Owen Mereen caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Ethan Adams with 1:52 to play as Battle Ground rallied for a 37-30 win over Eisenhower of Yakima on Friday at District Stadium in Battle Ground.
Eisenhower opened the second quarter by scoring three consecutive touchdowns to take a 23-8 lead.
But Mereen’s first touchdown reception of the night — a 12-yard pass from Adams — cut the Tigers’ deficit to 23-21 in the third quarter. Quinten Overholser’s 2-yard touchdown run later in the third put Battle Ground up 28-23.
The Cadets reclaimed the lead on a 50-yard touchdown reception by Lawrence Joliffe with about eight minutes to go. But a bad snap into the end zone led to a safety for Battle Ground that tied the game 30-30 with 3:24 to play.
The Tigers took the ensuing possession and drove down for the winning score.
Adams finished with three touchdown passes, plus a touchdown run for Battle Ground.
KALAMA 34, WOODLAND 15 — Senior quarterback Aiden Brown rushed 18 times for 194 yards and four touchdowns, including scores of 62 and 52 yards. He also was 10 of 16 passing for 175 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown pass.
“The big plays killed us,” Woodland coach Glen Flanagan said.
Kalama raced out to a 22-0 lead before Woodland jumped on the scoreboard with a safety after a snap went over Brown’s head in the end zone.
Elijah Andersen, the reigning 2A GSHL MVP, was 8 of 13 passing for 61 yards and an 11-yard touchdown pass to Will Clemens. Andersen also rushed 23 times for 103 yards and a touchdown.
KELSO 44, MARK MORRIS 12 — Aden Mintonye rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns, and Zaden Hoover caught two touchdown passes and rushed for a third for the Hilanders.
Mintonye had both of his touchdowns in the first half and Hoover’s 6-yard touchdown catch from Tucker Amrine helped Kelso take a 23-6 halftime lead.
Hoover added 14-yard touchdown run and a 17-yard touchdown reception from Anders Dahl in the third quarter as the Hilanders pulled away.
LA CENTER 35, MONTESANO 7 — Wyatt Eiesland rushed for two touchdowns, threw a touchdown pass and returned an interception for a score as the Wildcats got an impressive road win to open the season.
Eiesland opened the scoring in the first quarter when he returned an interception 92 yards for a touchdown. His 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave La Center a 14-0 halftime lead.
The Wildcats extended their lead to 28-0 in the third quarter on another TD run by Eiesland and a 37-yard touchdown pass from Eiesland to Houston Coyle.
Isaac Chromey’s short touchdown run made it 35-0 for La Center in the fourth quarter.
KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN 14, ROCHESTER 6 — Ryan Charlton rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns, and the Knights defense came up with goal-line stand in the fourth quarter to win.
STEVENSON 47, RAINIER (Ore.) 16 — The Bulldogs opened the season with a solid road win.
COLUMBIA-WHITE SALMON 16, HOQUIAM 13 — Wongani Schlegel rushed for two touchdowns and the defense produced to first-half safety to edge out a road win.
