WASHOUGAL — A year older and wiser, the Washougal football team felt quietly confident about their defense’s potential entering a new season.
In the process of earning an 8-6 win over Class 3A Mountain View on Friday night at Fishback Stadium, the Panthers showed everyone else why.
Washougal got the upper hand of a defensive slugfest by holding Mountain View scoreless in the second half. Plus, the Panthers won the turnover battle with three interceptions — all from senior safety Elijah Franco, including the game-sealing pick with less than a minute remaining as the Thunder attempted to set up a game-winning field goal.
“Our defensive coaches did a great job of preparing,” Washougal coach Dave Hajek said. “We kind of feel like our defense was a little bit overlooked going into the season, but we return a lot of defensive players. Our defense last year had its ups and downs. This year, they’re doing a great job.”
Washougal had its hands full with a high-powered Mountain View rushing attack led by senior Jaden Brown (119 all-purpose yards) and five senior offensive linemen.
Yet the Panthers stood tall at the line of scrimmage with three tackles for loss from defensive tackle Cody Jacobus, linebacker Ben Kellar and defensive end Travis Lundberg. And, aside Mountain View’s lone scoring drive in the second quarter, ending in a Caden Reinebach 13-yard touchdown reception thrown by Cashton Liedtke, the Panthers limited the Thunder to 72 passing yards.
“Rallying to the ball, everyone was there,” said Franco, who sported Washougal’s “turnover belt” on his shoulder pads postgame for his trifecta of interceptions. “We just rallied to the ball, everyone (gave) 100 percent every play and that was great for our defense. Proud of the guys.”
The season-opening win marked the first step toward Washougal finding a new identity, particularly on the offensive side of the ball after graduating a decorated senior class led by three-year starting quarterback Holden Bea and receiver Sam Evers.
The most promising sequence came midway through the second quarter when senior quarterback Kaden Fautt found a rhythm with receivers Brandon Austenfeld, Royce Jones and Casey Crosby on three consecutive plays to move the chains.
The very next play, Kellar, who got the start at running back in place of injured senior Mercy Johnston, found a wide lane between the tackles and outran the Thunder defense for a 43-yard touchdown. Adding on a Franco two-point conversion run, the Panthers’ lead stood for the remainder of the game.
“I got the ball and the linemen (created) a massive hole,” Kellar said. “I got past them and it was wide open.”
Kellar, in fact, had his junior year cut short with a season-ending knee injury just two games in. He made an immediate impact in his return Friday.
“I was a little nervous, not knowing if I’d play well, but it was better than I thought,” Kellar said. “I had a great time.”
“He’s still got it in him,” Franco added.
The Panthers, too, felt like underdogs as a 2A school playing against the 3A Thunder and first-year head coach Sean McDonald in his debut after leading Woodland to a 2A Greater St. Helens League title last season.
Washougal coaches used the perceived disparity as a source of motivation and players responded to the challenge.
“We lost a great group last (year). We’re trying to learn how to be leaders, and I think we took a huge step with that tonight,” Hajek said. “More than anything, just in the way we came out ready to play.”
WASHOUGAL 8, MOUNTAIN VIEW 6
Mtn. View 0 6 0 0—6
Washougal 0 8 0 0—8
Second quarter
W — Ben Kellar 43 run (Elijah Franco two-point conversion run)
MV — Caden Reinebach 13 pass from Cashton Liedtke (kick failed)
Individual statistics
RUSHING — Mountain View: Jaden Brown 20-87, Christiaan Meushaw 2-11, Bryson Vance 2-3, Cashton Liedtke 1-1, Dylan Huber 1-2, Quinn Mercer 1-(minus 2), Team 2-(minus 43); Washougal: Ben Kellar 8-50, Elijah Franco 5-3, Kaden Fautt 5-(minus 8), Hunter Miller 2-0, Parker Cherry 1-(minus 5), Team 2-(minus 2).
PASSING — Mountain View: Bryson Vance 7-16-3-52, Cashton Liedtke 3-6-0-20; Washougal: Kaden Fautt 12-16-0-94.
RECEIVING — Mountain View: Jaden Brown 6-32, Caden Reinebach 2-21, Dylan Huber 1-10, Tre’von Hughes-Farmer 1-9; Washougal: Parker Cherry 4-31, Brandon Austenfeld 1-15, Royce Jones 1-19, Casey Crosby 2-19, Hunter Miller 1-6, Ben Kellar 2-1, Travis Lundberg 1-3.
