WOODLAND — If there’s any doubt to the identity of the defending 2A Greater St. Helens League football champions, the Woodland Beavers answered it in a big way Friday night.
Woodland gave new head coach Glen Flanagan his first football-coaching victory behind a 12-0 shutout of Washougal to open 2A GSHL action.
Flanagan, also the school’s longtime girls basketball coach, got emotional postgame addressing players after the victory. For somebody who works, coaches and lives in the town he grew up in, Flanagan’s thoughts were of the Woodland community after the Beavers began the season 0-2.
They were on his mind again when players earned their first win of 2024.
“I want to do well for the town,” Flanagan said, “and I want the town to be proud of these kids.”
And proud, the coach was Friday. While Flanagan is the Beavers’ new head coach, he’s not an unfamiliar face on staff. He’s been the program’s longtime defensive coordinator under multiple coaching head-coaching administrations going back to the late 1990s. He continues to take on the coordinator’s role this season, and Friday’s performance only continued to show the coach and players what they’re capable of.
Woodland held Washougal to 102 total yards, including 36 in the first half when it raced out to a 12-0 halftime lead on consecutive clock-eating touchdown drives.
Woodland set the tone defensively from the get-go. It stopped Washougal for negative yards in two of its first three plays, eventually forcing three first-half punts.
It’s the first time the Panthers have been shutout in 25 games.
The work of the front-7, particularly the defensive line, was a focus all week in practice. Safety Elijah Andersen noted the defensive line’s improved aggressive play from the previous two weeks.
“We practiced all week trying to take on double teams,” said senior linebacker Seth Popp,” and making plays untouched. It really paid off tonight.”
Woodland’s two scores came via Elijah Andersen, the league’s reigning MVP, the opening two possessions Friday. The senior finished with 37 carries for 188 yards at quarterback. He also went 6 of 12 passing.
Andersen was the focal point of many opposing defenses in 2023 playing multiple offensive positions, but primarily has played quarterback through three games. He accounted for 70 percent of the Beavers’ offense Friday, and rarely left the field as he also played safety and was the team’s primary punt returner.
“I’m doing everything to keep my body healthy, so I can keep pushing forward,” Andersen said.
While the final 24 minutes were dominated by turnovers on downs, Washougal’s best drive led to a redzone turnover inside 3 minutes to play. Trailing 12-0 with 2:57 to go, Washougal had consecutive big-play catches by Royce Jones (five catches, 74 yards) to move 40 yards in 29 seconds. His 32-yard catch and run put Washougal at the Woodland 16 with 2:05 to play, but two plays later, Chase Hall hauled in Woodland’s second interception of the game.
The Beavers admitted their performances in early-season 1A losses to Kalama and La Center weren’t up to their typical standards. Playing aggressively not only was a focus for Woodland in its preparation for Washougal all week, but they’re keeping that attitude moving forward.
“We’re learning to fight back now,” Popp said.
Added Andersen: “We forgot what it means to have a ‘grit’ game. We’re figuring that back out again and playing Woodland football.”
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WOODLAND 12, WASHOUGAL 0
Wash 0 0 0 0 – 0
Wood 6 6 0 0 – 12
First quarter
W – Elijah Andersen 14 run (run failed)
Second quarter
W – Andersen 9 run (run failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — Washougal: Brandon Austenfeld 1-(minus-1), Mercy Johnston 9-28, Kaden Fautt 1-(minus-4), Travis Lundberg 1-2; Woodland: Karsen Northcut 14-56, Andersen 37-188, Michael Belvin 1-3, Team 1-(minus-5).
Passing — Washougal: Fautt 7-18-2-76; Andersen 6-12-0-40
Receiving — Washougal: Royce Jones 5-74, Austenfeld 1-1, Lundberg 1-1; Woodland: Northcut 3-31, Chase Hall 3-9.
