Prep Football: Week 4 will provide opportunity for hot teams to prove it
Let Them Cook: Local teams ready for big step forward on the gridiron
Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com
It’s weeks like these where you may look around and you may ask yourself, “Well, how did I get here?”
It seems like only yesterday teams were sweating through 90 degree practices and chomping at the bit for Game Day. Well, that actually was this week after a sudden (and temporary) spike in temperatures sent teams running to the water hose midweek. However, with the official arrival of autumn the rains have returned and if most prep football fans peer hard enough through the drizzle, potential paths to the postseason may become visible for their favorite teams.
But as we approach the midway point in the season there are still far more questions to be answered than answers that are already known in our local leagues. This week the Cinderella’s in the bunch will try to keep the party going, while the blue chip programs will work to once again assert the dominance they’ve staked their reputations on for so long.
So settle in, grab a blanket and pop some popcorn. Things are about to get interesting in Pacific Northwest volcano country.
The Games You Care About
Kelso Hilanders (2-1) at Bremerton Knights (0-3)
Thursday, 6 p.m., Bremerton
Last week: Loss 27-24 vs Bellarmine Prep
The Hilanders probably should have won last week, but head coach Steve Amrine isn’t interested in playing coulda-woulda-shoulda. What’s real is Aden Mintonye rushed for 317 yards and three touchdowns in Tacoma last week for Kelso. With a matchup against the winless Knights, who lost 43-13 to Bainbridge last week, the Scots should be able to get a host of other names involved as they continue to let their new-fangled offense evolve outside the pressure cooker of 3A GSHL league play.
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R.A. Long (2-1) vs Hockinson (0-3)
Friday, 7 p.m., Longview Memorial Stadium
Last week: Win 22-21 vs Hudson’s Bay
The Lumberjacks are riding high after locking down another win on a brazen play call last week and will try to make it three in a row on Senior Night. Last week TraMayne Jenkins kept the Jacks pushing in the right direction on both sides of the ball, accounting for 114 total yards and the game-winning touchdown, with a team-high 10 tackles and a pair of fumbles forced. Quarterback Jaxson Rivenes added 187 total yards and a pair of touchdown passes. The Jacks will need to spread the ball around to keep the Hockinson defense honest after the Hawks took Ridgefield down to the wire last week. As for the RAL defense, linebacker Franklin Pihl will continue to wield his paw like a club after breaking his hand in Week 2 and earning a cast of bravery.
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Mark Morris (1-2) at Washougal (1-2)
Friday, 7 p.m., Washougal
Last week: Win 14-0 vs Columbia River
The Monarchs got the monkey off their back last week with their first win of the season. That frees Mark Morris up to focus on making a run at the league title first-year head coach Mike Peck insists his team is capable of winning. Last week quarterback Carter Huhta rushed for 68 yards and completed 8 of 13 passes for a touchdown. Kenny Mullen roughly equaled that output on the ground with 71 yards and a touchdown of his own. The Monarchs will try to post another shutout this week against a Washougal team that lost 12-0 to Woodland last week.
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Woodland (1-2) v Columbia River (1-2)
Friday, 7 p.m., Beaver Stadium
Last week: Win 12-0 vs Washougal
Like Mark Morris, the Beavers picked up the first win for their first-year head coach last week. Defensive guru Glen Flanagan will try to make it two shutouts in a row against a Columbia River team that fell 14-0 to the Monarchs in Week 3. Chase Hall and Josiah Graham each notched interceptions last week for Woodland, while Elijah Andersen totaled 228 yards and both touchdowns.
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Kalama (3-0) vs Fort Vancouver (0-3)
Friday, 7 p.m., Chinook Stadium
Last week: Win 30-20 vs King’s Way Christian
The Chinooks will try to keep their perfect record intact this week against a winless Fort Vancouver squad as both teams continue wading into their new 1A Trico League schedules. Last week quarterback Aiden Brown ran for 159 yards and four touchdowns, while passing for another 118 yards in the ‘Nooks successful league debut against King’s Way. Drew Schlangen rushed for 78 yards and Henry Sigfridson totaled 52 receiving yards in the win.
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Castle Rock (2-1) at Stevenson (2-1)
Friday, 7 p.m., Stevenson
Last week: Loss 48-14 vs Seton Catholic
The Rockets got to find out first-hand just how talented Seton Catholic is during their Week 3 matchup, which should have them up to speed to handle Stevenson this week. The Bulldogs defeated Fort Vancouver 57-14 last week, but didn’t have as much success in Week 2 when they fell 26-7 at home to Elma. At home last week the Rockets saw Trevor Rogen throw for 108 yards and two touchdowns, with four of those passes winding up in Owen Langdon’s mittens for 57 yards.
