Skyview’s defense put in a team effort to shut out Jesuit of Beaverton, Ore., 28-0 on Friday.
“I think Kaden Hamlin, No. 11, the linebacker, played well,” head coach Steve Kizer said. “I thought both the outside linebackers and the inside linebackers were good. … And the defensive backs played well and the defensive line contained (Jesuit quarterback Trey Cleeland). He’s pretty elusive.”
Kizer was also glad to have senior cornerback Jerrid Secor back on the field. Secor seemed to be everywhere Friday, returning an interception for a touchdown, recovering a Skyview fumble on a punt to maintain possession, and separating Jesuit receiver Jace Burton from the ball with a big hit, although the officials ruled Burton down by contact.
“We missed him last year,” Kizer said. “He got hurt in Game 2, so it was great to have him back.”
Bauman brothers lead Bay
The Heritage Timberwolves might have had a better chance to beat Hudson’s Bay on Friday if they could have stopped that running back named Bauman.
Or that other running back named Bauman.
Brothers Rafael and Aqeel Bauman each had long touchdowns runs in the third quarter to help Bay pull away for a 31-7 win at Kiggins Bowl.
“They’re great kids, and they do a great job,” Bay head coach Mark Oliverio said. “And they both work super, super hard.”
The Eagles held just a 10-7 lead at halftime when Rafeal, a senior, broke a 75-yard touchdown run on Bay’s first offensive play of the second half.
Two possessions later, Aqeel, a sophomore, broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown run to put the Eagles up 24-7. Aqeel finished with three touchdowns on the night.
Thunder flash big-play potential
Though he didn’t find the end zone, Akili Kamau played a significant role in boosting Mountain View’s big-play potential Friday against Nooksack Valley.
The speedy senior set up the Thunder’s first touchdown, returning a kickoff 55 yards to Nooksack Valley’s 30. Two plays later, Aiden Nicholson reeled in a 27-yard pass from Cash Cook to tie the game 7-7.
On Mountain View’s first drive of the second half, Kamau caught a short pass in the flat, juked a defender and took off down the sideline. He was pushed out at the 8-yard line after gaining 61 yards.
A second-team all-league all-purpose/kick returner last year, Kamau finished with five catches for 104 yards. He was one of two Thunder receivers to break the century mark as Nicholson had 139 yards on six catches.
Though Mountain View lost 35-21, the Thunder showed they can break off big yardage. The Thunder had six plays of 25 yards or more.
Alvarez-Cruze is (almost) back
If fans were wondering where Jose Alvarez-Cruze was during Washougal’s 45-8 season-opening victory over 3A River Ridge on Thursday, he was there — just on the sideline.
Initially, the Panthers’ reigning all-league left tackle elected to retire from high school football following a neck injury at last fall’s 2A state playoff game against Highline. Alvarez-Cruze took a hard hit and left in an ambulance for a local hospital in what turned out to be Highline’s 30-27 victory to end Washougal’s season at 9-2.
However, just days into practices for the 2023 season, Panthers coach Dave Hajek said the senior had a change of heart and wanted to return to the game. As soon as Alvarez-Cruze has enough practices, the coach said, expect the tackle to be back on the field.
Wildcats flex their physicality
La Center had a hunch its physicality would prevail in a non-league matchup against 2A Hockinson. The Wildcats were proven right.
The starting offensive line of Ryan Kawalek, Lincoln Cooley, Jack Tyler, Mason Klein and Wyatt Eiesland opened up big running lanes for La Center’s ball-carriers en route to nearly 200 rushing yards in a 43-7 win at Hockinson. Senior running back Jalen Ward led the way with 68 yards, including a 24-yard rushing score.
“Even though we got a pretty small o-line, we like to keep everybody moving and make sure we stick with our guy,” Eiesland said. “There’s a couple double teams, but we always move on to other guys, just really do our jobs and secure people.”
With a 40-0 lead in hand heading to halftime, La Center was afforded the opportunity to bring in backups and shuffle around positions. Even Kawalek, La Center’s highly touted senior left tackle who’s committed to Idaho, took a few snaps at center.
Update on injured Titans QB
Union expects to learn more this week about the injury severity to senior quarterback Mitch Ratigan, interim coach Kevin Coad said.
Ratigan went down on the third play of the Titans’ eventual 40-0 loss to 3A O’Dea on Friday with an apparent knee injury.
Jake Cole and Blake McDonald split reps at quarterback the remainder of the game for the Titans.
Union travels to defending 3A state champion Yelm, which topped Camas 8-7 last week, on Friday.
