Through the first five weeks of the high school football season, Twin Harbors teams have experienced about every type of win and loss. From blocked punts to set up game-winning touchdowns to rolling past opponents, the outcome of Friday night can be felt on Saturday morning.
“There is still work to do, you just wake up feeling a little better the next morning,” Hoquiam coach Rick Moore said.
A win last Friday made for a little more energy in practice this week for several of the teams around the Twin Harbors.
“I do see a bounce in our step,” Elma coach Ron Clark said after the Eagles won their first game this season with a 50-36 win over Rochester on Friday. “We’ve had good practices so far this week.”
After losing to Chehalis last week, Aberdeen looks to get back to .500 on the season when they travel to Tumwater Stadium to take on Black Hills.
Hoquiam got back in the win column last week and will look to begin a win streak when they head to Davis Field to clash with Elma.
Montesano remains the only unbeaten Twin Harbors team at 5-0. The Bulldogs will take their perfect record on the road to R.A. Long.
ABERDEEN-BLACK HILLS
Aberdeen (0-1, 2-3) struggled to contain Chehalis’ run game last week and will be challenged with another potent rushing attack on Friday.
“We don’t have any easy games,” Aberdeen coach Kevin Ridout said. “(Black Hills’) offensive line is huge. They are 300 pounds across the board. If they get their paws on you, it is a tough thing to escape. We just have to be active and get in the gaps and use our athleticism.”
Black Hills (1-0, 3-2) has literally ran past its last three opponents. In a 49-14 win over Centralia last week, The Wolves one-two punch of senior running back Conner Furu and sophomore running back Jaden Toussaint combined for 381 yards and six touchdowns. Furu and Toussaint, together, have racked up 1,251 yards and 21 touchdowns over five games this season.
“We need to play disciplined and not make a lot of mistakes along the road,” Ridout said. “They want to run the fly sweep and use their speed guys inside on zone read. They will do counter and they are just trying to hit lanes. When they hit lanes, they are gone, so we have to make sure there aren’t any lanes for them.”
Aberdeen’s best offensive weapons continue to be running back Kylan Touch and receiver Braden Castleberry-Taylor, but Ridout said he has been encouraged by the efforts of several other players to take an increased roll in the offense. However, there will still be plenty of pressure on Touch’s shoulders to get the wheels started on the Bobcat scoring machine.
“They aren’t giving up anything long, but they are giving up plays underneath so we just have to take what is there and work our way down the field,” Ridout said. “We have to be able to run the ball and get some movement. We have to be smart about it and we have to look at what they do and utilize that. And not make mistakes, extend series and not just be three-and-out.”
The Bobcats contest against Black Hills is the first of three straight road games for Aberdeen. While the Bobcats may not be suiting up in familiar lockers, Ridout said the preparation for the games away from Stewart Field isn’t any different.
“When 5:35 p.m. rolls around, our special teams are out (on the field),” Ridout said. “It is no different.”
HOQUIAM-ELMA
Hoquiam (1-0, 3-2) started its Evergreen 1A League schedule with a 41-14 drubbing of Tenino last week. On Friday, Elma will host the Grizzlies to start its league schedule.
The Eagles (1-4) notched their first win this season with a 50-36 defeat over Rochester last week. The contest was a bit of a showcase for seniors Brandon Butcher and Ira Hartford. Butcher racked up 160 yards of offense and three touchdowns, while Hartford rushed to 218 yards and three touchdowns. Hartford has been the catalyst of the Eagles’ wing-T offense this season with between 20 and 30 rushing attempts in each game.
“I was around (the wing-T) for 18 years when I was at Aberdeen so that is the offense I probably know best,” Moore said. “It gives me an opportunity to prepare for it and then it comes down to the kids. We have to be playing up on the balls of our feet and be ready to react.”
The Elma defense will be tasked with limiting an explosive Grizzly attack that has been able to move the ball through the air and on the ground this season. Hoquiam’s Artimus Johnson showed some of the balance the Grizzlies’ offense offers last Friday. The senior rushed for 128 yards in the first half and caught two passes for 76 yards on the night. Overall, the Grizzlies rushed for 237 yards and passed for 172 yards.
“To stop their offense, you have to put pressure and move the quarterback,” Clark said. “However, (Hoquiam quarterback Gregory Dick) is much better than last year at moving and play making. Also, you need to account for (Johnson) as well.”
“We have to control the ball and line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” Moore said. “We have to be able to use the clock in our favor and be able to stop them when there is a sudden change and give the ball back to our offense. We just want to stay as balanced as we can, as any offense would. It is just go in with a set of plays and a plan and try to execute that plan.”
Moore cited Jack Adams III, Ryan Espedal and Payton Quintanilla for their performance against Tenino.
OTHER GAMES
While Montesano looks to keep its overall record perfect. Raymond travels to Ilwaco to see which team will keep its Coastal Division record perfect at 2-0. South Bend will travel to Pe Ell to renew a rivalry with Pe Ell-Willapa Valley, while Ocosta travels to Oyehut to face North Beach in a battle of the beaches.
