The Trico League is back.
The Class 1A league which returned to an eight-team league with reclassification had a great opening week, which included a Friday night in which Trico teams were unbeaten.
“John Lambert was saying he can’t remember the league going 7-0 on the first Friday of the season before,” Seton Catholic coach Dan Chase said, referring to his counterpart at La Center. “Like I said before, the Trico League is going to be tough this season. There are a lot of good teams this season.”
Chase’s Cougars did their part in the big opening for the Trico. Seton Catholic, a team known for its offense, put its defense on display in a 56-7 rout of Columbia River.
The Cougars got interceptions from Joe Callerame (two), Garrett Nebels and Owen Pitzer. Seton Catholic also blocked a punt and a field goal attempt.
The win was Seton’s first road win against a Class 2A opponent in school history.
La Center also made some history in its 35-7 win at Montesano on Friday.
It was the Wildcats’ first win over Monte since 2004. The Bulldogs won the last four meetings, scoring at least 41 points in all wins.
This time La Center shut out the Bulldogs until the fourth quarter.
Wyatt Eiesland got things going for La Center in the first quarter with a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown. The quarterback added two touchdown runs and a TD pass to Houston Coyle.
And don’t forget about the Kalama Chinooks, a newcomer to the league after eight season at 2B.
Quarterback Aiden Brown was back to his old tricks, passing for 175 yards and rushed for 194 yards and four touchdowns in 34-15 win over Woodland.
Elsewhere in the Trico, Castle Rock rolled over R.A. Long 34-8, King’s Way Christian used a fourth-quarter goal-line stand to beat Rochester 14-6, Stevenson rolled over Rainier of Oregon 48-16, Columbia-White Salmon held off Hoquiam 16-13.
Skid ends for Heritage
There was only one Trico team that lost in Week 1, and that was the Fort Vancouver Trappers.
But the Trappers’ 43-7 loss to Heritage ended the Timberwolves’ 20-game losing streak.
It was the first win for Kevin Peterson, who was hired as Heritage’s head coach 20 months ago.
“A lot of sacrifice and hard work by our kids,” Peterson said. “And over that 20 months, watching our program grow and the number of kids who have been coming out and showing up to workouts, it’s just been a nice culmination of those things to be finally be a winner.”
Sophomore Kahni Clark, who was thrust into the starting lineup because Heritage’s No. 1 running back was unavailable on Saturday, broke out with 254 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns.
Grinding win for Camas
At first glance, Camas’ 12-6 win over Roosevelt of Seattle seemed like a rough start for the Papermakers.
But Camas coach Adam Mathieson said in time, Camas fans will find out just how tough to the Roughriders are.
“After watching the game film for the 27th time, I just came away thinking about how good that team was, especially on defense,” Mathieson said. “I thought we had a pretty good defense. But I think maybe two of our guys would start on their defense.”
Beau Harlan, who scored one of Camas’ two touchdowns, said Roosevelt looked like a different team from last year with several key incoming transfers.
“We really didn’t know who we were going to play against,” Harlan said. “They were tough, but I guess we were tougher.”
First win vs. Union
Another defense that opened eyes on Friday played for Evergreen.
The Plainsmen shut out Union 18-0, notching their first win over the Titans in 13 meetings in school history.
And the shutout was especially meaningful for the Plainsmen and required a late stop on Union’s deepest drive into Evergreen territory.
“We had a game last year that I think really played a part (tonight),” senior defensive end Makhi Miller said. “There was a team last year we played them on 18 drives and they didn’t score. I think that pushed us this year to stop all them runs and passes and stuff. I just love my secondary because they’re dogs. And D-line, I love my brothers forever. It’s amazing.”
