During Evergreen’s 20-point fourth-quarter comeback Friday, fourth-down plays proved game-changing in its 40-35 victory over Mountain View.
Three of them, in fact.
Evergreen went 2 for 2 on fourth-down conversions two of its final three drives. First came Zyell Griffin’s 21-yard catch on fourth-and-5 following a timeout by head coach Christian Swain late in the third quarter when Evergreen trailed 35-20. That extended the drive leading to Derrick Webb’s third touchdown of the game.
Jaylen Fite’s fourth-and-12 catch came next that set up the Plainsmen inside the redzone. Three plays later came Webb’s 1-yard plunge that pull Evergreen within 35-34.
And finally, Tae Marks’ blocked punt on fourth-and 7 with 3:02 to go set up his go-ahead score — a 23-yard touchdown pass from Carter Monda — on a third-and-11 play with 1:36 remaining.
Marks had two catches Friday for 28 yards, but as for the blocked punt on fourth down and ensuing recovery?
“I gave it everything I had,” he said, “and when I saw (the ball) go down the field, that was the most joy I ever had.”
‘Herculean’ thrill
While linemen play a key role in any football team’s success, the big guys rarely score touchdowns.
So when Rocky Mataia got his chance in Union’s 56-7 win over Heritage on Friday, he wasn’t going to be denied.
With the ball on the 4-yard line, the 6-foot-3, 295-pound senior found himself in the backfield as part of the Titans’ “Hercules” jumbo running package.
He gained three yards on his first carry, then smashed across the goal line on the next play.
“I kind of froze the first time it was happening, but the second time when I ran it in, it was this really big boost,” Mataia said. “We had practiced this celebration, but the ref cut it short.”
Though the celebration was planned, Mataia didn’t expect to get a chance at running back. He said Union had practiced that play “only a couple of times.”
“It really just came out of nowhere,” he said. “They called the play “Hercules.” I never knew what it was. But they just put me in.
“I guess this was my time to shine.”
Crum the QB and punter
For the past few weeks, there’s been road construction near Hockinson High School. It’s made arriving to school on time a little tough for Hawks quarterback Levi Crum.
On the practice field, where Crum was pressed into punting duties this week, the senior was shining. With his arm and with his leg, he was impressing coach Rick Steele.
On Friday, he did the same in a 21-14 win over Kelso. Crum threw three touchdown passes, made his first high school defensive interception and hit a pair of punts inside the 20-yard line, including one that rolled to the Kelso 1.
It left fans with the same question Steele posed to Crum earlier in the week after seeing his quarterback punt:
“Is there anything you can’t do?”
Said Crum: “Well, I just can’t get to school on time.”
