BATTLE GROUND — This time, there was no tension.
This time, no fourth-quarter rally was needed.
This time, Hockinson started the postseason with a bang. The Hawks beat Centralia 54-14 Friday in 2A District 4 playoff game.
One year ago on the same District Stadium field, Hockinson earned its first ever postseason win in a nail-biter. The Hawks overcame a 21-0 fourth-quarter deficit to beat Black Hills 24-21.
Friday, there was no doubt.
Hockinson scored often and with ease.
Its defense hit early and hard.
“We want to let everyone know that we play Hawk football,” senior Steven Carlisle said. “We hit hard and we play hard.”
Because the 2A Evergreen League has just four teams, Centralia (3-6) reached the postseason without winning a league game. But with last year in mind, Hockinson was not taking Friday’s 34-7 halftime lead for granted.
“Going into halftime, I told the guys ‘Hey, last year we were down 21-0 and we came back and won,’ ” Carlisle said. “We can’t just go easy in the second half.”
Hockinson (10-0) advances to the state playoffs as the No. 1 seed from District 4. The Hawks will play Liberty next weekend, likely in Battle Ground.
Before this season, Hockinson coach Rick Steele tweaked his run-first offense to boost the passing game. He hoped to make it more dynamic by involving two of his best athletes, receiver Kedrick Johnson and tight end Cameron Loos.
Friday, the fruits of that decision yielded a bounty of yardage.
Canon Racanelli threw for 383 yards and six touchdowns, including three to both Johnson and Loos.
“Not having the pass last year hurt us a lot,” Loos said. “Now, if they put nine in the box, we’re going to pass. If they put six in the box, we’re going to run.”
Racanelli has done his part to establish Hockinson’s passing game, having finished the regular season with 1,779 yards and 22 touchdowns. Friday, the sophomore completed 22 of 31 passes and had no turnovers.
Having two big targets in Loos (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) and Johnson (6-3, 190) also helps. Friday, Loos had eight catches for 138 yards and Johnson finished with five catches for 137 yards.
“They make the job a lot easier,” Racanelli said. “When they try to double-cover Ked, Loos is open. When they double-cover Loos, Ked is open.”
One thing that has not changed from last year is Hockinson’s stifling defense, which entered Friday having allowed 21 points all season.
Friday, Hockinson’s only significant slip on defense came in the first quarter, when it allowed Centralia’s Riley Christianson to get open for a 30-yard touchdown catch.
The rest of the night, it was lights out. Hockinson allowed just 252 yards and intercepted Centralia quarterback Joey Aliff twice.
“I love this defense,” said Carlisle, who plays linebacker and also rushed for a team-high 76 yards. “We’re all about gap responsibility and building that fence up front.”
Jared Oja opened the scoring with the first of his two touchdowns, a 10-yard rush on Hockinson’s first drive.
Hockinson needed just one play on its second drive to take a 14-0 lead. Racanelli found Johnson down the left sideline for a 58-yard touchdown pass.
It was the first on many big plays for Hockinson. Johnson added a 47-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Loos had a 23 yard scoring catch in the second quarter and Oja had a 43-yard scoring run just after halftime.
HOCKINSON 54, CENTRALIA 14
Centralia 7 0 0 7—14
Hockinson 14 20 13 7—54
First quarter
H — Jared Oja 10 run (Tommy Brennan kick)
H — Kedrick Johnson 58 pass from Canon Racanelli (Brennan kick)
C — Riley Christianson 30 pass from Joey Aliff (Christianson kick)
Second quarter
H — Cameron Loos 23 pass from Racanelli (Brennan kick)
H — Johnson 47 pass from Racanelli (kick fails)
H — Loos 5 pass from Racanelli (Brennan kick)
Third quarter
H — Oja 43 run (kick blocked)
H — Johnson 15 pass from Racanelli (Brennan kick)
Fourth quarter
C — Dylan Ferrians 6 run (Christianson kick)
H — Loos 15 pass from Racanelli (Brennan kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Centralia: Dylan Ferrians 17-67, Riley Christiansen 3-minus-2, Nathan Yahn 13-76, Josh Towie 2-minus-6, Joey Aliff 1-5. Hockinson: Steven Carlisle 7-76, Jared Oja 6-59, Ganon Kytola 2-8, Canon Racanelli 2-minus-1, Matt Henry 1-10, Bailey Jones 1-13.
PASSING — Centralia: 11-22-104. Hockinson: Canon Racanelli 22-31-383.
RECEIVING — Centralia: Christianson 2-31, Yahn 2-14, Derek Vanderlaarschot 4-31, Cody Parker 3-28. Hockinson: Cameron Loos 8-138, Kedrick Johnson 5-137, Matt Henry 1-8, Mitch Lines 2-15, Jared Oja 4-62, Cole Walker 1-13, Bailey Jones 1-10.
