run-around-and-make-something-happen guy. Chadwick had to wait and watch most of last year because of a cyst in his knee.
And then there’s two more Comets who can get under center: Scott Hennington and freshman Eli Gardner. All four are capable. Only one can play at a time.
“We’re just different,” McNulty said. “People aren’t gonna believe this, but for 8-man football we have four legitimate quarterbacks. All four of them would start for the vast majority of the teams in our league.”
Against Evergreen Lutheran, the Comets leading rusher had only three carries. That was Jack Strange, who toted three carries for 104 yards with also a 90-yard punt return score. All three carries were touchdowns The next guy up was Caiden Burke, who had three carries for 108 yards with two scores.
Those performances are indicative of the absolute dominance imparted by the Comets so far in the fall of 2024.
And there’s more. Both of Gardner’s carries went for touchdowns and he finished with 73 yards on the ground. Gunnar Gill and Gus Burkhalter both scored on the ground, as well.
Chadwick only threw two passes, but completed both of them for 49 yards and a touchdown. Hennington caught the TD pass and William Anderson caught the other.
Gardner also had an interception, and Chadwick, Strange and Anderson all recovered fumbles to help keep the shut out intact.
Naselle (4-0) hosts North Beach (1-3) on Friday at 7 p.m.
Ilwaco 42, Morton-White Pass 0
A year ago, Ron Rood led Ilwaco away from the doldrums and posted a 5-4 record, the first winning mark in nearly a decade.
A year later, the mission is to prove the Fisherman can compete with the top end (or at least the middle) of the combined Central 2B/Pacific Leagues, and, so far, returns might suggest that they can.
“We’re feeling good about (the first month),” Rood said. “The early part of the season has been a good time to grow because we’re a pretty good team.”
Freshmen bodies litter the starting 22, and to post four wins with so many guys who were playing middle school football one year ago is impressive to say the least.
One of those freshmen is the quarterback, Haddox Hazen, who, admittedly, isn’t being asked to do much but hand it off right now. In fact, in certain situations, Rood uses a single wing formation with Dylan Pelas at quarterback. It isn’t that he makes better decisions, Rood said, but simply that he’s bigger.
“Dylan is talented enough that he’s both a good enough runner and can throw the ball well enough to play that spot,” Rood said.
It’s worked out well so far. Pelas rushed for 132 yards on Friday and threw a 9-yard pass in a formation that is essentially designed to get him into space, leverage the cornerback and make whatever decision he picks the wrong one. Defender comes up, Pelas throws it. Defender stays back in coverage, and Pelas runs it. Simple.
This, plus an improved defensive effort led by linebackers Cooper Pettis and Wade Smith, has positioned Ilwaco for a month-long run that will test it, starting with Forks this week, then Pe Ell/Willapa Valley, a trip to Napavine(!), and then Adna.
“We’re in the big boy division and we’re hoping that these first four games have let us grow a little bit,” Rood said. "We feel good about how we’re playing. (This was) the best ballgame we’ve played so far. Consistency has not always been there, and sometimes it’s not with younger players. (Friday) night we played good defense, played really physically, and we’re certainly gonna need that with the games ahead.”
Corbin Johnson and Cody Miller each scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and Cody Kaino added one on the ground as well while the Fisherman hammered Morton-White Pass on Friday.
Miller scored on runs of six and 39 yards in the first quarter as Ilwaco jumped to a quick lead, then Johnson added a 14-yard scoring scamper to put Ilwaco up 22-0 headed into the break.
Pelas, who rushed for 132 yards on 12 carries, caught an 8-yard pass and was 1-for-2 passing for 9 yards and a score, completed his lone pass to Robert Sanders for a score in the third quarter.
Johnson added a 30-yard run and Kaino plunged in again from a yard out to provide the scoring for Ilwaco.
Ilwaco (4-0) hosts Forks (1-3) on Friday at 7 p.m.
Morton-White Pass (2-2, 0-1) will play at Onalaska on Friday at 7 p.m.
Wahkiakum 52, Oakville 20
Jayden Stoddard threw for 141 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 112 yards with a touchdown as the Mules rolled past Oakville on Friday in Cathlamet for its first win of their fall campaign.
Mason Waldeck (72 yards rushing), Parker Leitz (five yards) and Gage Robinson (four yards) also added rushing touchdowns for Wahkiakum. Leitz caught five of Stoddard’s eight completions and all three touchdowns.
Preston West had two sacks defensively and Ethan Hurley added a third for the Mules.
Wahkiakum intercepted five passes and recovered two fumbles. Leitz had two picks, as did Joseph Merz. West had an interception and recovered one of the fumbles, and Waldeck fell on the second loose ball.
Wahkiakum (1-3, 1-1 league) visits Ocosta (3-1) next Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Oakville (2-2) travels to Tahola on Friday.
