Saturday's State 2B Football: Loggers Hand Lake Roosevelt First Loss in State Opener

Posted

COULEE DAM — Onalaska wasn’t about to let it’s 284-mile road trip be for naught.

The Loggers took an early lead and held on late here Saturday afternoon, knocking off previously-unbeaten Lake Roosevelt, 28-24, in the first round of the State 2B football playoffs.

“We came across the state, played a higher seed and beat them,” Logger coach Mazen Saade said. “We went toe-to-toe and came away with a victory. That’s impressive.”

The win means Onalaska (8-3, No. 9 seed) will take on top-seeded, undefeated Adna in the quarterfinals.

Against Lake Roosevelt, the Loggers got on the board early with a 1-yard touchdown run from Hazen Inman and an 11-yard run from Lucas Kreger. Kreger completed conversion passes on both scores, staking Onalaska a 16-0 lead.

Lake Roosevelt answered with a 72-yard kickoff return from Cameron St. Pierre, but the Loggers answered with an Ashton Haight touchdown.

Haight finished with 33 carries for 163 yards, while senior Steven Flowers did most of the damage for Lake Roosevelt. Flowers hit 21 of 43 passes for 251 yards, and threw the first of his three touchdown passes in the second quarter.

Onalaska answered, with Kreger hitting Kyle Hamilton for an 18-yard touchdown and a 28-12 lead at halftime.

Lake Roosevelt finally closed the gap in the fourth quarter, with Flowers tossing his last two touchdown passes — the last of which glanced off a defensive back’s hands before being corralled for a score.

“This game could have been a lot different,” Saade said. “If we can improve those mental mistakes, that’s the big thing. It’s something we have to work on.”

The Loggers finished with 319 rushing yards. Cade Lawrence ran 12 times for 76 yards, Kreger added six carries for 44 yards and Inman ran 10 times for 36 yards.

“You never know how you’ll play travelling across the mountains, to travel to play anyone, anywhere,” Saade said. “I was impressed with how they came out after travelling across the state.”

The win moves the Loggers to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.

“Overall, I was real proud of the kids,” added Saade, noting that the Loggers haven’t been to the state quarterfinals since 2002. “They’re hyped. It’s a big thing for this community, and they showed great support for us. It’s awesome for these kids to experience it.”

Onalaska and Adna played on Oct. 19 in Onalaska, with the Pirates winning 27-8. A time and site has yet to be set for the quarterfinal matchup.

“They’re really good — the best team in the state,” Saade said. “We’ve got to prepare ourselves and get ready to play.”

Notes: Lake Roosevelt was 9-0 heading into Saturday’s game and won the Central Washington 2B League championship. The Raiders had given up just 41 points this season, and hadn’t given up more than 20 points in a game prior to Saturday. … Hunter Whitelaw led the Raiders with 10 catches for 118 yards.

NWC Comes From Behind to End PWV’s Season



CHATTAROY — The Titans went into halftime up 20-7 and in prime position to pull off an upset in the first round of State 2B football tournament.

Northwest Christian-Colbert, however, wasn’t ready for its season to end. The No. 7-seeded Crusaders scored 21 points in the third quarter and added the only points of the fourth to secure a 35-26 win here Saturday and end Pe Ell-Willapa Valley’s season.

“They played damn good. I don’t think Northwest Christian was expecting a team to come out like that,” PWV coach Josh Fluke said, noting that a few missed tackles and hiccups late in the game changed the outcome. “We had good defense and good offense. ... Overall, I’m proud of the team with how they played and the season.”

The Titans accumulated 431 yards on the ground. Peter Hamilton carried the load with 274 yards on 36 carries and two touchdowns and Max Smith logged 130 yards on 30 carries with two scores.

NWC’s star running back Silas Perreiah had 107 yards on 16 carries, but Eli Sander did most of the damage for the Crusaders, rushing for 147 yards on 10 carries with a kickoff return touchdown.

PWV outgained NWC, 480-302, but turnovers — including a fumble and three interceptions — doomed the Titans in the second half.

“Overall, it was tough getting the passing game going. They had a couple good DBs,” Fluke said. “Otherwise, I was proud of the offense. There were a couple turnovers that came back to haunt us and a couple of penalties. It could have been a better outcome for us.”

Smith had a pair of 2-yard touchdowns and Hamilton, who just recently returned from an injury that kept him out the bulk of the regular season, adding a 3-yard score.

Sander scored on a 62-yard run that cut PWV’s halftime lead to 20-7, then ran the third-quarter kickoff back 74 yards for a touchdown.

PWV tried to curb that momentum with a score on Hamilton’s second TD of the day on an 11-yard run, but Perreiah found paydirt on a 32-yard run and quarterback Jake Gray gave the Crusaders the lead by hitting Reed Loranger for a 32-yard score.

Perreiah’s 5-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter sealed the win for NWC.

On defense, Hamilton made 11 tackles and Logan Walker recovered a fumble.

PWV finished the season with an 8-3 overall record and another SWW 2B League Coastal Division championship, despite a handful of injuries.

“It was a damn good season,” Fluke said. “They overcame adversity pretty darn good. It was pretty darn good for what we put on the field.”

It was the final game for PWV seniors Matt Pearson, Carson Cox, Kiah Carter, Tommy Mills, Donnie Ward and Colton Nelson.

With Smith, Hamilton, quarterback Logan Walker and a core of young players returning next season, the future is bright for the Titans.

“It’s going to be good,” Fluke said. “We’re going to be right back in the mix next year.”