Hudson’s Bay falls to Kelso, faces three-way tiebreaker for playoffs

The Hudson’s Bay football team doesn’t have much time to forget Friday’s 21-14 loss to Kelso.

That’s just fine with coach Mark Oliverio. He wants his players to remember that game when Hudson’s Bay tries to keep its season alive on Monday.

Friday, Bay missed a chance to earn the 3A Greater St. Helens League’s No. 2 seed in the regional playoffs.

Instead, the Eagles (5-4, 2-3) will play a three-team tiebreaker with Evergreen and Prairie at 6 p.m. Monday at Doc Harris Stadium in Camas. One of those teams will claim the last of three 3A GSHL postseason berths.

There was disappointment in the Hudson’s Bay postgame huddle. But Oliverio urged his players to use that to their benefit.

“Just dig deep and feel that feeling of the season potentially being over,” Oliverio said. “Hang onto it and understand that if we’re so fortunate as to get another opportunity, we have to make sure we control the outcome.”

Kelso (7-3, 4-1) secured the league’s No. 2 seed when River Liepa intercepted Jordan Hickman’s pass at the 5-yard line with 35 seconds to go.

That clinched a game where Bay couldn’t produce enough consistency on offense. The Eagles were held to 172 yards.

“The defense played really well and gave us lots of chances,” Oliverio said. “Offensively, we struggled. They did a nice job of getting us rattled and out of our game a little bit.”

Hudson’s Bay thought it had tied the game midway through the fourth quarter. But a 45-yard touchdown run by Cadiz was nullified by a holding penalty.

It was a trend Bay couldn’t shake. Too many penalties and not enough explosive plays.

“When plays were there, unfortunately we weren’t able to make them,” Hickman said.

Hudson’s Bay struck first. A 1-yard touchdown run by Cadiz came three plays after Carter Morse returned an interception 35 yards to the Kelso 25-yard line.

Kelso tied the game late in the first quarter, then capitalized on a break in the second quarter. After the Hilanders had a punt blocked near midfield, Kelso’s Ben Bergonzine scooped up the ball behind the line of scrimmage and carried it 16 yards for a first down.

Six plays later, the Hilanders scored on a 10-yard pass from A.J. Hoggatt to Riley Noah. That gave Kelso a 14-7 lead near the end of a first half that saw the Hilanders outgain the Eagles 137-68.

Cadiz tied the game with an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown with 6:19 left in the third quarter.

Kelso threatened on its next drive, but Julio Vara’s interception in the end zone ended the Hilander threat.

But Kelso cashed in on its next drive. Hoggatt found Emmitt Kinch over the middle for a 20-yard touchdown pass. That gave Kelso a 21-14 lead with 10:30 remaining.

After Friday’s game, Bay had to wait to see if its season would continue. But after Prairie won and Evergreen lost, the Eagles knew they would have a chance to extend their first winning season since 2002.

“We all have a feeling that we’re just not ready yet to cash it in,” Oliverio said. “I expect them, if they get the chance, to battle hard. I expect them to want to create a different outcome.”

KELSO 21, HUDSON’S BAY 14

Kelso 7 7 0 7–21

Hudson’s Bay 7 0 7 0–14

First quarter

HB — Marco Cadiz 1 run (Alfonso Barajas kick)

K — Max McDaniel 8 run (Vincente Soto kick)

Second quarter

K — Riley Noah 10 pass from A.J. Hoggatt (Soto kick)

Third quarter

HB — Cadiz 85 punt return (Barajas kick)

Fourth quarter

K — Emmitt Kinch 20 pass from Hoggatt (Soto kick)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Kelso: Max McDaniel 18-93, Jordan Miller 8-41, Ben Bergonzine 2-(minus 1), A.J. Hoggatt 3-5, Bryce Miller 2-2. Hudson’s Bay: Marco Cadiz 16-45, Akilotoa Kamatule 4-16, Carter Morse 2-2, Jordan Hickman 3-14.

PASSING — Kelso: A.J. Hoggatt 10-16-2-102. Hudson’s Bay: Jordan Hickman 6-19-1-95.

RECEIVING — Kelso: Peyton Noah 4-30, Riley Noah 5-52, Emmitt Kinch 1-20. Hudson’s Bay: Myles Artis 1-19, Nathan Buslach 1-5, Marco Cadiz 2-39, Carter Morse 1-32.