Woodland 29, Columbia River 7
The Beavers defense paved the way to another 2A Greater St. Helens League victory in Week 4. Woodland held Columbia River to just 119 yards of total offense and nearly posted another shutout.
“We played great. Forced five turnovers,” first-year Woodland head coach Glen Flanagan said.
And nobody played a better game without the ball in their hands than Woodland’s Logan Busig, who finished with seven solo tackles and three assists.
“Logan Busig played a great defensive tackle and tackled the running back in the end zone for a safety,” Flanagan noted. “Six of his solo tackles were for a loss… crazy.”
Niel Valerio and Will Clemens both came away with interceptions for the Beavers while Jack Lindsay came up with a fumble recovery. Not to be left out, Elijah Andersen got in on the fun from his spot in the defensive secondary.
“Eli Andersen had a 64-yard pick-six and stripped the kid of a ball and recovered,” Flanagan said.
Andersen was also a force on offense with 171 total yards to his name. Andersen completed eight of 10 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 75 rushing yards and a touchdown. His longest touchdown toss went for 36 yards to Chase Hall, and Zach Young also hauled in a pass for a touchdown.
Hall finished with two catches for 45 yards, while Young pulled in two passes for 24 yards. Josia Graham took care of the extra point kicking duties for the Beavers.
The Beavers led 23-0 at the half and didn’t give up a score until the fourth quarter while leading 29-0. Joey Ianello picked up the score for the Rapids on a 1-yard run.
Woodland (2-2, 2-0 league) will host Hockinson (0-4) on Friday at 7 p.m.
Columbia River (1-3, 0-2 league) will host R.A. Long on Friday at 7 p.m.
Castle Rock 48, Stevenson 14
Trevor Rogen threw for two touchdowns, added a third on the ground and ran back an interception to lead Castle Rock in a 1A Trico League rout in Columbia River gorge country.
Castle Rock jumped out to a 14-0 lead after scoring runs of 11 and 5 yards by Rogen in the first quarter.
Jacob Lefever added his only scoring run of the night to put The Rock up 20-0, then Rogen’s pick-six gave the Rockets a 28-0 lead.
Rogen’s two TD passes came in the second quarter, with the senior hitting Landon Fulton for 19 yards and Owen Langdon for 15 yards to put the Rockets up 42-0 before the half.
Wyatt Orth added a two-yard run in the third quarter to conclude the Rockets’ scoring.
Rogen finished 5-of-10 passing for 92 yards and the two touchdowns. He also rushed for 31 yard on just three carries. Lefever led the Rockets with 50 yards on nine carries.
Langdon caught three balls for 69 yards and the TD, and Fulton caught two passes for 23 yards and the TD.
Castle Rock (3-1, 1-1 league) will visit La Center (4-0) next Friday at 7 p.m.
Stevenon (2-2, 1-1) will host Kalama on Friday at 7 p.m.
Kalama 55, Fort Vancouver 6
The Chinooks piled up 530 yards of total offense in a 49-point 1A Trico League victory, Friday, and senior quarterback Aiden Brown had his fingerprints on 430 of those yards.
Brown completed 20 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 86 yards on five carries, with touchdown runs of 54, six and two yards.
Quin Hahn was Brown’s favorite target on the night with seven catches for 127 yards and a 54-yard touchdown. Henry Sigfridson added five catches for 84 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown reception. Talan Thomas added one catch for 53 yards while also running for a 44-yard touchdown.
Drew Schlangen was active on both sides of the ball. He tallied five carries for 48 yards and two touchdowns, and got his head in on 10.5 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss. Sylis Fobbs turned in 3.5 tackles for the ‘Nooks defense, with a sack and a blocked punt, while Landon Morris reeled in an interception.
Kalama (4-0, 2-0 league) visits Stevenson (2-2) on Friday at 7 p.m.
Fort Vancouver (0-4, 0-2) will visit Seton catholic on Friday at 7 p.m.
Mossyrock 2, Winlock 0 (Canceled)
The Cardinals were forced to forfeit this game midweek after injuries and poor returns on grade checks left them without enough players to compete against the Vikings. The Egg City boys will try to get their roster back in order this week in time to return to non-league play against the Mounties.
Winlock (0-4, 0-2 league) is scheduled to host Rainier (WA) on Friday at 7 p.m.
Mossyrock (1-3, 1-1 league) will travel west on Highway 12 to play at Toledo on Friday at 7 p.m.
Rainier 46, Valley Catholic 42
Jayden Quivedo scored four touchdowns and Adrian Nguyen added two more as the Columbians rallied to charge past the Valiants on Friday night.
Trailing 42-22 after a Valley Catholic touchdown to start the third quarter, Rainier ripped off three straight touchdowns over the next two periods to complete the incredible comeback.
