It’s been quite some time since the Hoquiam Grizzlies and its fans felt the euphoria of a victory at legendary Olympic Stadium.

After putting together its best all-around game in two seasons, the Grizzlies snapped a home losing streak that dated back to the 2020 season, and Hoquiam felt the euphoria once again.

The Grizzlies scored on four of its first five possessions and forced four first-half turnovers en route to a 49-28 victory over Fort Vancouver on Thursday in Hoquiam.

“It’s been a long time and it feels awesome,” said Hoquiam running back Jake Templer, who sparked the Grizzlies with 110 rushing yards and a key strip-and-score touchdown on a kickoff. “The community, our student body and everybody is just excited. It’s been a long time for this to happen.”

Hoquiam (1-1 overall) was dominant for the opening whistle against the Trappers (0-2).

The Grizzlies got on the scoreboard when junior quarterback Zander Jump hit senior receiver Owen McNeill on a deep pass to the front pylon for a 27-yard touchdown with just under six minutes elapsed in the first quarter.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Hoquiam wide receiver Owen McNeill (3) catches a touchdown pass over Fort Vancouver defensive back Brayden Vilendre during the Grizzlies’ 49-28 victory on Thursday in Hoquiam.

On Fort Vancouver’s first play of the ensuing possession, Hoquiam defensive lineman Brendyn Attard jumped on a botched handoff to get the ball right back for the Grizzlies at the Trappers’ 29-yard line.

On the very next play, Jump rolled to his left and found McNeill down the near sideline for the Grizzlies’ second touchdown in less than 30 seconds.

Fort Vancouver cut the deficit to 14-8 when quarterback Kaeleb Cvitkovich found receiver Joshua Elvestrom on a 45-yard deep corner route for a touchdown at the 1:26 mark of the first quarter.

But Hoquiam responded on its next drive as Templer carried the ball for a total of 53 yards on the first three plays of the drive, setting up an Anthony Burtenshaw touchdown run from 3-yards out and a 21-8 lead.

The Grizzlies kept the foot on the pedal in the second quarter.

Jump intercepted a Cvitkovich pass early in the period and on Hoquiam’s ensuing possession, the Grizzlies drove 72 yards on 10 rushing plays, culminating in a Templer 12-yard scoring scamper for a 28-8 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the first half.

Templer wasn’t done sending shock waves through the crowd.

On the following kickoff, the Hoquiam senior stripped the ball away from the Fort Vancouver returner and bolted to the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown — his second touchdown in as many plays.

“On the kickoff, I told myself, ‘I want the ball back,’” Templer said of the highlight-worthy play. “(The Trappers returner) was surrounded by my teammates, and I just came in without him looking and stole the ball for a touchdown. … It was fun. My heartbeat was going crazy. (Hearing the crowd roar) was nice.”

Up 34-8, Hoquiam linebacker Jalen Hobucket intercepted a Cvitkovich pass on the first play of the following possession.

Burtenshaw then broke loose for a 36-yard gain to set up the Grizzlies with a 1st-and-goal from the 2-yard line.

Two plays later Hobucket blasted into the end zone to put Hoquiam up 42-8 with just under six minutes left in the half.

Hoquiam opened the second half much like it did the first, scoring just two plays into the third quarter when Jump found McNeill deep downfield for a 52-yard touchdown and a 49-8 lead, which started a running clock at the 10:49 mark of the quarter.

Hoquiam then swapped out its starters and Fort Vancouver would score three touchdowns against the Hoquiam reserves, leading to the 49-28 final.

The victory was the first at Olympic Stadium for the Grizzlies since a 12-0 win over Tenino in the COVID-delayed season of 2020 and snaps a streak of six straight home losses.

“It’s great. Our student body came out and showed some love and support,” Hoquiam head coach Jeremy McMillan said. “It’s just really nice when the whole school is getting back and giving us some great energy.”

In addition to Templer’s 100-plus yard rushing night, Hoquiam was paced by 108 passing yards and three touchdowns by Jump — all to McNeill — and the Grizzlies defense scored 28 points off four turnovers in the first half.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Hoquiam quarterback Zander Jump (10) throws one of his three touchdown passes during the Grizzlies’ 49-28 victory on Thursday in Hoquiam.

Hoquiam rushed for 209 yards in the game — 201 of those in the first half — and held Fort Vancouver to just 17 rushing yards for the game and 72 yards of total offense in the critical first half.

“We challenged the offense and changed some things up with our personnel with what we felt we were stronger at,” McMillan said. “We finally got some explosive plays and got some things clicking. … And I’ve got to tell you, Jake Templer, he does not get enough recognition. Moving him to running back and what he does as the heartbeat of our defense, he was explosive tonight.”

For a Hoquiam program that has been working hard to rebuild in hopes of regaining its past glory, the feeling of Thursday’s win provided some extra incentive.

“(This win) is going to raise the bar and the energy for us,” Templer said. “We’re going to want to practice a lot harder and get better. We want to win our next game and we want our community to be happy and excited. Even if we lose, they’ll still love us, but if we win, they’ll love us even more. So we definitely want to win.”

Hoquiam will play at La Salle at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16.

Fort Vancouver 8 0 6 14 — 28

Hoquiam 21 21 7 0 — 49

Scoring

First quarter

Hoquiam — McNeill 27 pass from Jump (Wonderly-Leonard kick), 6:16

H — McNeill 29 pass from Jump (Wonderly-Leonard kick), 5:53

Ft. Vancouver — Elvestrom 45 pass from Cvitkovich (Mendez pass from Cvitkovich), 1:26

H — Burtenshaw 3 run (Wonderly-Leonard kick), 0:15

Second quarter

H — Templer 12 run (Wonderly-Leonard kick), 7:59

H — Templer 25 fumble return (kick fail), 7:49

H — Hobucket 2 run (Hobucket pass from Jump), 5:52

Third quarter

H — McNeill 52 pass from Jump (Wonderly-Leonard kick), 10:49

FV — Mendez 9 pass from Cvitkovich (pass fail), 4:06

Fourth quarter

FV — Mendez 11 pass from Cvitkovich (pass fail), 4:45

FV — Mendez 56 pass from Cvitkovich (Cvitkovich run), 1:49