2A GSHL football: Woodland 35, R. A. Long 14

In the spirit of baseball’s pennant fever, Woodland showed its home crowd what it was like to have a reliable closer on the gridiron.

Running back Tristan Thomas amassed 241 yards of total offense to go with four rushing touchdowns, including a 35-yard dash untouched for the final score in the fourth quarter to seal the victory over R.A. Long at Beaver Stadium.

In a contest that was actually more competitive than the final score would indicate, the Beavers saved their best work for the second half, including a nearly six minute drive capped by Thomas’ third touchdown run.

Led by a freshman quarterback making just his second start, the Lumberjacks were able to cut the Beaver lead to a two scores when Owen Enriquez threw a back shoulder pass to Hunter Jones for a 7-yard score.

But whether it was eluding tacklers, setting up blockers, breaking tackles or making key receptions, Thomas was just too much for R.A. Long to handle.

WOODLAND 35, R.A. LONG 14

R.A. Long 0 7 0 7–14

Woodland 7 7 7 14–35

First quarter

W — Tristan Thomas 2 run (Tylor Bishop kick)

Second Quarter

W — Thomas 5 run (Bishop kick)

RAL — Gino Juarez 7 run (Julio Magana-Huerta kick)

Third Quarter

W — Thomas 15 run (Bishop kick)

Fourth Quarter

W — Jared Cloud 6 pass from Wyatt Harsh (Bishop kick)

RAL — Hunter Jones 7 pass from Owen Enriquez (Magana-Huerta kick)

W — Thomas 35 run (Bishop kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Woodland, Thomas 24-160, Harsh 3-12, Hunter Raney 3-12, Bishop 1-3. RA Long, Justin Holmdahl 16-55, Enriquez 10-6, Riley Opgrande 5-22, Brett Coons 1-14, Gino Juarez 1-7, Anthony Broxton 1-5.

PASSING–Woodland, Harsh 14-28-2-220. RA Long, Enriquez 14-24-0-116.

RECEIVING–Woodland, Cloud 4-99, Thomas 4-59, Cooper Lucas 1-34, Hunter Raney 2-23, Tyler Flanagan 3-4. RA Long, Jones 4-46, Juarez 4-33, Ethan Sterkel 1-19, Coons 1-7, Mason Nickerson 1-6, Opgrande 2-5.