Fort builds confidence with big win

Cal Szueber said the one thing missing from the Fort Vancouver football team was confidence.

Well, the Trappers had that in abundant supply after scoring 45 points in a game for the first time in four years.

Richard Vansiclen rushed for three touchdowns and Robert Bain scored two more as the Trappers rolled to a 45-27 non-league over Battle Ground on Friday night.

“It felt great out there,” Vansiclen said. “It was like magical.”

For a team that won just two games in each of the past two seasons, Fort’s season didn’t get off to a great start last week at Ridgefield when the Trappers fell behind 21-0.

But Fort rallied in the second half and nearly pulled out a victory, losing 24-23. On Friday night, Vansiclen and the Trappers left nothing to chance.

“Coach told us to play like it’s the fourth quarter in the first quarter,” Vansiclen said.

Actually, it was the second quarter when things took off for the Trappers.

With the score tied 7-7, Bain got Fort the lead back early in the second quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run. Later, Vansiclen put Fort up 20-7 with a 48-yard touchdown run.

And Vansiclen’s third touchdown of the game — a 10-yard run that capped a 11-play, 67-yard drive — put Fort up 27-14 at halftime.

“Really, from the second half of last week is when we’ve showed up to play,” Szueber said. “We’re doing some new things on offense year, and now things are starting to click, and we’re gaining confidence.”

Fort opened the second half with seven-play, 73-yard drive that ended with Bain’s 6-yard TD run. After the defense forced a three-and-out, the Trappers drove another 55 yards to score on Jordan Vela’s 7-yard run.

Vela finished with his second 100-yard game, rushing for 118 yards on 19 carries. Vansiclen had 95 yards on 14 carries and Bain added 80 yards on 10 carries.

“Everybody was playing well,” Vansiclen said. “The running back were running hard, and my line was working hard for me.”

And the defense played well, getting a sack and fumble on Battle Ground’s third play of the game to set the tone.

“It’s exciting to be at Fort now,” Szueber said. “This is the hardest working kids that I’ve had here, and now they’re starting to see their hard work pay off.”

Nohi Brede scored two touchdowns for Battle Ground, including an 85-yard kickoff return.

FORT VANCOUVER 45, BATTLE GROUND 27

Battle Ground 7 7 7 6—27

Fort Vancouver 7 20 12 6—45

First quarter

F — Richard Vansiclen 6 run (Oswaldo Camarena kick)

BG — Kevin Haynes 7 run (Mac Brandenburger kick)

Second quarter

FV — Robert Bain 1 run (kick failed)

FV — Vansiclen 48 run (Camarena kick)

BG — Nohi Brede 85 kickoff return (Brandenburger kick)

FV — Vansiclen 10 run (Camarena kick)

Third quarter

FV — Bain 6 run (kick failed)

FV — Vela 7 run (kick failed)

BG — Brede 2 run (Brandenburger kick)

Fourth quarter

FV — Abdul Conteh 2 run (kick blocked)

BG — Jake Sachen 44 pass from Tyler Bergeron (no PAT attempted)

Leaders

Rushing — Battle Ground — Chris Paul 11-52, Brede 7-35, Haynes 5-16, Bo Smith 1-28; Fort Vancouver — Vela 19-118, Vansiclen 14-95, Bain 10-80, Conteh 15-57.

Passing — Battle Ground — Paul 5-16-3-62, Bergeron 2-3-0-65; Fort Vancouver — Vansiclen 5-10-1-56.

Receiving — Battle Ground — Sachen 1-44, Trevor Ingram 1-31, Haynes 2-22, Bergeron 1-13, Brede 1-11, Jake Blackman 1-6; Fort Vancouver — Vela 3-63, Taylor Vanheck 1-19, Bain 1-4.