WOODLAND’S PLAYERS entered the field for Friday’s game with La Center by offering their own 9/11 tribute.
A CAPACITY CROWD of about 1,600 fans filled the new stadium at Woodland High School for Friday’s game between the Beavers and La Center.
WOODLAND JUNIOR Tristan Thomas (24) had 112 yards rushing and one touchdown to help the Beavers to a 28-26 win over La Center Friday at Woodland High School.
WOODLAND – It’s hard to imagine a non-league high school football game having more emotion and significance than Friday’s Woodland vs. La Center matchup.
Playing in the inaugural game at the stadium at the new Woodland High School, the Beavers defended their home turf with a 28-26 victory in a game that was witnessed by a packed stadium of 1,600 spectators. The two teams also did their part to honor their country with a 9/11 tribute.
“It was a great high school football game,’’ Woodland coach Mark Greenleaf said. “The atmosphere was incredible. Basically, both towns cleared and came to the game. It was quite electrifying for sure.’’
Prior to the game, both teams came on the field with flags, honoring the United States in a tribute 9/11.
“I had made the decision that being the game was going to be played on 9/11, we would do something to honor our country,’’ Greenleaf said. “I had it set in my mind and we had some flags. Then the captains came to me and told me they were hoping we would do something for 9/11 and I told them we had the flags. We wanted to show that our thoughts and prayers are still going back to 9/11 and how blessed we are being in the United States.’’
As the Woodland players took the field for the final time before the game, they were led onto the field with their leaders waving hand-held U.S. flags. Greenleaf then got a little good-natured razzing from his good friend and counterpart John Lambert, La Center’s coach.
“He teased me a little bit because that’s what they always do,’’ said Greenleaf, referring to entering the field carrying U.S. flags. “I told him, ‘I know you are America’s team, but tonight it’s all about all of us being America’s team. We have such great respect for each other and each other’s program. We’ve had some pretty great battles.’’
None of those previous battles were any better than Friday’s.
An added element of intrigue to the matchup was that it came one year after the Wildcats played their inaugural game on their new field at La Center High School. The Beavers spoiled the La Center party, defeating the Wildcats 44-0.
Knowing La Center had motivation to return the favor, Woodland started quickly, scoring on its first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead with the scores coming on a 2-yard touchdown run by Tristan Thomas a 32-yard scoring strike by Wyatt Harsh.
The Wildcats bounced back with 20 consecutive points to take a 20-14 lead in the third quarter. However, Harsh added two short touchdown runs to give Woodland a 28-20 lead in the final period.
La Center scored midway through the fourth quarter to pull within 28-26, but the Beavers’ defense responded with a number of key defensive plays to seal the victory.
Woodland stopped La Center on a pair of two-point conversion attempts, one on an interception and the other when the Wildcats fumbled the snap. On La Center’s final possession, the Beavers came up with a sack of quarterback Jeremy Scott on second down and then senior Jared Cloud intercepted Scott’s fourth-down pass to seal the victory.
“It was more exciting than I wanted it to be,’’ Greenleaf said of the win. “I think expectations were high. They’re always high for us but I think they were even higher than ever before. It was the first game in our new stadium and we wanted to start our new legacy at the new facility. There was also pressure having beat La Center in the inaugural game on their new field last year. They came down here with that same objective this year, to dethrone us in the inaugural game on our new field.’’
Out of respect for La Center’s Single Wing rushing attack, Greenleaf had his Beavers keep the ball on the ground on offense, trying to keep the Wildcats’ runners on defense. Thomas finished with 112 yards on 24 carries.
“Tristan Thomas ran the heck out of the ball,’’ Greenleaf said of his junior running back. “He had some help from (fullback) Cooper Lucas and the offensive line. We’ve been more of a passing team in the past. We haven’t forgotten about the pass. We just felt we needed to run the ball so we tried to establish that aspect of our offense.’’
Both coaches praised their counterparts after the game.
“It was a great high school football game,’’ Greenleaf said. “John Lambert does such a fantastic job with their program and what they do. When you’re playing a great team like La Center, you can’t give them any edge because they do what they do so well.’’
Lambert said he saw a different Woodland team in person than the one he saw on film in the Beavers’ Week 1 loss to Kalama.
“We’re bummed that it didn’t turn out as a win but we got a lot better from Week 1,’’ Lambert said. “Woodland played a heck of a game. I was really impressed. They played much better against us that they did against Kalama. They’re kids realized what they needed to do to be more successful.’’
Woodland plays at Hudson’s Bay on Friday in a game 5 p.m. game. La Center will play host to Tumwater on Friday at 7 p.m.
