WOODLAND—Friday night’s matchup between 2A GSHL champion Woodland and KingCo Lake top dog Cedarcrest was guaranteed to see a team at the top of their league eliminated before the state playoffs.
Unfortunately for the host Beavers, it was Woodland that succumbed to the Red Wolves 34-14 at Beaver Stadium Friday.
Woodland started strong but hit a turnover rut it couldn’t dig itself out of.
The Beavers lost three fumbles, threw an interception and turned the ball over on downs six times.
Woodland’s vaunted defense that vaulted the Beavers to a second-straight league title came up with four turnovers to stay competitive, but the Red Wolves found enough offense to hold off the home team.
“Credit to them, they did what they had to do, but we didn’t put ourselves in a position to win,” Woodland coach Glen Flanagan said. “Turned it over a few too many times and didn’t take advantage of our opportunities and we gave up some big ones from our defense.”
Woodland struck paydirt on its opening drive when two-way star Elijah Andersen found Will Clemens over the middle for a 30-yard score.
Clemens and Treyton Busig killed Cedarcrest’s opening drive with a sack, but the Red Wolves turned two straight lost Woodland fumbles into consecutive scoring drives to take a 14-7 lead.
Andersen made an acrobatic interception off a tipped Cedarcrest pass following a 3-and-out, but three straight Woodland turnovers on offense kept the score 14-7 into halftime.
Cedarcrest orchestrated a tone-setting opening third quarter drive and got a 1-yard touchdown run from Dylan Hartje to take a 21-7 lead.
Woodland’s next offensive response came with 4:48 left after Michael Belvin’s diving interception gave the Beavers a glimmer of hope.
Andersen hit Chase Hall on a 12-yard dart that appeared to hit the ground but was ruled a touchdown by the officials.
But Cedarcrest put the game away with a 17-yard touchdown run by Hartje and a 34-yard scoring run by Connor Altmyer.
“Not the way we wanted to end it but I’m proud of these guys,” Flanagan said. “Told them thank you for a great season and I’m sorry I couldn’t get them farther.”
“We told our guys, winning doesn’t always result in the scoreboard.”
Woodland finished its season 7-3 overall. Cedarcrest will learn its Round of 16 opponent Sunday.
CEDARCREST 34, WOODLAND 14
Cedarcrest 14 0 7 13—34
Woodland 7 0 0 7—14
First quarter
Wood—Will Clemens 30 pass from Elijah Andersen (Josiah Graham kick)
Cedar—Connor Altmyer 1 run (Callum Smyth kick)
Cedar—Murphy Vliem 15 pass from Altmyer (Smyth kick)
Third quarter
Cedar—Dylan Hartje 1 run (Smyth kick)
Fourth quarter
Wood—Chase Hall pass from Andersen (Graham kick)
Cedar—Hartje 17 run (kick blocked)
Cedar—Altmyer 34 run (Smyth kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Woodland: Elijah Andersen 21-75, Karsen Northcut 4-40, Will Clemens 2-7, Rory Hamilton 1-(-2), Josiah Graham 1-(-3). Cedarcrest: Luke Thompson 18-83, Dylan Hartje 19-128, Connor Altmyer 5-42.
PASSING—Woodland: Andersen 10-22-1-120, Hamilton 1-1-0-6. Cedarcrest: Altmyer 10-19-2-78.
RECEIVING—Woodland: Clemens 3-39, Hamilton 1-4, Zachary Young 2-15, Northcut 3-50, Chase Hall 1-12, Andersen 1-6. Cedarcrest: Isaac Sanchez-Godinez 1-8, Ryder Pettit 4-31, Reid Fiala 1-9, Murphy Vliem 2-22, Thompson 1-(-5), Jake Burton 1-12.
