ADNA — It is only a seven-member senior class. Yet they have been through plenty of turbulence throughout their four-year career for the Adna High School football team.
They’ve had three head coaches in that span. They haven’t had a winning season. Only once did this group finish with a winning league record and a top-three finish. There have been more lows than highs.
No bigger high took place then on Thursday night in front of a packed house on senior night.
Fueled by the ground game of Beau Miller and Luke Mohney and three interceptions from Jack Smith, the Pirates won a muddy slugfest over Pe Ell/Willapa Valley 14-0 in the regular season finale that locks up second place in the C2BL West and a home crossover game next week.
“There’s nothing more I can ask for,” Smith said. “We’ve all been there for each other. It is unreal how far we’ve come and we’re this (close) from (being) state bound.”
Adna will welcome Rainier for the crossover round either next Friday or Saturday with the winner slotting into the 16-team state bracket. After honoring the seniors pregame, they’ll get one more chance to play at home.
Which head coach Aaron Cochran believes is fitting for that small, but impactful, Class of 2025.
“This senior class has been through a lot of adversity,” Adna’s second-year head coach said. “They’re special kids.”
Smith was the star of a defense that turned PWV over five times, had a pair of three-and-outs and one turnover on downs. The first interception from the cornerback was jumping a hitch route and snagging it.
The other two were in the right place at the right time. Both came on the Titans’ last two offensive possessions.
“I had the feeling that it was my time; I had to get it done,” Smith said. “We needed to understand we are a great football team. Once we realized that, we took the next step.”
Despite the miscues and missing star tailback Cody Strozyk, PWV (5-4, 3-2 C2BL West) still was within one score for 45-plus minutes. All but one drive began on its side of at least the 25-yard line.
The Titans ran a total of eight plays in their opponents territory. None of them were in the red zone.
Still, considering the elements and their primary offensive weapon out of the game, interim head coach Josh Seymour didn’t leave unhappy.
“There were things we didn’t quite execute and it is a little hard,” Seymour said. “Turnovers cost us, gotta take care of the ball, especially when it is wet like that.”
Adna (6-3, 4-1) used inside zones and counters that tormented the ‘B’ and ‘C’ gaps. Mohney accumulated a game-high 160 yards and Miller chipped in 137 yards. The former had four carries of at least 20-yard scampers.
Cochran views the offensive line as the main weapon of the Pirates. They, in both coaches' minds afterwards, won the battle in the trenches.
Mohney dashed 11 yards for the opening touchdown with 9 minutes, 21 seconds left in the second period. Miller sealed the game with a 20-yard burst with 2:30 remaining in regulation.
“We lean on those guys, all five of them, and Gavan Muller (TE) had a great second half blocking-wise. Oryn Nelson, our fullback, those two are part of the offensive line,” Cochran said. “Our offensive line is going to give us a chance, we’ve done it all year.”
PWV passed 16 times to 15 carries. Lucas Lusk, the sophomore tasked as the top running back, finished with just 14 yards while receiver Blaine King ended the night with 57 yards on six catches.
The Titans were gifted a fumbled snap by Adna on theory own 1-yard line, only for them to fumble the first snap afterwards and fall on it in the end zone for a Pirates safety.
Now, PWV has to hit the road to get past the crossover round. It is something Seymour is far from worried about.
“You don’t know how guys will react to having to step up, but we played our hearts out,” he said. “We gave ourselves a chance. We got plenty of guys who want to fight and want to be a state playoff team.”
Cash Smith, Steven O’Dell, Naillon Ramirez and Gavan Muller all registered at least four tackles for Adna. Rainier provides a test for the Pirates with Hunter Howell as a do-it-all type of player and Jake Meldrum at quarterback.
Adna hasn’t reached over six wins since winning eight games in 2019. This group is two victories away from hitting that mark.
“I’ve never been prouder,” Jack Smith said. “We got a pretty good shot at making it farther. We’re ready.”
