4A GSHL football: Battle Ground 33, Heritage 22

Gunner Talkington didn’t throw for 500 yards this week.

He didn’t have to.

The Battle Ground sophomore threw for 360 yards and five touchdowns as the Tigers earned their first 4A Greater St. Helens League win, 33-22 over Heritage on Friday at McKenzie Stadium.

Heritage battled tough in the first half, taking a 14-13 lead into the intermission. Kalani Umiamaka had a 6-yard TD run and Tyler Van Buskirk completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Bailey Thomason.

But the Tigers took control in the third quarter.

Talkington’s third TD pass of the game, a 7-yard yard strike to Chris Waters, gave Battle Ground a 20-14 lead. The Tigers made it 27-14 late in the third quarter on a 38-yard touchdown pass play to Parker Randle.

The Tigers then changed things up and took control of the game on the ground.

They drove 69 yards on 15 plays, eating up 8 minutes and 42 seconds of the clock. They capped that drive with a 15-yard TD pass to Randle for a 33-14 lead.

Payton Monda came in at quarterback for Heritage and drove the Timberwolves to a touchdown drive, completing an 11-yard TD pass to Jarod Luedecker. The two-point conversion made it 33-22 Battle Ground.

Thomason recovered his own onside kick with 2:28 left in the game. The Timberwolves had a first-and-goal at the five, but that’s where Battle Ground’s defense halted Heritage’s drive.

Talkington completed 21 of 28 passes. Randle caught seven passes for 151 yards. Heritage was led by Umiamaka, who rushed for 97 yards on 22 carries.

BATTLE GROUND 33, HERITAGE 22

Battle Ground 6 7 14 6–33

Heritage 7 7 0 8–22

First quarter

H — Kalani Umiamaka 6 run (Bailey Thomason kick)

BG — Kyle Cahoon 35 pass from Gunner Talkington (kick blocked)

Second quarter

BG — Chase Gunter 15 pass from Talkington (Riley Betcher kick)

H — Thomason 14 pass from Tyler Van Buskirk (Thomason kick)

Third quarter

BG — Chris Waters 7 pass from Talkington (Betcher kick)

BG — Parker Randle 38 pass from Talkington (Betcher kick)

Fourth quarter

BG — Randle 15 pass from Talkington (kick blocked)

H — Jarod Luedecker 11 pass from Payton Monda (Umiamaka run)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Battle Ground: Talkington 15-24, Reed Thompson 7-33, Bailey Buckner 1-3, Taylor Stewart 1-11, Manny Grote 11-40, Taylor Lollar 1-2. Heritage: Umiamaka 22-97, Gavin Lee 5-13, Van Buskirk 3-6, Payton Monda 1-0.

PASSING — Battle Ground: Talkington 21-28-0-360. Heritage: Van Buskirk 9-17-1-112, Monda 7-11-0-99.

RECEIVING — Battle Ground: Chris Waters 2-18, Kyle Cahoon 2-50, Riley Betcher 6-71, Parker Randle 7-151, Chase Gunter 2-26, Grote 1-19, Caleb Johnson 1-25. Heritage: Nick Somboun 5-92, Kanese Peneuta 4-32, Umiamaka 2-11, Thomason 3-63, Luedecker 2-13.