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Toledo (3-0) vs Toutle Lake (2-1)
Friday, 7 p.m., Toledo
Last week: Toledo win 48-29 vs Pe Ell-Willapa Valley
Last week: Toutle Lake win 35-6 vs Winlock
The Riverhawks and Fighting Ducks are set for a Central 2B East showdown that will have all the football fans in the lahar territory clamoring for a front row seat.
Last week Toledo saw quarterback Eli Weeks come up just two yards shy of the school’s single-game passing record when he threw for 235 yards and accounted for six total touchdowns in Pacific County against PWV. And who owns that aged Cheese Town record? Toledo head coach Mike Christensen, of course, who set the mark in 1998 (or ‘99) against White Pass.
Meanwhile, Toutle Lake is riding a two-game winning wave after dumping Winlock in Week 3 and Fort Vancouver the week before, both in convincing fashion. Last week, Austin Webber led the Ducks with 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Dom (Rivera) Settlemier added 102 rushing yards and a touchdown. Max Kasimov and Jamison Schelb also scored for the East Cowlitz County kids.
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Winlock (0-3) at Mossyrock (0-3)
Canceled
Last week: Loss 35-6 vs Toutle Lake
Winlock head coach Ernie Samples didn’t have a ton of stats to tally last week after a loss to Toutle Lake, but he’s been counting heads at practice and as long as he’s got enough Cheese Town kids in helmets he’ll always believe his Cards have a chance. This week’s matchup would’ve been an 8-man affair last year, but with Mossyrock and Winlock both back in the 2B ranks this year they were supposed to be allotted 11 players each this go round. Instead, a confluence of grade issues and injuries forced the Cardinals to back out of the contest on Wednesday. Going forward, Winlock will need more healthy bodies and report cards, to go with even more hard earned yards from James Cusson after he scored their lone touchdown their last time out. The Cardinals are scheduled to host Rainier (WA) in Week 5.
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Ilwaco (3-0) vs Morton-White Pass (2-1)
Friday, 7 p.m., Ilwaco
Last week: Win 28-20 vs Wahkiakum
The Fisheren made it an official winning streak last week when they snuck by Wahkiakum in a hybrid 8-man/11-man contest. In the Ocean Beach Bash, Ilwaco saw Corbin Johnson rush for 123 yards and two touchdowns, while also returning a fumble 52-yards to the house. Cody Miller also rushed for a touchdown to help the Fishermen improve to 3-0. This week Ilwaco will welcome a Morton-White Pass team that’s still licking some wounds after a 64-34 loss to the Rainier Mountaineers in Week 3.
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Wahkiakum (0-3) vs Oakville (2-1)
Friday, 7 p.m., Cathlamet
Last week; Loss 28-20 vs Ilwaco
The Mules showed they can hang tough in a tough-luck loss to 2B Ilwaco in Week 3, but they’ll need to figure out how to cash in on a few more opportunities in order to drop Oakville. Last week the Acorns defeated Chief Leschi 50-14. Wahkiakum quarterback Jaden Sodderd accounted for 249 yard last week, but the Mules had trouble getting anybody else going.
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Naselle (3-0) vs Evergreen Lutheran (0-3)
Friday, 7 p.m., Tacoma
Last week: Win 64-6 vs Sound Christian
No Jacob Lindstrom. No problem for the Comets. And that’s saying something.
Last week Naselle put up 44 points in the first quarter in a runaway victory over Sound Christian. Stepping in for Lindstrom, who broke his collarbone in Week 2, Leith Chadwick completed 7 of 8 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns. Gus Buckhalter and Jack Strange each ran in two touchdowns on three carries in Week 3, and that sort of production is likely to continue this week against a winless Eagles team that’s been outscored 228-76 so far this season.
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Rainier (0-3) vs Valley Catholic (1-2)
Friday, 7 p.m., Rainier, Ore.
Last week: Loss 35-8 vs Yamhill-Carlton
The Columbians will try to get off the schneid this week when they host a Valley Catholic squad that’s coming off a 41-0 loss at home to Douglas. In Week 3, Rainier was led by Angel Becerra’s 72 rushing yards and a touchdown. Adrian Nguyen continued to play well for the Columbians as well, with 56 rushing yards to pair with his presence on defense. Gage Mohammed led Rainier with five tackles and an interception.
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Clatskanie (1-2) vs Gaston (2-1)
Friday, 7 p.m., Clatskanie, Ore.
Last week: Won 49-14 vs Vernonia/Jewell
The Tigers are gearing up for a big league matchup with Gaston after picking up their first win of the season in Week 3 in Vernonia. Against the Loggers, Clatskanie saw quarterback Dayton Gutierrez direct the offense while Lucas Andreason took the bulk of the workman’s carries and Ryder Gorley broke off a few big plays. Last week the Greyhounds lost 12-6 to Knappa, and the Tigers will be well served to post a similar defensive performance if they want to be in a position to pull off the win late in the game.
