2/21/2021
Weekend #2 of Prep Football saw some pretty special happenings across the state, in our re-cap we focus on the games we covered and a special report from Dan Trujillo that you can find at the bottom of this page on La Center’s big win over Fort Vancouver.
Friday Night Games
Sumner 53, Curtis 6
(Sumner, WA) It was all Spartans in the opening 4A SPSL matchup between Sumner and Curtis. After fumbling on their initial drive, Sumner’s offense came alive for the remainder of the game. Jesse Sandretzky and Lito Knight both tore the field up coming out of the backfield, both getting into the endzone. The Spartans also had two QB’s throw for touchdowns to Zion Scott, as both Tyson Berndt and Bo Carlson had impressive nights under center.
What might be even more impressive is the stifling defense the home side displayed. Sumner only allowed 6 points all night, with a late passing touchdown for Curtis. The Spartans also were able to come up with a special teams touchdown as they recovered a poor snap on a punt attempt in the endzone.
Our Thorbeckes Home Team Player of the Game went to Lito Knight for the Spartans and our Pacific Sports Spa Visiting Team Player of the Game goes to the Vikings’ Rocco Koch.
Lakes 34, Bonney Lake 6
(Lakewood, WA) The Lancers Leo Pulalasi would strike first with a huge 50 yard run down to the Panther 2 yard line. Head Coach Dave Miller then let Pulalasi finish it off handing him the rock for the 2-yard TD plunge. Luke Washburn knocked in the PAT for a 7-0 lead. The Lancers would add another score in the 2nd quarter to go up 13-0.
Bonney Lake would get some offense going late in the half, in fact the last play of the half when Lincoln Ketner hit Mason Lynch on a 4th and goal from the 2. The PAT missed and it was 13-6 at the break and the Panthers would get the ball to start the 3rd.
Bonney Lake would get two great chances to begin the 3rd quarter but turned the ball over on downs after driving down inside the Lakes 35 and then on the 1st play of the 2nd half for the Lancers a fumble would give it right back to the Panthers but again they could not capitalize.
Lakes would then go on about a 65 yard drive and Caleb Kwalalon would pound it in from 4 yards out to go up 20-6. On the next drive the Lancers Michael Westbrook intercepted the Panthers and returned it 45 yards pushed their lead to 27-0. They would tag on a final score early in the 4th when Cameron Horne ignited the sidelines with a catch and spectacular run in for the final 7 points.
Our Thorbeckes Home Team Player of the Game went to Leo Pulalasi for his runs on offense but also a big night on the defensive side for the Lancers and our Pacific Sports Spa Visiting Team Player of the Game goes to the Panthers’ Jeven Hickson. Hickson was a beast on defense with a pair of picks and several tackles.
Rainier 34, Adna 6
(Rainier, WA) The Mounties wasted no time in setting the tone with the visiting Pirates from Adna when Mike Green hit Jacob Uch on a 39-yard strike. Rainier added the 2 point conversion and took an 8-0 lead. Jake Jeske was next for Rainier punching it in from 2 yards out to extend their lead to 14-0 The Mounties would continue to add pressure and build a sizable 26-0 lead going into halftime.
The Mounties defense continued to stymie the young Adna squad and picked up the only points of the 3rd quarter with a safety and held a 28-0 lead after 3 to cruise to the 34-6 win. Our Thorbeckes Home Team Player of the Game went to Jake Jeske and our Pacific Sports Spa Visiting Team Player of the Game goes to Adna’s Zach Berg.
Yelm 31, Olympia 7
(Olympia, WA) On a rainy Friday in Yelm the Tornados played host to the Olympia Bears in the new look SSC league. The Tornados won the toss and elected to receive the opening kick. After a return to their 35 it took just one play for Sean Rowedder to take the ball 65 yards for the touchdown and a 6-0 lead. The Tornados went for 2 and got it, making it 8-0. Later in the quarter the Yelm defense would tally a safety after an intentional grounding in the end zone making it was 10-0 Yelm.
River Ridge 42, Capital 21
(Olympia, WA) On a cold, damp February evening, it would be River Ridge starting off on the right foot with their victory over Capital 42 to 21. In a game that was much closer than the final score indicates, it was Capital starting out with a bang as Elijah Hoffman would connect with a receiver on the near sideline for a 73 yard touchdown to put the Cougars up 7-0 early in the first quarter.
That score would turn out to be the only touchdown in the 1st as Capital would lead 7 to 0, but River Ridge was driving. The Hawks would find their way on the scoreboard early in the second quarter off of a run, the point after was no good allowing Capital to hang on to a 7 to 6 lead. After a series of empty possessions for both teams, Keeton Maggard would come in at quarterback and lead the Hawks to a touchdown towards the end of the first half. The try for two points was good putting River Ridge up 14 to 7 over Capital at the half.
