There is just one team left for Twin Harbors football in the 2016 season. Where has the season gone?
It was just yesterday when we were talking about season openers, new leagues and hope on the gridiron sprint eternal. Now, winter is on our doorstep.
Pe Ell-Willapa Valley is the only Twin Harbors team left on the gridiron, taking a state 2B quarterfinals berth for the third straight season. On Friday, the Titans will face rivals Napavine at Tiger Stadium in Centralia.
As for the rest of the Twin Harbors, it is basketball, wrestling and boys swimming season.
Looking back for a moment, there were plenty of games that stood out for each of the 10 Twin Harbors teams. Here is a list of them, not necessarily the best games, but the most memorable ones:
Aberdeen (35-12 win over Centralia in season finale) — The Bobcats marked their return to the Evergreen 2A Conference and the end of the season with a statement win over the Tigers at Stewart Field. Kylan Touch finished with 258 yards rushing and two touchdowns, plus a touchdown pass on a halfback option play, for Aberdeen.
Hoquiam (48-40 win over Class 2A Hockinson) — Down 26-6 at halftime, the Grizzlies scored 42 points in the second half to edge out the Hawks in an aerial showcase by both teams on Senior Night. Hoquiam’s Gregory Dick threw for 316 yards on 25-of-45 attempts, two touchdowns and one interception and ran for 161 yards and one touchdown (a game-clinching 98-yard scoring run). Hockinson’s Canon Racanelli bombed the Grizzlies’ secondary for 509 yards on 25-of-50 attempts, four touchdowns and one interception.
Montesano (20-14 win over Hoquiam) — The Bulldogs effectively clinched the Evergreen 1A League title by engineering a thrilling game-winning drive, an 80-yard march capped by a Trevor Ridgway-to-Nick Chapman touchdown pass in a torrential downpour from 28 yards out for the win with 12 seconds left. Harsh weather. Two rivals on a muddy field. Late drama. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Elma (46-38 3 OT loss to Forks) — This was Elma’s best performance of the season when it had its season riding on the line, including a district crossover berth. It was a tough season for Elma, but this was a bright spot, even in a loss. Junior quarterback Avery Brown threw for three touchdowns and ran for one more for the Eagles.
North Beach (24-7 win over South Bend) — Against a strong offensive Indians squad, the Hyaks showed off their defense to hold them to just 33 plays in the contest and three turnovers inside the 5-yard line. Also, North Beach ran for a season-high 392 yards in the game.
Pe Ell-Willapa Valley (42-24 win over North Beach) — The Titans have been known as a power running team and they showcased it against the Hyaks: three 100-yard rushers (Kaelin Jurek, Ever Gutierrez and Tyler Justice) in a win that clinched the Southwest Washington 2B Coastal Division title.
Raymond (16-14 win over Adna) — The regular season was just regular for the Gulls, who produced their showcase game in the district 2B crossover round against the Pirates. Kason Koski kicked three field goals, including the game-winner with 3 seconds left, for a dramatic win. Koski hit Jack Jordan for a 66-yard pass play to set up the game-winning field goal.
South Bend (72-37 win over Winlock) — No one knew it at the time, but the most points scored by a Twin Harbors team came in the opening week of the season. A.J. Sanchez rushed for 234 yards and scored three touchdowns, Ben Byington ran for 185 yards and five touchdowns and Jordan Dockter logged 78 yards and a score in the win.
Ocosta (58-8 win over Chief Leschi) — This was another rough year for the Wildcats. However, for one week, Ocosta was among the undefeated with its biggest scoring output of the season, led by Dereck Thomas’ four touchdowns (three rushing and one passing) and Paris Silver’s pick-six touchdown late in a win over the Warriors.
Taholah (44-32 win over Naselle) — For the Chitwhins, this was a one-game season — a Coastal 1B League title game against the Comets. Originally scheduled for a Friday night and postponed by the “storm,” Taholah got six touchdowns from Dylan James (three rushing, two passing and one reception) to clinch the league title.
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Editor’s Note: This is the final high school football picks column of the season. It has been enjoyable. It has been fun. It has been interesting. See you in 2017.
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Friday
State 2B Quarterfinals
Pe Ell-Willapa Valley Titans (9-2) vs. Napavine Tigers (11-0), Tiger Stadium, Centralia — These two rivals faced each other twice last season, the second time came in the state 2B semifinals at the Tacoma Dome, a 29-13 win. It is Wyatt Stanley vs. Kaelin Jurek. It is two shutdown defenses. It is two powerful offenses. It is two of the best pound-for-pound teams in Southwest Washington. This is going to be good. … Tigers 28, Titans 27.
Rob Burns: (360) 537-3926; rburns@thedailyworld.com; Twitter: @RobRVR
