A second-half comeback attempt with the Battle Ground Tigers scoring 17 points in a torrential downpour wasn’t enough to keep a winning record alive heading into the fierce three-game slate of the 4A Greater St. Helens League.
Battle Ground finished their non-league slate of six games going 3-0 and then 0-3. The Tigers chased down the W.F. West Bearcats to almost complete the comeback on Friday, Oct. 10, but fell just short in the end.
The Tigers went into the locker room at halftime against W.F. West High School (Chehalis) down 28-7. The Bearcats appeared destined to run away with the game, but a third quarter rushing touchdown by Tigers quarterback Ethan Adams narrowed the gap 28-14.
In the fourth quarter, tight end Logan Bjorklund escaped the defensive coverage for a touchdown catch thrown by Adams. The Tigers marched into Bearcat territory again but opted to settle for a field goal on fourth and long. Kicker Bryland Fick drilled it as the score narrowed 28-24.
Battle Ground would ultimately get the ball back twice but couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities to complete the comeback in a downpour.
Tigers head coach Mike Woodward was satisfied with his team's performance when the rain hit hard at District Stadium. Entering the final three games, the most meaningful stretch of the season, rain is a high possibility once the calendar hits October.
Battle Ground lost the last three games by a total of just 15 points. They first lost 26-23 to Cascade Christian, the fourth overall team in 1A, according to MaxPreps. Next, the Tigers lost 16-8 to a top-30 team in all of Idaho in the Post Falls Trojans squad. W.F. West stepped into District Stadium as the sixth overall 2A squad in Washington, according to MaxPreps.
The Tigers will face off against the Camas Papermakers at home on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. The Papermakers will step into District Stadium 4-2 on the season in a crucial statement game for Battle Ground.
As just two teams from the 4A Greater St. Helens League advance to the postseason, the Tigers would be in great shape with two wins in the last three games against Camas, Skyview and Union high schools. Skyview is 1-4 entering league play with their first three losses coming from a top-10 team in Idaho and two top-five overall teams in Washington. Battle Ground will travel to the Kiggins Bowl on Friday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. for its lone road game of the entire season.
The Tigers will close off at home on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. against Union High School, which sits 2-4 entering league play with wins against the 0-5 Mountain View Thunder and 0-6 Beamer Titans of Federal Way.