In the second half, Hoffman would not allow the Hawks to enjoy their lead for long, taking his Cougars downfield to tie things up at 14. Dontae Owen would come back in at quarterback for the Hawks in the 3rd and lead a efficient drive ending with a 25 yard pass finding Dontae Williams in the end zone for a 21-14 Hawks lead. That would be the score at the end of the 3rd.
Capital would tie things up once again early in the 4th, 21-21. River Ridge switched things up in the 4th to a run heavy approach with a heavy dose of QB keepers for Owens or hand offs to Darion Brown. Owens and Brown thundered down the field to put the Hawks back up 28 to 21. The ensuing kickoff would lead to disaster for Capital. Owens would do a squib kick, the Cougars couldn’t get hands on the ball as it continued bouncing downfield eventually picked up by River Ridge near the Capital 10.
After a handful of penalties, Brown would punch the ball into the end zone to extend the Hawks lead. Capital would secure the next kickoff, but a fumble on the Hoffman hand off on the Cougars first play of the drive, would give the ball back to the Hawks. Brown’s strong showing in the 4th would lead to another Hawks touchdown off the fumble putting the score at 42 to 21 late in the 4th.
Our Pacific Sports Spa players of the game for the visiting team, River Ridge, ended up being shared between Dontae Owens and Darion Brown. The Thorbeckes player of the game for the home team, Capital, was Elijah Hoffman.
Saturday Games
Onalaska 24, Forks 16 (OT)
(Onalaska, WA) First of all we were supposed to live stream this game and there were internet issues we thought were fixed and wifi in the Ony area is very spotty so we could not get up any stream after trying multiple ideas and hot spots. For that we apologize and we are working with Onalaska to see if there is a solution for future games including girls soccer from the Stadium. The wifi in the Ony gym is spectacular and so indoor games are not an issue. We again are very sorry we could not find the solution. We even attempted to live stream on Twitter and could not get a stream out.
Now on to an unbelievable game. This was a throwback game of hard hitting, skirmishes a real knock down, drag out battle. Forks, dropping down from the 1A ranks to the 2B’s came in wanting to show the defending 2B State Champs they were not going to be intimidated and they took the bite of flesh in this showdown with a 6-0 lead when QB Hayden Baker hit Colton Duncan. In the 2nd quarter the Spartans again drove deep into Ony territory but the Logger defense forced a 4th and long from the 11-yard-line and Luis Perez came in and booted a 28-yard field goal to take a 9-0 lead.
Onalaska had made several mistakes throughout the first half fumbling the ball several times, slipping on the wet natural surface and missing assignments. But just prior to the half the Loggers would put it all together with Marshall Haight powering in from the 3 yard line. QB Danny Dalsted would fake the hand-off on the extra point and scoot into the endzone untouched, (Remember this play) and they went to the break down by 1 to the visiting Spartans 9-8.
Forks came out firing in the 2nd half and Hayden Baker capped off an impressive drive with a 14-yard burst to paydirt. The PAT failed but they doubled up the Loggers leading 16-8. As time began to become a factor you just felt at some point one of the Loggers would pop a big run and that feeling would be correct. Gunnar Talley busted off a 54-yard sprint to the endzone, they converted the 2-point PAT and we were tied. That tie would not be broken in regulation and off to OT the game went.
Ony would go first and after a 6 yard slugfest pick-up, Dalsted on the 2nd play from the 19 faked the hand-off and just like the first 2 point conversion scooted past all the defenders and in for the score. Talley would punch in the 2 point conversion and they went up 24-16.
It was now Forks’ turn but on the 2nd play the Spartans had been chewing up yardage on a little in route but this time Ony’s Kole Taylor stepped back underneath and picked off the pass to clinch the win.
Our Pacific Sports Spa players of the game for the visiting team, Forks went to Hayden Baker and the Thorbeckes home team player of the game was Danny Dalsted.
Napavine 49, Kalama 32
(Kalama, WA) The Tigers were embarrassed in week 1 getting blown out by Onalaska and were ready to show they were a team to be reckoned with. Kalama is coming 2 State Titles and a State runner-up over the last 3 years. The Chinooks are expected to be in the mix every year now and early on in this game it showed.
Kalama’s Jr running back Jackson Esary started the scoring fest with a run into the endzone, Kalama added the 2 points for an 8-0 lead. The Tigers Laythan Demarest then answered and also gave fair warning he was just getting started. The PAT failed and the Nooks held on to an 8-6 lead.
Napavine snared their first lead on a Cade Evander to Demarest 57-yard strike, they got the 2 point conversion for a 14-8 lead. Esary had a reply to the big play with a 64-yard jaunt plus the 2 points gave Kalama a 16-14 lead with 6:59 to go in the half. This led to a crazy final 7 minutes with Demarest scoring his 3rd touchdown along with the 2 point PAT was quickly answered with a text book 2-minute drill for the Chinooks as Jack Doerty hauled in an 18-yard pass and they tallied the 2-points for a 24-22 halftime lead.
