Let the games begin

By Rob Burns

For The Daily World

The football gods were just and fair when the master schedule for the Twin Harbors’ football teams was finalized. For those of us who wants to map out where we should go from the opening weekend to the final regular-season nights, the schedule has been almost tailor made for road trips and home cooking.

Unlike the past two seasons, there are a few more Saturday games to accommodate road trips throughout the season. This is perfect for the high school football fanatic who want to catch as many games and schools as possible.

It isn’t easy. If you follow this list you can get your football eyes on every local team by Oct 13. After that, it is gravy and it is the tasty homemade gravy your grandmother used to make.

So, with that in mind, here is a week-to-week look at the best games on paper for the 2018 football season. As of press time, Wishkah will field a football team and we took that into account. Keep in mind that schedules are subject to change, so it’s best to double check game times and locations before heading out.

With that being said: Here. We. Go.

August 31-Sept. 1

The start of the season hits Labor Day weekend and, for most schools, classes have begun. So, let’s put two of the biggest schools on Grays Harbor to the test – Montesano at Aberdeen (at Stewart Field) – on Friday. The Bulldogs are loaded and ready to go for another run into the state postseason. The Bobcats are working to rebuild and reestablish their historic pedigree. Last year, Monte’s special teams were indeed special in driving a 41-20 win over Aberdeen.

On Saturday, La Conner at Ocosta (at Griffin Field) will be a great chance for the Wildcats to get to play a winning note in front of their home crowd.

Sept. 7-8

The 113th meeting of the Aberdeen-Hoquiam rivalry (at Stewart Field) will dominate this weekend of football. There are several big games on Friday, Sept. 7, but this is the first big rivalry game of the season. Matt Brown, an offensive tackle, ran for a touchdown and threw for another to lead Hoquiam to a 14-12 win over Aberdeen at Olympic Stadium last year. Kylan Touch ran for two scores and 173 yards rushing for the Bobcats, who had two touchdowns and a PAT kick called back on penalties in the contest.

Also: Rochester at Elma (Battle of Highway 12) and Shelton at Montesano offer up two East County non-league tilts for those who don’t want to drive over to Stewart Field.

On Saturday, Sept. 8, head down to Menlo’s Crogstad Field to see Concrete at Pe Ell-Willapa Valley in an intriguing non-conference 2B matchup. Also, Willapa Valley will honor members of the 1978 and 1979 state championship teams at halftime. Thus, you get an intriguing game and history at halftime.

Sept. 13-14

Here is the lone Thursday afternoon contest on the schedule and it’ll get you into the mood for 8-man football – Washington State School for the Deaf at Wishkah (at Addison Field). This is the season opener for the Loggers, who were unable to field a team last year due to a lack of players. The last time Wishkah itself fielded a team was in 2013, an 8-3 campaign that sent the Loggers into the state 1B eight-man playoffs, where Lummi knocked them out, 57-22, at Stewart Field.

On Friday night, Aberdeen will finish its non-league run through the Evergreen 1A League with a visit to Elma.

Also, Montesano will be at home again to greet White Salmon. However, this night is the first of a Pacific County tripleheader – Pe Ell-Willapa Valley at Raymond – that will be contested in three of the next four weekends. The winner should hold the advantage for the SWW 2B Coastal Division title.

Sept. 21

Staying in the SWW 2B Coastal, the Battle of the Beaches will be the main event of this weekend – Ocosta at North Beach (Lt. Davis Field). The Wildcats and the Hyaks will be fighting for a win here to stay in the hunt for a district-to-state crossover berth. There will be a lot of motivation on both sides for a win. South Bend (hosting Ilwaco) and Taholah (hosting Crescent) will have key league matchups as well.

Sept. 27-29

The lone Thursday night contest is a road game for Elma at R.A. Long. It is a long trip, but a good test for the Eagles away from Evergreen League play. This is also the longest road trip for any Twin Harbors football fan I’ll recommend.

Speaking of Evergreen League play, Hoquiam will have a chance to clear a hurdle before its East County contests when it hosts Tenino at Olympic Stadium. Montesano will also be at home when Forks visits.

South Bend at Raymond is the second Pacific County tripleheader on Friday, setting up Raymond with a clear picture of how the SWW 2B Coastal will shape up. South Bend, with a win, can give itself a chance to sweep its rivals.

Oct. 5

This is a packed Friday night on the Twin Harbors, with key games everywhere.

To start, Hoquiam at Elma (at Davis Field) is an Evergreen League rivalry game that will set up the challenger for Montesano’s hold on the league title. Last year, the Grizzlies’ Matt Brown accounted for three touchdowns in a 35-14 win at Olympic Stadium.

Speaking of Montesano, it’ll host 2A Woodland at Rottle Field. Pe Ell-Willapa Valley at South Bend (at Millam Field) will finish the Pacific County tripleheader and, unless Raymond swept these teams earlier, could decide the No. 1 seed in the SWW 2B Coastal.

Also, Aberdeen will host Evergreen 2A Conference power Tumwater, Raymond takes on North Beach and Taholah will travel to Oakville in a key Coastal 8-Man League matchup.

Oct. 12-13

Here is another big Evergreen 1A tilt that will decide the league title: Montesano at Hoquiam (at Olympic Stadium). Last year, Monte’s Carson Klinger ran for 180 yards and a touchdown as the Bulldogs rolled to a 35-13 win over the Grizzlies en route to an undefeated season and an 11th consecutive state playoff berth. Hoquiam rebounded from the loss to qualify for state for the fifth time in the past six seasons.

On Saturday afternoon, Taholah will travel south to Addison Field to take on Wishkah Valley in a rivalry renewed for the first time since 2015 when Wishkah teamed up with Lake Quinault to form the Twin Valley Wolfpack.

Oct. 19-20

This weekend is the lull before the end of the regular season. The best games on paper will fall to Forks at Elma (at Davis Field) and Aberdeen at Rochester.

The Spartans-Eagles matchup will decide a postseason berth, while the Bobcats-Warriors contest will bring back memories (both good and bad) of the Evergreen 2A-1A League encounters.

Oct. 26-27

The final regular-season weekend will bring the East County Civil War – Elma vs. Montesano – to Rottle Field. Even if there is nothing on the line, this game has been competitive, fun experience. Last year, the Bulldogs won their 12th straight contest over the Eagles, one of the longest winning streaks in Twin Harbors rivalry history.

Pe Ell-Willapa Valley (against Ilwaco) and North Beach at South Bend are the only remaining home games for Twin Harbor teams on Friday night. Oakville at Wishkah (at Addison Field) will finish the 2018 regular season with a Saturday afternoon tilt.

The postseason, starting with the district crossover games, kicks off on Nov. 2-3 and will move through the state bracket until the semifinals (Nov. 24-25) at neutral sites and the state championships (Gridiron Classic) on Dec. 1-2 at the Tacoma Dome.

Good luck and health to everyone this season. See you on the sidelines.

Montesano’s Aydan Darst runs down the sidelines after catching a pass against Hoquiam at the Jamboree on Friday, Aug. 24. (Hasani Grayson | The Daily World)

Aberdeen’s Enrique Edmonds (18) and Colton Faulkner (29) combine for a tackle on Hoquiam’s Antonio Garcia at Montesano at the Jamboree on Friday, Aug 24. (Hasani Grayson | The Daily World)