La Center falls in 1A state football quarterfinal to Montesano, 21-10Updated 2 hours ago

WOODLAND — Many local 1A Trico League fans aspired to a semifinal matchup between No. 3 La Center and No. 2 Seton Catholic next week. But unfortunately for those fans and the Wildcats, La Center’s season ended in the quarterfinals with a 21-10 loss to Montesano at Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

The No. 6 Bulldogs controlled the pace for most of the game and exacted revenge for a 35-7 loss to La Center in Week 1 this season.

La Center’s season, meanwhile, came to an end after winning nine straight games to open the season, which was good enough to earn the Wildcats a first-round bye in the 1A state playoffs.

“The one thing about being in a good program is every season ends in a loss, unless you win the state title,” La Center coach John Lambert said. “These kids worked really hard for this and it’s disappointing for them, but Montesano played a great game.”

The Wildcats defense, playing on the turf of Woodland instead of their homefield natural grass, was on the field for most of the game.

That didn’t matter to La Center on the opening drive.

Montesano had driven into the redzone while facing a west end zone scoreboard that wasn’t operational Saturday, but Isaac Chromey picked off a deep pass and returned it 27 yards to the La Center 37-yard line.

The Wildcats turned the turnover into points on a 30-yard Nate Rembisz field goal and led 3-0 after a quarter.

Montesano responded with a 9-yard touchdown run by quarterback Tyson Perry to take a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.

Six minutes later, La Center responded when Wyatt Eiesland hit Parker McKinney on a well-timed slant route for a 56-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

The Wildcats led 10-7 at halftime.

But the second half belonged to the Bulldogs.

After La Center was forced to punt on its opening drive, Montesano marched 95 yards down the field and got a 10-yard Toren Crites rushing touchdown to take a 14-10 lead.

Montesano threatened to extend its lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but La Center’s defense came up with a goal-line stand to take over inside the 1-yard line.

After La Center went 3-and-out, Mason Klein’s interception gave La Center another redzone stop.

But a turnover on downs and a 15-yard forward pitch from Perry to Crites put the game away for Montesano.

La Center finished its season 9-2 overall.

The Bulldogs (9-3) will take on the winner of No. 2 Seton Catholic and No. 7 Life Christian in next Saturday’s semifinals.

MONTESANO 21, LA CENTER 10

Montesano 0 7 7 7 — 21

La Center 3 7 0 0 — 10

First quarter

LC — Nate Rembisz 30 FG

Second quarter

Monte — Tyson Perry 9 run (Cristofer Tobar kick)

LC — Parker McKinney 56 pass from Wyatt Eiesland (Rembisz kick)

Third quarter

Monte — Toren Crites 10 run (Tobar kick)

Fourth quarter

Monte — Crites 15 pass from Perry (Tobar kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — La Center: Isaac Chromey 12-63, Wyatt Eiesland 5-2, Kaden Emerson 1-7, Houston Coyle 1-4. Montesano: Tyson Perry 11-40, Toren Crites 6-42, Terek Gunter 5-10, Zachary Timmons 8-78, Gabe Pyhala 4-4.

PASSING — La Center: Eiesland 11-25-1-157. Montesano: Perry 18-28-3-188.

RECEIVING — La Center: Coyle 4-47, Parker McKinney 4-97, Landen Randall 1-13, Chromey 1-(minus-2). Montesano: Crites 9-56, Mason Rasmussen 5-54, Marcus Hale-Espana 3-29, Timmons 1-35, Gunter 1-24, Kole Kjesbu 1-0.