Montesano was effective in all areas of the game en route to a 45-0 East County Civil War victory over Elma on Friday at Jack Rottle Field in Montesano.

The Bulldogs (6-3 overall, 3-1 1A Evergreen) dominated from start to finish, scoring points on its first six possessions while holding the Eagles (4-5, 2-2) to just 80 yards of offense in the rout.

Montesano running backs Marcus Hale and Zach Timmons scored first-quarter touchdowns followed by an 11-yard scoring catch by receiver Mason Rasmussen from quarterback Tyson Perry early in the second quarter.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano wide receiver Mason Rasmussen (18) hauls in a catch against Elma defensive back Ethan Camus during the Bulldogs’ 45-0 win on Friday in Montesano.

Monte appeared to be going in for a fourth-consecutive touchdown drive until a small fracas broke out after a Bulldogs running play inside the Elma 5-yard line.

Monte was called for two dead ball, personal-foul penalties on the play – one of the rare Montesano mistakes made during the game – pushing the ball back 30 yards to the Eagles 33-yard line.

Bulldogs kicker Chris Tobar would cash in with a 31-yard field goal for a 24-0 lead at the 6:35 mark of the second quarter.

Nearly 2:30 later, Hale punched the ball across the line from a yard out to put Monte up 31-0 at halftime.

Hale scored his third touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run in the third quarter followed by a Kole Kjesbu 20-yard scoring run to go up 45-0 and start a running clock with 4:58 to play in the third.

Playing without starters in receiver Toren Crites and running back Terek Gunter due to injury, Montesano was sparked by a game-high 138 rushing yards by running back Zach Timmons and an efficient 11 for 15 passing for 122 yards from Perry.

The Bulldogs offense had 388 total yards, 266 of those on the ground.

The win likely means Montesano will host a first-round state playoff game as the No. 2 playoff seed out of the 1A Evergreen League when the WIAA announces the pairings on Sunday.

“We knew if we lost, we’d be on the road somewhere,” Monte head coach Terry Jensen said. “Not having Toren and Terek out there and having guys step up like Ashton McKinney and Zach Timmons – and a little package there with Marcus (Hale) down on the goal line – some guys just stepped up. It’s next man up and that’s what we tell them.”

Montesano’s defense held the Elma offense to 80 yards – 48 on the ground and 32 through the air – and collected two turnovers on a fumble recovery by linebacker Christian Morris and an interception by junior linebacker Royce Gourdin.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Elma quarterback Isaac McGaffey (3) is pressured by Montesano linebacker Christian Morris during the Bulldogs’ 45-0 win on Friday at Montesano High School.

“We had guys that stepped up big tonight,” Jensen said. “I thought we played outstanding defense. We controlled the line of scrimmage and that was a big factor. We were able to run the ball really well.”

Monte currently sits No. 8 in the WIAA RPI rankings and will host Colville in a 1A State Tournament first-round game at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Already dealing with injuries to starters Crites and Gunter, the Bulldogs may be without the services of Rasmussen, who injured his leg in the third quarter on Friday and did not re-enter the game.

Rasmussen was seen freely standing on the sideline in uniform in the second half, however, and will be re-evaluated throughout this week.

Jensen said Crites and Gunter have each made rapid progress in coming back from injury and hopes to have them available for the first round of the state playoffs.

“There’s a good chance we’re going to play on Saturday next week, so that will give them an extra day of rehab,” Jensen said. “They were in slings two days ago and right now they are out of their slings, so that’s good.”

Elma will enter the state tournament as the league’s No. 3 playoff seed and will face La Center in the first round of the state playoffs (time, date, location to be determined).

Elma 0 0 0 0 – 0

Montesano 14 17 14 0 – 45

Scoring

First quarter

M – Hale 2 run (Tobar kick), 7:20

M – Timmons 18 run (Tobar kick), 3:18

Second quarter

M – Rasmussen 11 pass from Perry (Tobar kick), 11:14

M – Tobar 31 field goal, 6:35

M – Hale 1 run (Tobar kick), 4:08

Third quarter

M – Hale 4 run (Tobar kick), 7:13

M – Kjesbu 20 run (Tobar kick), 4:58

Passing: Elma – McGaffey 9-17-1-32. M – Perry 11-15-0-122.

Rushing: E – McGaffey 8-45, Muller 5-15, Radamacher 5-6, Carter 1-(-18). M – Timmons 15-138, Kjesbu 3-48, Pyhala 5-31, Hale 6-30, Perry 3-20, Williamsen 1-4, Conklin-Smith 1-(-3), Ames 1-(-2).

Receiving: E – Brookins 3-43, 1-3, Carter 1-0, Camus 3-(-7), Morrison 1-(-7). M – Rasmussen 3-64, Hale 3-47, Timmons 3-8, Kjesbu 2-3.