Demarest struck again in the 3rd with a huge 73-yard touchdown run and the 2-point conversions were falling like raindrops as the Tigers took a 30-24 lead. Demarest let someone else get in on the action as Lucas Dahl scored from 7 yards out to extend the Tiger lead to 36-24 after the PAT failed.
Esary was ready for yet another answer and scampers 17 yards as time expires in the 3rd and then ran in the 2 points to pull back within 4, down 36-32 entering the 4th quarter.
Little did the Nooks know at that time but that would be all they could do and Napavine added 2 more scores to pull away for the win. Demarest scored with 4:25 to play and then Gavin Parker picked off a Nooks pass and returned it to the house for the final points in this breakneck back and forth affair.
Our players of the game should be no surprise as our Thorbeckes Home Team Player of the Game went to Jackson Esary and our Pacific Sports Spa Visiting Team Player of the Game goes to Napavine’s Laythan Demarest.
Elma 6, Tenino 2
(Tenino, WA) It really is a bit sad we can’t write more in this story but each team came to play and battled hard. Both teams really focused on the running game and pounded away with each other. The game was officiated tightly and there were many flags through-out the night with 3 of them taking touchdowns off the board. We did not keep track of yardage but the offenses combined may not have been as much as the penalty yardage.
After a frustrating 1st half for both teams as both touchdowns were called back ended in a 0-0 tie. In the 3rd quarter a loss of composure cost the Beavers deeply when their starting QB Kyler Knox was disqualified from the game after a difference of opinion on the sidelines.
Still the Beaver defense was stifling led by Tristan Whitaker, Robert Marti, William Tennihill and Andres Capilla-Zamudio. Then with 6:59 to play in the game Elma’s Jarred Bailey found a crease and raced 57 yards into the endzone. The PAT failed but in this bruising back and forth defensive struggle but that 6-0 lead loomed large.
The Beavers offense had to find a winning combination with back-up Brody Noonan under center. Takari Hickle and reeled off several big runs including one TD wiped out by a flag. But is was Noonan who found Max Craig on a 16-yard pass completion that gave Tenino hope.
Then tragedy struck with a fumble and the opportunistic Eagles defense was there to pounce. Elma had plenty to be proud about with their defense as well locking down on the Tenino offense. Brody Rustemeyer, Tucker Simpkins, Nathan Comer, Donovan Bishop, Clay McBride and Derique Richey all were exceptionally stout and unforgiving.
The Eagles got the ball on their own 8 but could not run out the clock and with 4th down the Eagles decided to roll QB Rene Duran back into the endzone and he ran out as much time as he could giving the Beavers a safety, leaving just 10-seconds to play. The Eagles kicked it away and the Beavers could not find the miracle play to pull out a win.
Our Thorbeckes Home Team Player of the Game went to Triston Whitaker for the Beavers and our Pacific Sports Spa Visiting Team Player of the Game goes to the Eagles’ Jarred Bailey.
Rapid return to the gridiron for La Center
By Dan Trujillo
Fourteen months without an organized high school football game is enough to make any team anxious, but Tom Lambert, Coby Namanny and the La Center Wildcats looked like they hadn’t lost a step.
With snow piled up beyond each end zone after a February snowstorm, Lambert and Namanny hooked up on four touchdown plays to lead La Center to a 58-0 victory against Fort Vancouver Saturday at Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver.
Lambert completed 19 of his 32 passes for 373 yards and seven touchdowns. He also rushed for 100 yards on six carries. Namanny caught eight passes for 137 yards and four touchdowns.
Waiting months for their senior year of high school football to begin, Namanny and Lambert established their connection on the game’s opening drive. Namanny caught a Lambert pass over his shoulder, dodged defenders and dove across the goal line for a 17-yard touchdown.
After La Center got the ball back, Lambert kept the drive alive on a fourth down dash for two yards. On first-and-goal from the three, Lambert scooped up a fumbled snap and tossed the ball over the defensive lineman to a waiting Namanny in the end zone.
The Wildcats forced a fumble on defense and Jalen Ward recovered the football. Next play, Lambert riffled the ball to a wide open Namanny for a 54-yard catch and run to the end zone.
La Center led 22-0 before the end of the first quarter, and then tacked on 20 more points in the second. Andrew Kysar turned a short pass from Lambert into a 44-yard touchdown. Jeremy Humphrey added a 9-yard touchdown catch. One more Lambert and Namanny connection in the end zone gave the Wildcats a 42-0 lead before halftime.
Evan Mendes earned four first downs for Fort Vancouver. He made back-to-back catches to set up a first-and-goal opportunity for the Trappers, but the drive ended when Tyler Normine intercepted the ball in the end zone for La Center.
Lambert’s day wasn’t done, despite eclipsing the 300-yard passing mark in the first half. David Grauer generated Lambert’s seventh touchdown on a 53-yard breakaway to the end zone. Austin Nixon delivered a 21-yard touchdown run to round out the scoring for La Center.
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