Quivedo started the rally with a 50-yard scoring run, then Ngyuen added the two-point conversion to make it 42-30. Next, Nguyen scampered for a 70-yard TD run and Quivedo added the conversion to bring Rainier within a score at 42-38.
And, in the only scoring play of the final period, Quivedo scored from 49 yards out, then added his own conversion to provide the final tally.
Quivedo tallied four touchdowns (including the game-winner) to go along with 204 yards on just 12 carries. Nguyen racked up 149 yards on nine carries with the pair of scores.
Rainier did not attempt a pass.
Rainier (1-3, 1-1 league) will travel to No. 2 Banks (4-0) next Friday at 7 p.m.
Valley Catholic (1-3, 0-1 league) will play at Warrenton on Friday at 7 p.m.
Gaston 36, Clatskanie 26
Lucas Anderson rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown, but the Tigers just couldn’t stop the Greyhound ground attack in a league loss Friday night.
Gaston rushed for 366 yards compared to Clatskanie’s 171 hash marks.
Clatskanie managed to tie the game in the third quarter, but Gaston’s running attack proved to be too much, and the Greyhounds pulled away late.
Daylon Gutierrez added a touchdown on the ground for Clastkanie, as did Ben Blackwood. The two Tigers also connected on a 14-yard touchdown pass.
Clatskanie (1-3, 1-1 league) will travel to Colton (3-2) for a non-league contest next Friday at 7 p.m.
Gaston (3-1, 1-1 league) will play at Neah-Kah-Nie on Friday at 7 p.m.
Previously Reported
Toledo 48, Toutle Lake 0
The return of a Volcano Country rivalry game did not go as planned in Cheese Town last Friday. The host Riverhawks picked up the resounding win over the Ducks, but a fight between players on the field led to the game being called off with more than three minutes of game time remaining.
One week after nearly breaking Toledo’s record for passing yards in a single game, quarterback Eli Weeks decided to show off his legs instead. Weeks finished with nine carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns and completed his lone pass attempt for a touchdown to Trevin Gale.
Toledo (4-0, 2-0 league) is scheduled to host Mossyrock next Friday at 7 p.m.
Toutle Lake (2-2, 0-1) is scheduled to kickoff with Hoquiam at 7 p.m. next Friday in a non-league game.
R.A. Long 47, Hockinson 14
Jaxson Rivenes threw four touchdowns and ran in another when the Lumberjacks notched a statement win at home Friday night.
The Lumberjacks dominated both sides of the ball and allowed just one score in each half, while piling up yards and big defensive plays. TraMayne Jenkins scored three times himself and posted some highlight reel tackles.
Franklin Pihl was instrumental to the Jacks’ rushing attack with one touchdown to his credit. He also had his helmet in on a series of bone-crunching tackles. Taijon Reagins added an interception and nearly returned it for a score, and also caught a touchdown pass.
Nick Niday also scored a touchdown on a scoop-and-score fumble recovery and caught a pass for a two-point conversion.
R.A. Long (3-1, 2-0 league) will play at Columbia River on Friday at 7 p.m.
Washougal 22, Mark Morris 0
Penalties killed the Monarchs hopes of a second league win in their second league win on their second try. Mark Morris put up 229 total yards but couldn’t break the goal line in the road loss.
Quarterback Carter Huhta accounted for 217 of those yards through the air.
Deker Bartell pulled down an interception for the Monarchs.
Mark Morris (1-3, 1-1 league) will host Hudson’s Bay at Longview Memorial Stadium next Friday at 7 p.m.
Washougal (2-2, 1-1 league) will play at Ridgefield next Friday at 7 p.m.
Kelso 21, Bremerton 0 (Thursday)
Aden Mintonye scored a pair of second-half touchdowns as the Hilanders pulled away from the Knights in the second half of a non-league road victory.
Not a single point was scored in the first half as Bremerton held Kelso to just 63 yards of total offense in the first half and Kelso held Bremerton to just 44 yards of total offense.
But in the second half Kelso’s depth prevailed over the winless 2A Knights.
Mintonye finished with 149 yards on 21 carries with the two scores. Blake Parsons added the finishing touch with a 7-yard score with about two minutes left in the final period.
Kelso (3-1) begins 3A GSHL play next Friday at 7 p.m. on the road against Evergreen (3-1).
Hey, did you see that score?
Oregon Country
Knappa 71, Regis 26
*The Loggers ran three kickoffs back for touchdowns.
Banks 49, North Marion 28
Washington Territory
Heritage 49, Kentlake 7
Evergreen 47, Westview (OR) 14
Mountainside (OR) 20, Mountain View 18
Tumwater 49, Nooksack Valley 12
Onalaska 70, Rainier (WA) 0
Ocosta 34, Chief Leschi 0
La Center 34, King’s Way 0
W.F. West 62, Shelton 0