Other Games You Might Care About
Onalaska (2-1) at Rainier, Wash. (2-1)
Last Week: Onalaska won 62-8 vs Mossyrock
Last Week: Rainier (WA) won 64-34 vs Morton-White Pass
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Napavine (2-1) at Montesano (1-2)
Last week: Napavine won 55-24 vs Cedar Park Christian
Last week: Montesano won 56-7 vs Black Hills
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La Center (3-0) at King’s Way Christian (2-1)
Last week: La Center won 61-0 at White Salmon
Last week: King’s Way lost 30-20 vs Kalama
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Ridgefield (3-0) at Hudson’s Bay (0-3)
Last week: Ridgefield won 24-21 vs Hockinson
Last week: Hudson’s Bay lost 22-21 to R.A. Long
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Mountain View (0-3) vs Mountainside, Ore. (1-2)
Last week: Mt. View lost 21-0 vs Union
Last week: Mountainside lost 27-20 vs Lakeridge, Ore.
Livestream Game of the Week
Nick Sisson / N2 Media
For Blast Zone Media
In light of recent events and results on the gridiron it’s time for me to possibly embrace the new R.A. Long football mantra of “Pirate energy.” For some that means maybe lose a few teeth, wear a funny hat, add a parrot to a shoulder and add an eyepatch. In my case, it means I need to take one eye patch off, because I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t see this start in my prognosticator’s crystal ball.
The salty Lumberjacks will dock the ship back at the friendly confines of Longview Memorial Stadium Friday night with a shiny (2-1, 1-0 league) record to their name and currently on a two-game winning streak after coming up with a road win against Hudson’s Bay 22-21 at Kiggins Bowl last Friday night. Now the upstart Jacks will host Hockinson (0-3) who are still in search of their first win, and would like nothing more than to build off a close loss to Ridgefield last week.
The dangerous method of thought looking at a game like this is all the good vibes winning a few games can do to your preparedness, especially when facing a winless opponent. It will also be Senior Night for R.A. Long. Potential distractions or unfocused team alert? Should RAl fans be worried?
“We just focus on missed opportunities and how close we are to actually being (0 and 3),” said RAL coach Jon Barker. “Nothing comes easy for us, we don’t expect it and we know we have to earn it each week.”
Hockinson Hawks
After watching Hockinson in the flesh just a week ago, one thing stands out - this team has star power at wide receiver led by seniors Kyle Alexander, Madsen Richardson, and Zachary Chung. The Hawks are led by senior quarterback Aiden Donowitz who tossed three touchdowns in the loss to Ridgefield and very nearly led a comeback drive in the fourth quarter. The Hawks were also without their starting running back Xavier Maitland and still managed to put themselves in a position to upset the Spudders. So don’t let the record fool you. Hockinson has played some tough opponents so far and are better than their record. If an inadvertent whistle didn’t wipe away a fumble recovery deep in Ridgefield territory in the second half we could be talking about Hockinson as a 2A GSHL favorite.
R.A. Long Lumberjacks
Junior quarterback Jaxon Rivenes turned in an impressive performance last week against Hudson’s Bay in his first league start on the road by going 15-21 with 138 yards passing, two touchdowns, and 49 yards rushing. He also hit senior receiver Devon Harris on the go-ahead two-point conversion, after throwing a touchdown pass to TraMayne Jenkins, to put the Jackies up for good late. All in all, pretty impressive results in a small sample size for Rivenes thus far. Jenkins, now a senior, continues to give defenses nightmares on the outside at wide receiver, but he was equally impressive and important on the R.A. Long defense. Last week he recorded 10 tackles, a sack, and two forced fumbles to go along with his touchdown on offense. Oh, he even carried the rock three times for 40 yards. And Kolby Knudsen has also provided a much needed spark at the running back position. Knudsen had a nice touchdown run against Hudson’s Bay and could play a big factor in the upcoming game.
Current Streak
Hockinson has won nine in a row in this series. R.A. Long’s last win vs Hockinson was October 18, 2013.
Coach Speak
“Trust the foundation of what we have going. Players trust each other and the coaches. We focus on improving our technique and being assertive. Swing your sword with great technique and without hesitation.” — Jon Barker, R.A. Long head coach.
N2 Media Livestream Link:
https://www.youtube.com/live/-9ryLY1dulI?si=_0OMHMuk2A8-V-uJ
N2/Blast Zone Media Power Rankings:
https://n2media.tv/f/n2blast-zone-power-rankings-week-3-edition