LA CENTER — Trust.
It’s the foundation of a unique offense that gives La Center one of the most explosive rushing attacks in Class 1A football.
But this is no three yards and a cloud of dust. Each snap sends La Center’s linemen in a many directions. Their blocking assignment isn’t always the guy straight across the line.
Lots can go wrong with that many players on the move. But it rarely does, thanks to a senior-laden team that has cruised into the state quarterfinals undefeated.
“It’s a big reliance on us,” senior lineman Connor House said. “But the coaches are always telling to us that they can trust us.”
La Center (11-0) faces a familiar foe in Mount Baker (9-1), which ousted the Wildcats last year in a quarterfinal game in Battle Ground.
This year, La Center will be making the 250-mile road trip. The team will leave this morning, stopping for a walk-through at the University of Washington’s practice field before heading up to Bellingham for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
Four La Center players carry the ball on a regular basis. Conner Fulton, Max Hiller, Connor Wonderly and quarterback Wyatt Aguirre have combined for 3,031 yards on 305 carries, an average of 9.5 yards per carry.
That gives the Wildcats many options in their offense, which is a variation of the wing-T. Behind five linemen and two tight ends, the backs run an intricate array of misdirections and decoys.
“On any play we could have 10 guys doing different things,” coach John Lambert said.
So how does everyone stay on the same page?
“A big key is communication,” House said. “We’re always talking on the line, making sure we have our reads.”
Lambert is always trying to remain unpredictable. The Wildcats rarely throw the ball, but can do so effectively when needed. Last week against Blaine, La Center’s only pass completion was a 65-yard touchdown that broke a 14-14 tie in the second half.
“I always look at it from the defense’s standpoint,” Lambert said. “How would I attack this? What would make it difficult on me? We try to break the rules of what a defense is used to doing.”
Injuries, however, are a concern for La Center as two top players have been limited in practice this week. Fulton hurt his shoulder last week against Blaine. The Trico League MVP had 24 touchdowns and 1,432 yards rushing on 150 carries.
Hiller, the Trico League defensive player of the year, missed last week’s game with a knee injury.
The Wildcats will need their stars. Lambert called Mount Baker the best team La Center will have faced all year.
“They’re extremely well-coached,” Lambert said of Mount Baker. “They go to the end of the whistle, and they’re tough kids. Whenever you go against a team like that, you’re in for a tough challenge.”
Mount Baker coach Ron Lepper struck a similar tone when talking about La Center.
“They are going to run the ball on offense and want to get you bunched up at the point of attack,” Lepper told the Bellingham Herald. “Then they will go over the top. You have to be very disciplined, and you have to be unselfish to beat this team.
“You have to get them in losses or no gains early in the series, because they will go for it on fourth down no matter where they are on the field.”
La Center is in the postseason for the 12th time in the past 13 seasons. This year’s 16 seniors have continued the program’s winning tradition.
The stakes are high enough in the playoffs, but not wanting each senior’s high school career to end raises the pressure.
That’s where, once again, trust comes into play.
“It’s nerve-wracking knowing that this team in the same position last year knocked us out,” senior lineman Andrew Gustafson said. “Our main focus this week was just doing your job and trusting that the person next to you will do their job as well.”
