Second half propels Hoquiam past Castle Rock, 50-22

CASTLE ROCK — Having met in the first game of the season, the Castle Rock Rockets looked to come out of Friday’s matchup with a different outcome against Hoquiam in the 1A district playoffs.

The first half was an even battle with the game being tied at 14 at the half.

The second half though would be all Hoquiam as they would out score Castle Rock 36-8, resulting in a final of 50-22.

Before the game even began, Castle Rock (7-3) was forced to make adjustments to their game plan as their starting quarterback Chance Naugle was out with a broken leg suffered in last week’s loss to La Center.

Freshman Chase Rusher started and give the Rockets some timely passes in the first half. Rusher would complete his only two attempts in the first half, one of which a 57-yard touchdown to Landon Gardner.

The second half would belong to Hoquiam.

The Grizzlies would lean heavily on their running back Malaki Eaton as he rushed 40 times for 226 yards and four touchdowns.

“They did a great job adjusting at half. It was basically zeroes starting the second half and they made some plays,” Castle Rock coach Aaron Gehring said. “We tried making plays ourselves but it just didn’t go our way.”

The Rockets would counter with their primary running back Wyatt Partridge, who rushed for 145 yards on 26 carries, but it wouldn’t be enough.

Despite the loss the Rockets still have a lot of positives come out of the season and lots of hope for next year.

“We’ve had a lot guys we’ve mixed in throughout the season knowing we would have those guys back,” Gehring said.

Gardner, who had two receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown, knows the team can improve in the offseason.

“We are going to get into the weight room and get stronger for next year,” he said.

HOQUIAM 50, CASTLE ROCK 22

Hoquiam 14 0 22 14–50

C. Rock 7 7 0 8–22

First quarter

H — Malaki Eaton 9 run (Trey Brydon kick)

CR — Wyatt Partridge 50 run (Paul Waldman kick)

H — Eaton 9 run (Brydon kick)

Second quarter

CR — Landon Gardner 57 pass from Chase Rusher (Waldman kick)

Third quarter

H — Eaton 9 run (run failed)

H — Dane McMillan 1 run (McMillan run)

H — Eaton 62 pass from McMillan (Camden Templer pass from McMillan)

Fourth quarter

H — Kyle Larsen 16 pass from McMillan (McMillan run)

CR — Partridge 34 run (Partridge run)

H — Eaton 10 run (run failed)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Hoquiam: Eaton 40-226, Ben Estes 4-15, McMillan 4-3, Bumstead 2-55. Castle Rock: Partridge 26-145, Austin McQuilliams 5-2, Rusher 4-2, Guerrero 2-(minus 1), Gardner 1-9.

PASSING — Hoquiam: McMillan 6-10-0-121; Castle Rock: Rusher 2-5-2-69, Partridge 1-1-0-15.

RECEIVING — Hoquiam: Cameron Bumstead 3-39, Matt Brown 1-4, Eaton 1-62, Larsen 1-16. Castle Rock: Coleman Guerrero 1-12, Gardner 2-72.