Hudson’s Bay stops Fort Vancouver’s run in rivalry

Don’t tell Anthony Sanchez the Peace Pipe game lost any significance this year.

For the first time, Fort Vancouver and Hudson’s Bay played their annual rivalry game as a non-league affair, but that didn’t make the Eagles’ 20-19 victory Friday night at Kiggins Bowl any less sweet to Sanchez, a senior who caught the go-ahead 42-yard touchdown pass with 6:23 to play.

“We got it after three years,” he said, fighting back tears. “My first year on varsity as a sophomore, I felt the heartbreak of losing a close game, so this means a lot. All the hard work we put in this summer, we’ve been looking forward to this.”

Bay is starting fresh this year — new head coaches (Andy Meyer and Rick Skinner), new league (dropping down to the 2A Greater St. Helens), and new attitude after matching their win total of a year ago.

“I was just proud of the kids,” Meyer said. “I don’t think you could ask for a better atmosphere, or a better rivalry, to start the season. The kids never gave up the whole game, and this validates all their hard work.”

Fort regained the lead at 19-14 with 8:18 to play on Mitchell Cooper’s second touchdown run, a 5-yarder in which he overpowered two Eagles to lean the ball over the goal line.

The Eagles answered with a play they had been setting up most of the game — a hitch-and-go in which Sanchez got behind the cornerback, and after Jeremy Matheny’s fake left drew away the safety, he lofted a pass to a streaking Sanchez down the right sideline.

“They were doubling me the whole game, and their corners were biting on the hitch,” Sanchez said. “Justin just rode the safety out with a great fake and knew I’d be open.”

The Trappers looked like they were driving for a go-ahead score of their own, but linebacker Stone Sabourin jarred the ball free from David Bishop after the 6-foot-4 senior had caught a slant pass and Camren Hyde-Moore recovered for the Eagles with 4:45 left.

It was one of six Fort fumbles on the night — but the only one it lost — to go with 11 penalties for 74 yards and an interception.

“We made too many mistakes tonight,” said coach Cal Szueber, making his return to the Trappers sideline after a three-year stint at Portland Christian. “It’s kind of rough to lose a game like that, but we’ll shore up the mistakes we made and we’ll be a better football team next week (vs. The Dalles).”

Szueber also lamented Fort failing to capitalize on a two-point conversion try midway through the second quarter after Cooper’s first touchdown gave it a 13-7 lead. After a Bay penalty put the ball at the 1, Cooper was tackled in the backfield on the PAT.

“That was the difference in the game,” Szueber said, looking at the scoreboard. “We should have punched it in. We’ve got to get tougher, and we will.”

Matheny finished 13 of 22 passing for 194 yards and three touchdowns.

Cooper had 51 rushing yards and also made a game-high nine tackles, 4 1/2 for loss, while Jordan Suell was 10 of 24 for 202 yards and a touchdown for Fort.

Hudson’s Bay 20, Fort Vancouver 19

F. Vancouver 0 13 0 6–19

Hudson’s Bay 7 0 0 13–20

First Quarter

HB — Anthony Sanchez 33 pass from Jeremy Matheny (Luis Santamaria kick)

Second Quarter

FV — David Bishop 12 pass from Jordan Suell (Jorge Regalado kick)

FV — Mitchell Cooper 3 run (run failed)

Fourth Quarter

HB — Victor Gray 5 pass from Matheny (Santamaria kick)

FV — Cooper 5 run (pass failed)

HB — Sanchez 42 pass from Matheny (run failed)

Individual Statistics

RUSHING–FV: Cooper 10-51, Suell 10-(minus 14), Regalado 4-17, D.J. Owens 3-0, Thomas Shields 1-1, team 1-(minus 2). HB: Nehemiah McDougal 10-20, Stone Sabourin 9-11, Matheny 7-(minus 2), Julio Vara 4-13, Camren Hyde-Moore 3-(minus 9), Tristan Maxell 1-(minus 2).

PASSING–FV: Suell 10-24-1-202. HB: Matheny 13-22-2-194, Jordan Hickman 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING–FV: Bishop 6-81, Regalado 2-78, Shields 2-43. HB: Sanchez 7-136, Gray 4-46, Maxwell 1-9, Sabourin 1-3.