With defending league champion and preseason favorite Washougal having its back against the wall in the 2A Greater St. Helens League playoff race, head coach Dave Hajek and his coaching staff went back to basics.
As part of the preparation for the team’s eventual 55-14 victory over previously unbeaten Hudson’s Bay on Friday at Kiggins Bowl, Hajek decided to do a lesson in simplicity.
“When things aren’t going well,” Hajek said, “you go back to basics. And that’s what we did.”
For the Panthers, things weren’t going well in the slightest. They lost two of their first league games — both at home to Woodland and Ridgefield — and entered Friday in a must-win situation when it came to postseason implications.
It worked. Washougal scored touchdowns on its first seven drives, including a quick six-play, 48-yard drive that took 2:59 off the clock to open the game. The running clock was enforced with 3:03 left in the third quarter and Washougal leading 55-14.
It continues what’s been a crazy 2A GSHL season. Three teams are now tied atop the league standings at 3-1 — Hudson’s Bay, Woodland and Ridgefield. Another three — Washougal, Columbia River and Hockinson — are tied at 2-2.
After facing last-place R.A. Long on Friday, Washougal will finish the regular season against Columbia River and then Hockinson.
Hockinson defense shines
As impressive as the offensive line played in Hockinson’s 28-7 win over Columbia River, the Hawks’ defense also stepped up big, head coach Clint LeCount said.
It started early when Hockinson got a fourth-down stop on River’s first possession to set up the offense with good field position to take an early lead.
And after the offense took a 28-7 lead in the third quarter, the Hockinson defense made sure River could not mount a comeback. Junior Carter Cameron had three second-half interceptions.
“(River) kind of had some tendencies formation-wide, so we just hammered on those all week with the kids,” LeCount said. “They responded really, really well. We had some huge plays in the secondary by Carter Cameron. Obviously, he had three picks. But Gage Prepula made some huge plays on third down to knock down balls. And just stop any momentum they had.”
La Center works to stay healthy
With fewer than 40 players on the roster, La Center head coach John Lambert has been careful to protect his players, especially when so many play on offense and defense.
Jalen Ward saw his first heavy action on Saturday in a 33-19 win over Mount Baker as he’s been nursing a shoulder injury. Ward rushed 14 times for 108 yards and a touchdown.
“He was (banged up) the last couple of weeks, so we didn’t have him run much,” Lambert said. “Against Connell, he played one play. Last week (against King’s Way Christian), he got a couple of touches. We just really wanted him to be healed up and be able to run like he did today.”
Junior Isaac Chromey played Saturday with his hand in a cast with a broken thumb, but still ran for 88 yards — 59 came on back-to-back carries in the fourth quarter.
Junior Kaden Emerson added 93 yards on nine carries as the Wildcats worked to lessen the load on do-it-all quarterback Houston Coyle.
“Those two guys (Ward and Chromey) are a great combination in the backfield,” Lambert said. “Isaac, with the broken thumb, he’ll be out of the cast in a couple of weeks. But it was nice to get that 1-2 punch back. And then throw in Kaden (Emerson), our wing, who runs the ball really well on our sweeps and sometimes inside on our counters. It’s nice because we try not to tax Houston too much.”
Streak ends for Kennedy
When Skyview quarterback Jake Kennedy checked out of Saturday’s 56-0 win over Kentwood in the second quarter and Skyview leading 35-0, the senior was 10-for-10 passing for 168 yards and three touchdowns.
He looked to have his second straight game of perfect passing. Kennedy was 12 for 12 for 146 yards and two touchdowns the previous week against Heritage.
But in the third quarter, Skyview backup quarterback James Poindexter had to leave the game for a play after his helmet came. Kennedy stepped back in for one play.
Kennedy threw a pass toward the sideline. It fell incomplete, then Kennedy left the game, finishing 10 for 11 passing.
One quarter and done
Aiden Nicholson did all he needed in just one quarter to help Mountain View take control in a 48-0 win over Prairie.
The senior caught four passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, including a 86-yard touchdown on Mountain View’s first drive.
Nicholson was the target of quarterback Cash Cook’s first four passes. His 29-yard touchdown capped Mountain View’s second drive as the Thunder dashed to a 20-0 first-quarter lead.
At that point, Thunder head coach Aaron Hart opted to rest Nicholson for the final three quarters. The senior has been dealing with a minor ankle injury that limited him to one catch the previous week.
