MONTESANO — It has often been said that much has to go right to win tough playoff games in the state tournament. Unfortunately for the Montesano Bulldogs, not much went right on Saturday.

Monte’s season ended sooner than Bulldogs fans would have hoped as Monte fell behind early and never recovered in a 48-7 loss in the opening round of the 1A State Football Tournament on Saturday at Jack Rottle Field.

Mount Baker (8-4 overall) got on top of the Bulldogs on its first possession of the game. Mountaineers running back Jason Lee scored on a 4-yard run a few plays after a 50-yard jaunt by backfield compatriate Sam Barrett set up a 1st-and-goal situation for Mount Baker.

Monte (8-3) showed plenty of life on its first possession, responding to the Mountaineers score when they drove to the Mount Baker 26-yard line. But Mount Baker safety Kaleb Bass stepped in front of a Shaydon Farmer pass and returned the interception 80-plus yards to a touchdown that stunned the enthusiastic Monte crowd.

“The momentum just totally changed right there,” Montesano head coach Terry Jensen said of the pick-6. “It kind of goes downhill a little bit right there for one team while the other team is playing uphill. It just gets hard.”

Mount Baker extended its lead when Bass, who doubles as the Mountaineers quarterback, hit receiver Michael Kentner in the end zone for Mount Baker’s third touchdown of the first half and a 20-0 lead.

Monte followed with what turned out to be its best drive of the game, scoring on a Farmer run of two yards to cut the deficit to 20-7 with 4:51 left in the half.

But Mount Baker’s offense played in the second half the same way it did in the first half, gaining big chunks of yardage with a potent rushing attack led by Lee, Barrett and Kobe Malone. Lee scored on a 3-yard run to cap a 64-yard drive that featured a 25-yard rush from Lee and a 33-yard scamper from Malone.

After Monte went three-and-out, the Mountaineers put the game away with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Bass to receiver Waylon Kentner, making it a 34-7 ballgame with five seconds left in the third quarter.

Mount Baker scored twice more in the fourth on a 48-yard run from Barrett and a QB-sneak from Bass to complete the 48-7 victory.

Mount Baker’s Michael Kentner, right, tries to avoid the tackle of Montesano’s Sam Winter during the Bulldogs’ 48-7 loss on Saturday at Jack Rottle Field. (Ryan Sparks | Grays Harbor News Group)

Jensen added that while the ball didn’t bounce Monte’s way on Saturday, the outcome had little to do with luck.

“They were just a better football team tonight,” Jensen said of the Mountaineers. “We knew they were well-disciplined and well-coached. You have to play almost flawless and we weren’t able to do that tonight. Hats off to them.”

Jensen also stated that Mount Baker “hit us with their physicality.” And the numbers prove the coach correct. Mount Baker outgained Monte on the ground, 329-146. The Mountaineers were led by Barrett, who ran 12 times for 171 yards and a score.

“Their physicallity got to us,” Jensen said. “We’ve got to get a lot stronger. … We’ll get there. This was a good experience for our kids.”

Though the loss is a solemn way to end the season, Jensen praised his team and staff for their efforts this season.

“I’m really proud of our team and coaches. Our coaches did a yeoman’s job of coaching this year. Maybe their best coaching job since I’ve been here. They’ve done such a great job with them. I’m so proud of the time they put in with these guys to get them competitive.”