When the season is on the line and a state-tournament berth is at stake, you go with what got you there.
That’s precisely what the Montesano Bulldogs did in a 42-20 1A Southwest District playoff victory over La Center on Friday at Woodland High School.
Behind a 200-plus yard rushing performance and four touchdowns from senior running back Isaiah Pierce, the Bulldogs are on their way to the 1A State Football Tournament once again.
“It’s big for us,” Pierce said of the win, which propelled Montesano into the state tournament and kept alive a winning streak over the Wildcats that dates back to 2004. “We knew (La Center) was going to compete tonight, so we had to fire out. … We were coming down to their turf. We worked hard for this all week, so I think we deserve it.”
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano quarterback Jayden McElravy carries for a first down against the La Center Wildcats in a 1A play-in game on Friday in Woodland. Montesano advanced to the state tournament with a 42-20 victory over the Trico League champions.
Early on, the game appeared it would be a closer contest than the final score would eventually indicate as La Center (6-4 overall) took the opening possession and charged right downfield, going up 6-0 on a 10-yard screen pass from quarterback Darren Cepeda to running back Jalen Ward.
But Montesano (6-3), responded immediately, scoring on its second play from scrimmage when Pierce lined up as a slot receiver and caught a short pass from quarterback Jayden McElravy on a slant route and burst through the gut of the Wildcats defense for a 40-yard touchdown.
Monte’s Mateo Sanchez hit the extra point to give the Bulldogs a 7-6 lead.
As it turned out, it was a lead Monte would never relinquish.
After struggling to slow the Cats on La Center’s first drive, Montesano’s “Maroon Storm” defense settled in and held La Center to a punt, an interception by Caydon Lovell, a fumble that was recovered by Konnor Odekirk, a turnover on downs and a last-second Hail Mary attempt over the remainder of the first half.
The Bulldogs, on the other hand, had no troubles putting points up on the scoreboard.
Monte capped off its second possession of the game in similar fashion as it did the first, scoring when McElravy hit Pierce with another short, inside slant pass for a 35-yard touchdown with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Monte extended it’s lead when running back Jared Whisenhunt punched in a touchdown run from 2-yards out for a 21-6 lead with 8:36 left in the half.
After Montesano defensive lineman Gabe Bodwell recovered a Cepeda fumble and returned it to the La Center 11-yard line, the Bulldogs went up 28-6 after Pierce scored on a 4-yard run.
In the third quarter, Monte defensive back Bode Poler intercepted Cepeda and returned the ball to the Cats 4-yard line.
After a La Center penalty, Whisenhunt plowed into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown and a decisive 35-6 advantage.
The Cats tried to claw their way back into the game, scoring on a 9-yard Cepeda run to cut Monte’s lead to 35-12 and followed that up with an onside-kick recovery.
But a fumbled lateral pass on a fourth-down play gave the ball back to Monte and Pierce went back to work.
The First Team All-Evergreen League running back picked up 31 yards on a first-down run and two plays later put the game away with a 7-yard touchdown scamper, his fourth touchdown of the game and a 42-12 lead with 6:05 left.
Cepeda hooked up with receiver Colby Hylton for a 77-yard touchdown pass late in the game, but Monte was able to run out the clock and earn a trip to state with the 42-20 victory.
Montesano had 309 rushing yards, 208 of those by Pierce on 22 carries as the Bulldogs ground game consistently attacked the outer edges of the La Center defense.
“We try to figure out how teams are tying to play us and they were set up to stop our misdirection plays,” said Montesano head coach Terry Jensen, who noted it was likely the best game of the season for Monte’s offensive line. “So we felt comfortable trying to get outside and once Isaiah was able to open that up, we were able to run inside a little bit with Whiz (Whisenhunt) and Isaiah. We just got on a roll and just kept going.”
“Everyone was firing on all cylinders tonight,” Pierce said. “Perimeter blocking was great. They were doing what they could and I had to make it count because they were working their butts off.”
Whisenhunt added 28 yards on eight carries and a pair of touchdowns.
With Montesano’s rushing game working overtime, McElravy was only asked to pass the ball seven times in the game, completing four throws for 94 yards and the two touchdowns to Pierce.
Cepeda had 178 passing yards and two picks.
La Center’s Jalen Ward rushed for 84 yards on 15 carries with Cepeda carrying the ball 12 times for 72 yards, often taking off on a scramble as La Center receivers were blanketed by Monte’s pass defense.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano’s Jacob Salstrom (18), Spencer Coleman (51), Jayden McElravy (11), Konnor Odekirk (20) and Alex Delgado (75) celebrate after defeating La Center 42-20 on Friday at Woodland High School to advance to the 1A State Football Tournament.
As time ran off the clock, Montesano players and coaches erupted upon reaching the state playoffs after an atypical season for Monte, one that saw the Bulldogs lose three consecutive games and need a victory over Elma in the final week to earn a trip to the postseason.
“This is a special group, just because of all the adversity,” Jensen said. “All the exterior stuff (injuries, COVID) has been crap. But these kids have been so resilient and we’re just so proud of them. It’s just a great group of kids. I just love those guys.”
Montesano should find out its state seed and opponent on Sunday afternoon.
Montesano 14 14 7 7 — 42
La Center 6 0 0 14 — 20
