The La Center Wildcats football team entered the red zone multiple times, but the Woodland Beavers defense played hard, despite the 28-0 Wildcats victory on Friday, Sept. 13.
“We got inside the red zone three times and had nothing to show for it,” La Center head coach John Lambert said. “It’s frustrating, but I thought Woodland played a really good game on defense. They played inspired, and they’re going to get better.”
Lambert was proud of his own defense, however. The Wildcats shut down Elijah Andersen, the reigning 2A Greater St. Helens League Most Valuable Player, on offense, and neutralized other threats, like Karsen Northcut.
“I think the story is about our defense tonight, you know, three interceptions … I don’t think they got many yards, and they have just a dynamic player in Andersen, and we were able to contain him,” Lambert said. “... He’s just such a good player, and so we really obviously have to focus on him because he’s that impactful in any play. He could just break a big run.”
On offense, La Center’s senior running back Isaac Chromey rushed for nearly 200 yards and added two touchdowns in the win. In the first half, a 7-yard run by Chromey was the only score until Kaden Emerson racked on a 16-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, tight end Landen Randall caught the only passing touchdown from quarterback Wyatt Eiesland before Chromey ran in a 3-yard score prior to time expiring.
Compared to last year, the Wildcats’ core of seniors grew, giving the team a group with loads of experience. La Center has nine seniors on the roster, many of them heavy contributors to the team.
“Anytime we have a bunch of seniors that have been committed like these kids for a long time, it’s a lot of fun,” Lambert said. “We seem to get groups like this every three, four, five years, and it’s kids that have played together and a lot of varsity football. And I think they have a lot of gratitude for the game knowing that they’re at the end of their time. And so, I think, when you have that attitude that you’re playing for now, you’re playing for your friends, that’s more fun that way.”
On the Woodland side of the field, first year head coach but long-time defensive coordinator Glen Flanagan was pleased with the defense and his team’s will to battle.
“We did great, defensively. I mean, obviously we’re gonna clean some things up, you know, but I was proud of them,” Flanagan said. “They played the part. They didn’t quit. They battled. They didn’t chip at each other. That’s a big sign when there’s adversity. Are you going to rally around each other? Are you going to chip? No. So they circled the wagons and battled. We did some great things.”
Up next for the Beavers and Wildcats: league play.
For the Beavers, the 2A GSHL is anybody’s game, much like last season. Woodland will host the Washougal Panthers at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, to kick off league play.
For the Wildcats, a changed landscape in the 1A Trico League will be as tough as ever, Lambert said. From the majority of league teams picking up wins in week one, he believes this is the best start to the season in a long time.
“I’ve been here 28 years, and I never remember opening day being that dominant,” he said. “It’s going to be a challenge, which is good. For every team that makes the playoffs, we have three or four teams that can make the playoffs this year. Playing each other is going to get us ready for the playoffs.”
La Center will host Columbia-White Salmon High School at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, to begin its league-play journey.
