Hudson’s Bay sinks Woodland with late field goal

In a few minutes, Nick Campbell’s roughly 50 teammates would either be ecstatic or somber.

It all depended on whether the Hudson’s Bay kicker could make a field goal in the game’s final seconds.

With dozens focused on him, Campbell also focused himself.

“I go isolate myself where nobody else is,” the senior said. “I just think about me kicking it.”

With 11 seconds left, Campbell’s 19-yard field goal from a tough angle was perfect. It gave Hudson’s Bay a 16-15 win over Woodland in a nonleague game Friday at Kiggins Bowl.

After Woodland’s one last-gasp play was stuffed, the Hudson’s Bay sideline erupted in celebration.

“Just to see the smiles on everybody’s faces makes me so happy,” Campbell said.

It was the second time this season Campbell has made a game-winning field goal for Hudson’s Bay (3-1). He nailed a 38-yard field goal in the final seconds of the Eagles’ 31-28 win over LaSalle in Week 1.

As crucial as Cambell’s kick was, Hudson’s Bay won largely because it refused to give up.

Not after its offense was stifled in a first half where the only scoring was a Woodland safety.

Not after Woodland’s Anthony Clifford answered an Eagles touchdown with an 85 yard kickoff return to put the Beavers ahead 15-6 late in the third quarter.

Not after Hudson’s Bay faced third-and-11 on their final drive from the 27-yard line. Brian Perez’s 17-yard pass to Julio Vara put the Eagles inside Campbell’s range.

That’s why Bay junior Toa Kaumatule credited the win to something larger than a particular play or strategy.

“Heart,” he said. “We come out with heart, passion and we finish.”

Hudson’s Bay was held to less than 100 yards of offense in the first half. But Vara said there was no panic in the locker room.

“We took deep breaths,” he said. “Calm down, it’s going to be OK. Then we came out, executed and got the job done.”

Woodland (1-3) was without star receiver Tyler Flanagan, who suffered a high ankle sprain last week against Hockinson. Yet quarterback Wyatt Harsh threw for 304 yards, completing 22 passes to six different receivers.

Harsh’s 5-yard pass to Wyatt Wooden put Woodland ahead 8-0 midway through the third quarter.

Bay responded quickly. Kaumatule’s broke off a 47-yard run on fourth-and-1 from midfield, then scored on a 1-yard run on fourth and goal to cut Woodland’s lead to 8-6.

But Clifford broke free down the left sideline on the ensuing kickoff to put Woodland ahead 15-6.

Yet Hudson’s Bay coach Ray Lions stayed focused on what his team does best.

“We have full faith and belief in what we’re doing, even though we’ve struggled at times,” Lions said. “We went back to that simple concept of doing what we do, spread the field, run the ball and get the ball to the playmakers.”

Marco Cadiz, perhaps the Eagles’ most dynamic playmaker, broke free for a 46-yard touchdown catch to cut the deficit to 15-13 with 7:21 to play.

The Hudson’s Bay defense came up with big plays to keep Woodland from extending its lead. First, Hudson’s Bay stripped the football from a Woodland receiver after Harsh had completed a 27-yard pass on third-and-20 from midfield.

Hudson’s Bay was forced to punt, giving Woodland the ball at its own 16 with 3:13 to play. Kaumatule then sacked Harsh at his own 7 on third-and-10.

A short punt gave Hudson’s Bay the ball at the 27 yard line with 2:09 to play. After Vara’s 17-yard catch on third-and-11, Myles Artis was forced out of bounds at the 1-yard line on third and goal.

That set up Campbell’s game-winning kick. The execution was flawless, which Lions credited to his team’s preparation for such crucial moments.

“We practice those things so we’re prepared for the moment,” Lions said. “When the moment comes, we’ve done it so much, it’s second nature.”

HUDSON’S BAY 16, WOODLAND 15

Woodland 0 2 13 0–15

Hudson’s Bay 0 0 6 10–16

Second quarter

W — Safety, Bay rusher tackled in end zone

Third quarter

W — Wyatt Wooden 5 pass from Wyatt Harsh (kick failed)

HB — Toa Kaumatule 1 run (run failed)

W — Anthony Clifford 85 kickoff return (Isaac Hall kick)

Fourth quarter

HB — Marco Cadiz 46 pass from Brian Perez (Nick Campbell kick)

HB — Campbell 19 FG

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Woodland: Anthony Clifford 3-6, Kenyon Guy 3-(minus-1), Wyatt Harsh 10-2, Christian Yager 1-0, Reid Hope 5-(minus-3). Hudson’s Bay: Marco Cadiz 17-13, Toa Kaumatule 3-49, Carter Morse 1-7, Brian Perez 4-(minus-9), Quadrese Teague 1-2.

PASSING — Woodland: Wyatt Harsh 22-33-1-304. Hudson’s Bay: Brian Perez 15-23-2-180.

RECEIVING — Woodland: Anthony Clifford 5-95, Alex Bishop 9-150, Kenyon Guy 1-3, Christian Yager 2-20, Tristin Harris 2-29, Wyatt Wooden 3-18. Hudson’s Bay: Julio Vara 7-70, Quadrese Teague 2-7, Myles Artis 2-34, Toa Kaumatule 1-8, Treyce Teague 1-7, Carter Morse 1-8, Marco Cadiz 1-46.