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Woodland comes up one yard short in playoff loss to W.F. West

By Micah Rice, Columbian Sports Editor
Published: November 8, 2014, 12:00am

KALAMA — Most would describe Woodland’s 28-21 loss to W.F. West on Friday in one word: Heartbreaker.

Woodland coach Mark Greenleaf, however, knows his team’s heart is rock-solid.

That was his message after the Beavers literally came up 1 yard short in Friday’s Class 2A district playoff game at Kalama High School.

Facing fourth and goal from the 4-yard line with 43 seconds left, Woodland quarterback Wyatt Harsh rolled to his right. He completed a pass to Jared Cloud, who was stopped just short of the goal line.

That brought an end to Woodland’s first season in Class 2A. Despite having a freshman quarterback and having their best player Eli Whitmire hobbling on a bad ankle, the Beavers took the much larger school from Chehalis down to the wire.

“A lot of other teams would have given up,” Greenleaf said. “These kids never did. They never complained. They looked to each other for more strength. … You can’t ask any more than the heart they have given.”

W.F. West, the No. 2 seed from the Evergreen Conference, took a 28-21 lead with 11:52 to play. Nick Anglin’s 23-yard run was his third touchdown of the game.

Woodland fumbled on the W.F. West 10-yard line midway through the quarter. But the Beavers defense forced a three-and-out, giving Woodland the ball at its own 32.

Thirteen plays later, the Beavers had first-and-goal at the 8-yard line with 1:32 to play. But Woodland couldn’t find that one more big play when it needed.

“I’ve never been on this end of a final play that close, and I never want to be again,” Greenleaf said.

Before the final drive, Harsh made big plays with help Woodland counter-punch in Friday’s back-and-forth game.

The freshman, who threw for 1,634 yards and 21 TDs in the regular season, touchdown passes of 9, 80 and 37 yards to Trevor Huddleston. He finished with 297 yards passing.

“He showed what he’s capable of,” Greenleaf said of Harsh. “He was running around finding people and making plays. He’s way above his years.”

Whitmire, who rushed for 794 yards and 16 TDs, was a nonfactor on offense after injuring his ankle last week. He only played defense in the first half and finished with six carries for 17 yards.

W.F. WEST 28, WOODLAND 21

W.F. West 6 14 0 8—28

Woodland 0 14 7 0—21

First quarter

WFW — Nathan Anglin 10 run (kick failed)

Second quarter

W — Trevor Huddleston 9 pass from Wyatt Harsh (Tylor Bishop kick)

WFW — Anglin 19 run (Cory Davis kick)

W — Huddleston 80 pass from Harsh (Bishop kick)

WFW — Elijah Johnson 1 run (Davis kick)

Third quarter

W — Huddleston 37 pass from Harsh (Bishop kick)

Fourth quarter

WFW — Anglin 23 run (Johnson run)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — W.F. West: Anglin 13-69, Johnson 23-153, Eric Braun 3-27. Woodland: Eli Whitmire 6-17, Harsh 9-4, Hunter Raney 2-(minus 16), Huddleston 1-(minus 3), Troy Flanagan 9-60, Cody Shepherd 5-13, Tristan Thomas 1-2.

PASSING — W.F. West: Johnson 1-6-2, 22. Woodland: Harsh 19-32-1, 297.

RECEIVING — W.F. West: Jason Yarter 1-22. Woodland: Huddleston 8-176, Shepherd 4-47, Raney 2-61, Whitmire 1-7, Jared Cloud 1-3, Flanagan 3-3.

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