MONTESANO — Scoring on its first and last plays, host Montesano emerged as the highly unofficial victor in the Grays Harbor Football Jamboree.
The Bulldogs rallied past Hoquiam, 21-14, and beat Elma, 14-0, in 20-play mini-games. The other two contests — Aberdeen vs. Hoquiam and Aberdeen vs. Elma — ended in 7-7 ties.
Scores weren’t officially recorded in the annual warm-up to the Harbor football season.
For the most part, offenses were ahead of the defenses, while placekickers batted a perfect 11-for-11 on extra points.
On the down side, the event also included a jamboree’s worst nightmare — an apparently serious injury. Hoquiam sophomore quarterback-defensive back Garrett Dick was taken off the field on a stretcher while playing defense against Montesano. A torn knee ligament is feared, according to HHS coach Jeremy McMillan.
Going on offense first, Hoquiam built a 14-0 lead against Montesano, courtesy of Sean McAllister’s 6-yard touchdown run and Jackson Folkers’ 13-yard pass to Francis Sweeney. Last year’s second-team quarterback, Folkers has converted to wide receiver this season and uncorked the TD pass after taking a lateral from QB Payton Quintanilla.
Naz Mazariegos booted both conversions.
But senior running back Carson Klinger broke a 40-yard touchdown run on Montesano’s first scrimmage play.
The Bulldogs tied it five plays later on quarterback Trevor Ridgway’s 12-yard scoring pass to Dakoyta Reninger.
Taking a pitch to the left, Klinger weaved cross-field on a 31-yard run for the deciding touchdown on Monte’s ninth scrimmage play. Jordan King converted all three PATs.
Klinger also tallied Montesano’s final touchdown of the night, on a 24-yard pass from Ridgway on the final play against Elma. Ridgway’s 10-yard keeper accounted for the first TD of that game.
Aberdeen ace running Kylan Touch went the distance on a stop-and-go 40-yard run and Giovanni Pisani kicked the extra point to forge the 7-7 deadlock with Hoquiam.
The Grizzlies had scored first on Quintanilla’s 7-yard pass to Folkers and Mazariegos’ PAT.
Elma waited until its final play before scoring against Aberdeen.
After sophomore Cody Vollan hit Tanner Krippelwicz on a 19-yard pass, Taitum Brumfield punched it in from less than a yard out. Alejandro Hernandez kicked the PAT.
Vollan completed all three of his passes in this contest for the young Eagles, who were plagued by several penalties.
The Bobcats equalized on Touch’s 22-yard run and Pisani’s kick.
The season opens for real next Friday, with Montesano visiting Aberdeen, Hoquiam traveling to Chehalis and Elma visiting Eatonville in non-leaguers.
