Juanita romps past Columbia River in 3A first round

Columbia River knew all about Juanita junior Salvon Ahmed coming into Saturday’s first-round 3A state playoff game at Kiggins Bowl.

Knowing about Ahmed and seeing him in person, though, proved to be two completely different things

Ahmed showed the Chieftains and their fans why all the Pac-12 schools are salivating at the thought of adding him to their programs, running for 230 yards and six touchdowns in a 57-7 romp.

“The guy was an absolute tank,” said River senior Alex McGarry of the 6-foot, 195-pounder with offers from UW, WSU, Stanford and USC in his pocket.

“We weren’t afraid of them coming in, but they were able to make big plays in big moments.”

Thanks to Ahmed and a suddenly generous Chieftains offense that turned the ball over five times, including twice in the red zone, the Rebels (9-2) earned their first state playoff win since 1989.

River looked like it was picking up where it left off in last Friday’s 60-55 regional win over Capital on its opening drive, marching 73 yards in 11 plays to lead 7-0 on Travon Santiago’s 4-yard TD run.

But on Juanita’s second play from scrimmage, Ahmed burst untouched through a big hole up the middle and raced 54 yards for the tying score.

“We worked all that way to get a touchdown, and then snap, like that, the game’s even,” said River coach John O’Rourke.

River (6-5) flirted with danger all throughout the first half, throwing three interceptions — one in the end zone and another that killed a drive at the Rebels 3 — yet trailed just 23-7 at halftime.

It all fell apart in the third quarter. The Rebels ran only eight plays in the period — and scored five touchdowns, aided twice by River fumbles deep in its territory.

“We just couldn’t get things turned around,” O’Rourke said.

McGarry, who had six catches in his final game, was even blunter.

“That third quarter doesn’t define our season,” he said.

In the end, it was a season that saw River win a second straight Greater St. Helens 3A League title and get to state for a fourth straight year — the first time that happened since 2000-2003.

“It’s hard to look past the feeling right now in your throat,” McGarry said. “But there were so many defining moments to this season that will outshine the bad times like tonight. How much we’ve come together this season, how we’ve bonded, I’m just so proud of each of these guys.”

JUANITA 57, COLUMBIA RIVER 7

Juanita 14 9 34 0—57

Col. River 7 0 0 0—  7

First Quarter

CR — Travon Santiago 4 run (Garrett McKee kick)

J — Salvon Ahmed 54 run (Jackson Clemensen kick)

J — Ahmed 39 run (Clemensen kick)

Second Quarter

J — Ahmed 16 run (kick failed)

J — FG Clemensen 24

Third Quarter

J — JC Worcester 35 pass from Tavin Montgomery (Clemensen kick)

J — Makiah Gilmer 12 pass from Montgomery (Clemensen kick)

J — Ahmed 45 run (kick blocked)

J — Ahmed 7 run (Clemensen kick)

J — Ahmed 57 run (Clemensen kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — J, Ahmed 11-230, Montgomery 2-(minus 3), Andrez Trahan 6-16, Billy Xiamonte 2-9, Dylan Moctezuma 1-42, Dean Sise 1-(minus 1), team 1-(minus 8). CR, Santiago 25-103, McKee 9-56, Hunter Pearson 2-12, team 2-(minus 21).

PASSING — J, Montgomery 11-17-0-172, Worcester 1-1-0-0. CR, McKee 17-32-3-150.

RECEIVING — J, Sise 4-55, Diego Moctezuma 2-0, Worcester 2-42, Gilmer 1-12, Dy.Moctezuma 1-11, Sam Rice 1-50, Xiamonte 1-2. CR, Blake Duhamel 6-93, Alex McGarry 6-25, Santiago 2-17, Dakota Mason 1-9, Koben Jamison 1-7, Pearson 1-(minus 1).