River works overtime to beat Evergreen, 24-21

Kickstart the season. Kickstart a celebration.

Columbia River opened its high school football season with a win on Friday.

And not just any win. An overtime win that ended with players rushing off the sideline to gather in a hopping mob.

Kent Stricker’s 26-yard field goal in overtime gave the Chieftains a 24-21 win over Evergreen at Columbia River High School on Friday.

Not a bad way to begin the season.

Not a bad way for Christian Swain to begin his Columbia River coaching tenure.

“When things get tough like that or tense, we don’t flinch,” Swain said. “All the credit goes to the kids. They were really tough-minded tonight.”

Fewer were tougher than Hunter Pearson. The senior running back had 29 carries for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Pearson’s running was tough, methodical and relentless. And it was just what River needed after Evergreen scored 21 unanswered points to take a 21-14 lead late in the third quarter.

Pearson carried six times on an eight-play, 63-yard drive that saw River tie the game at 21 with 9:18 to play.

There was nothing fancy about how River rebounded. Just give the ball to Pearson and let him run behind big senior linemen Mason Schell (285 pounds), Nathan Hockhalter (270), Daerius Waters (315), Mathew Bowman (255) and Derek Schreiner (255).

“I love those guys,” Pearson said. “I’m buying them dinner someday.”

Before the game, Evergreen coach Terry Hyde likened the season’s first game to Christmas morning. There’s excitement, but you’re also not sure what you’ll get.

Though his team didn’t get a win, Hyde liked a lot of what was unwrapped on Friday against a team ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press Class 2A statewide poll.

“For this group, with not a lot of varsity experience, I’m proud of them,” Hyde said. “They took a top-10 team to overtime.”

Hyde also knows he has quite a gift in Dustin Nettles. The junior scored all three of Evergreen’s touchdowns, including a 71-yard punt return on the final play of the first half.

“Dustin is a pretty special athlete,” Hyde said. “He might be one of the top 10 athletes in the county. Tonight he got a chance to show that. I think there’s going to be a lot of Dustin Nettles down the road that people will have to deal with.”

Opponents on Columbia River’s schedule must deal with a team that’s tough, resilient and brimming with confidence after a tough season-opening test.

The Chieftains defense was stingy when it needed to be. They stuffed Evergreen on the opening possession of overtime, forcing a 40-yard field goal attempt that fell short.

“We knew we had to be physical all game,” Schell said. “In the end, I think we did that. We’re establishing a new legacy for this team and a new name for us.

“We’re going to keep working hard and we’re going to have a hell of a season, I think.”

Columbia River 24, Evergreen 21, OT

Evergreen 0 14 7 0 0 — 21

Col. River 7 7 0 7 3 — 24

First quarter

CR — Koben Jamison 1 run (Kent Stricker kick)

Second quarter

CR — Hunter Pearson 35 run (Stricker kick)

E — Dustin Nettles 15 run (Kilian Burris kick)

E — Nettles 71 punt return (Burris kick)

Third quarter

E — Nettles 6 run (Burris kick)

Fourth quarter

CR — Pearson 1 run (Stricker kick)

Overtime

FG, Stricker 26

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Eve: Jevauhn Hampton 18-114, Dustin Nettles 8-59, Peyton Monda 3-33, Tristan Fich 1-1, K’avossa Stevenson 2-0. CR: Hunter Pearson 29-200, Koben Jamison 10-41, Kolby Rabitoy 3-6, Anthony Jenkins 4-(minus-12).

PASSING — Eve: Peyton Monda 6-10-40; CR: Anthony Jenkins 4-8-30.

RECEIVING — Eve: Javauhn Hampton 2-6, Dustin Nettles 2-35, K’avossia Stevenson 1-0; Jonathan Speiring 1-(minus-1). CR: Koben Jamison 2-7, Nathan Kunz 1-15, Dakota Mason 1-8.