CAMAS — The Battle Ground Tigers have crashed the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League football playoff party, and the Skyview Storm survived a drama-filled night to join the Tigers in the state qualifying round.
The Tigers won back-to-back football tiebreakers Monday at Doc Harris Stadium, securing the No. 2 seed from the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League. Skyview then took down Mountain View to grab the third and final playoff berth from the league.
Battle Ground needed just a few minutes to beat Skyview 7-0 in the first Kansas Plan overtime session, then a couple more minutes to top Mountain View 6-0.
That second victory gave Skyview new life — a Mountain View win would have ended the tiebreaker with the Storm as the odd team out. Instead, Skyview took advantage of that opportunity with a 7-0 victory over Mountain View in what was a confusing ending, but an ending nonetheless.
Top billing for Monday’s event has to go to the Tigers, though, who clinched their first playoff berth in 10 years.
“We are competitors. We’re not just someone you can push over now,” said Battle Ground junior Max Randle, who intercepted a Skyview pass to secure the Tigers’ first win of the night.
“It was crazy. When I had the ball in my hands, I just knew we were going to the playoffs no matter what,” Randle said.
That first Battle Ground victory assured the Tigers of one of the two playoff spots.
The Tigers got there after quarterback Gunner Talkington talked the coaches into going for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal instead of a field goal.
“I knew … the route was going to be wide open,” he said of the 3-yard touchdown pass to Riley Spechter. “It was. It was right there.”
Two plays later, Randle intercepted the Storm for the win.
Mountain View got the ball first against Battle Ground in the second Kansas Plan session. The Thunder picked up one first down, but then later faced a fourth-and-3 from the 7-yard line. The Thunder went for it, but Battle Ground’s Kolton Lehto and Travis Stewart were among the Tigers who stopped the Thunder a yard short.
Loss of downs. Battle Ground ball.
Four plays later, Curtis Stradley was in the end zone on a 12-yard run, carrying the Tigers to the No. 2 seed. Battle Ground will travel to face Kentlake, likely on Saturday.
“I really have no words for it,” Stradley said. “I have to score. I have to score. The mind-set is a touchdown until you’re forced to kick a field goal.”
That set up a Skyview-Mountain View matchup in the third session — winner to playoffs, loser out.
Skyview struck on its opening possession, when quarterback Brody Barnum — who threw the interception in the first session — scored on a 12-yard touchdown run.
“It was ridiculous,” Barnum said. “So many things going through my head. I thought I threw the season away, let all the seniors down. Being able to have a chance to fix that … and get my team another chance …”
Mountain View had a chance to respond, and that’s when things got really confusing.
Skyview’s Jefferson Kiyasu appeared to have intercepted a Thunder pass. There was a battle for possession of the ball, and the Skyview players, thinking they had won, rushed the field. There was no immediate call from the officials — at least none that could be seen because of the number of people on the field.
After a conference, the officials ruled … well, that’s where the confusion set in. The official used the signal most associated with incomplete pass. Then the officials walked off the field. Huh?
Actually, the signal, according to the Evergreen Football Officials Association, was to show that it was the “end of the scoring chance” for Mountain View. Kind of like a missed two-point conversion. The ball was, indeed, intercepted, giving Skyview the victory.
Because both teams thought the officials ruled incomplete pass, both teams stayed on the field. Then Skyview coach Steve Kizer and Mountain View coach Adam Mathieson went into the officials’ room to ask for clarification. They all returned to the field to confirm the contest had concluded.
“Mixed emotions,” Kizer said of the whole experience — a loss, then a win. “I like the second experience. I like where we ended up.”
Skyview, as the No. 3 seed, will travel to face Monroe in the state preliminary round.
The Battle Ground Tigers stuck around for that third contest, just to enjoy their night a little more. A 2-0 record on Monday and the No. 2 seed for a team that went 1-8 in 2010, Larry Peck’s first season as head coach.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Peck said. “I’m just pumped for them.”
KANSAS PLAN 1: BATTLE GROUND 7, SKYVIEW 0
Key plays:
Battle Ground’s Gunner Talkington finds Riley Sprecher for 3-yard TD pass on fourth-down.
Battle Ground’s Max Randle intercepts Skyview pass on Storm’s second play. Contest over.
KANSAS PLAN 2: BATTLE GROUND 6, MOUNTAIN VIEW 0
Key plays:
Battle Ground defenders Kolton Lehto and Travis Stewart stuff Mountain View ball carrier a yard short of first down on a fourth-down play.
Battle Ground’s Curtis Stradley scores on 12-yard TD run. Contest over.
KANSAS PLAN 3: SKYVIEW 7, MOUNTAIN VIEW 0
Key plays:
Skyview’s Jeremiah Wright with a 14-yard reception from quarterback Brody Barnum on third-and-13 from the 28-yard line.
Skyview’s Barnum scores on 12-yard run.
Skyview’s Jefferson Kiyasu intercepts Mountain View pass. Contest over.
