LA CENTER — Senior running back Wyatt Dodson rushed for 205 of his game-high 233 yards in the first half and scored three touchdowns as La Center clinched a playoff berth with a 38-12 win over Castle Rock on Friday.
The victory, coupled with Stevenson’s win over Columbia-White Salmon gives the Wildcats (4-5, 4-1) the league’s No. 2 seed in the 1A Trico League. La Center will play host to Elma, the Evergreen Conference’s No. 3 seed next week.
La Center came into the game not necessarily needing a win to advance, but according to Dodson the Wildcats were treating this as a must-win game.
“We wanted it, we wanted it bad”, Dodson said. “There was a chance we wouldn’t make it if we lost and (Columbia)-White Salmon won we’d go home. The effort was there on our team and their team but I think we just wanted it more.”
La Center came out of the gate red-hot, scoring touchdowns on three of its first four possessions. Dodson and sophomore quarterback Tom Lambert led the way on the ground with 113 and 44 yards respectively in the first quarter.
La Center’s defense also was in top form, holding Castle Rock to minus 5 yards of total offense and no first downs in the first half.
In the second half, Dodson was used as a decoy drawing most of the Rocket defenders out wide while Lambert snuck through the left side for big gains. Lambert would finish the game with 163 yards rushing and two scores.
The win marked the Wildcats’ fourth in their last five games after starting the season 0-4 due to a tough non-league schedule.
“We played those good teams at the start of the season … playing those 2A schools (Woodland and Hoquiam, both playoff-bound as well) really helps us get ready for (the) league (season),” Dodson said.
Castle Rock (3-6, 2-3) was led by sophomore running back Wyatt Partridge, who ran for 137 yards and both of the Rockets’ touchdowns.
“We’re ready, we’re excited”, Dodson said of the upcoming playoff game.
