Flanagan carries Woodland to victory over Mark Morris

WOODLAND — So how does one celebrate setting a school record for single-season receptions?

If you’re Woodland’s Tyler Flanagan, what you do is help carry senior Tristan Thomas off the Beaver Stadium turf one final time following a season-ending 24-6 Class 2A Greater St. Helens victory over Mark Morris.

The Beavers (5-4, 4-2) already had been eliminated from playoff contention, but clinching a winning record a year after finishing 4-5 was motivation enough against the Monarchs (0-9, 0-6).

Flanagan finished with 224 rushing yards and four touchdowns, and his sixth catch of the night gave him 54 for the season, breaking Shane Brady’s 9-year-old record.

But the sophomore didn’t shirk his postgame responsibilities of honoring one of Woodland’s nine seniors who played their final game in a Beavers uniform.

“I had an idea,” Flanagan said regarding the record, “but I wasn’t too worried about it. I was just going to go out and get the ‘W’ tonight.”

Flanagan’s record catch came on an audible, Beavers coach Mike Woodward said. Flanagan streaked downfield and outjumped the Monarchs defender to haul in a 35-yard pass from Wyatt Harsh.

“That’s best friends teaming up together, and it worked,” Woodward said. “We were going to get Tyler the ball any way we could–flip it to him, bubble screens, runs, deep passes. He’s a special kid.”

Later in the drive, Flanagan scored his fourth touchdown on a 17-yard run, but the play was marred by a fight that occurred behind the play.

As Flanagan turned upfield, two player exchanged blows, and flags flew and whistles blew as Flanagan raced untouched to the end zone.

He turned around and held the ball aloft by the goal line, watching the melee unfold.

“I kind of had an idea of what happened,” Flanagan said. “I saw the flags flying and no one coming after me, and then everyone’s running on the field fighting. I was just standing there and thought, I’m not going to get into that.”

Four players were ejected, and on the next drive, Mark Morris quarterback Dawson Fritz suffered a head injury after a roughing the passer penalty.

The officials called both coaches to midfield and discussed ending the game early.

“I wanted to end it, because with high school kids, you never know what’s going to happen,” Woodward said. “But at the same time, you have seniors who you want to see be able to finish it out.”

“I trust my guys. I love them. We had kids with helmets off that didn’t take them off themselves. I can’t say they reacted the right way, but it’s a tough situation. It left a little sour taste.”

Beavers senior Trent Snead, for one, was glad to be able to play the game out.

“There was a lot of craziness out there, but I’m glad we were able to keep our cool and finish the game out,” said Snead, who finished with 11 tackles and a sack. “I’ve been playing since my (Clark County Youth Football) days, so it’s really hard to leave.”

What Snead and his fellow seniors leave behind is a team that started 20 underclassmen, yet finished with a winning record as a foundation to build upon.

“This is the start of something special,” Woodward said. “The success of a season is based on your offseason. If the kids buy in, and I’m confident they will, big things are coming for Woodland football.”

WOODLAND 24, MARK MORRIS 6

Mark Morris 0 0 0 6—6

Woodland 0 6 6 12—24

Second Quarter

W—Tyler Flanagan 42 run (pass failed)

Third Quarter

W—Flanagan 11 run (pass failed)

Fourth Quarter

W—Flanagan 51 run (pass failed)

W—Flanagan 17 run (kick failed)

MM—Max Dawkins 1 run (pass failed)

Individual statistics

RUSHING—Mark Morris: Zack McCarthy 18-96, Dawkins 16-38, Dawson Fritz 6-11, Kyle Johnson 5-9, Noah Mejia 4-17. Woodland: Flanagan 19-224, Wyatt Harsh 6-0, Kenyon Guy 1-4, team 3-(minus 9).

PASSING—Mark Morris: Fritz 2-8-0-22, Brent Myklebust 0-3-1-0. Woodland: Harsh 9-13-1-100.

RECEIVING—Mark Morris:  McCarthy 1-16, Dawkins 1-6. Woodland: Flanagan 6-71, Alex Bishop 3-29.