La Center rolls into 1A state playoffs

WOODLAND — Jeremy Scott threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as La Center defeated Forks 66-12 in a 1A district playoff game Friday.

Thomas Dreyer hauled in two of the touchdown passes on back-to-back throws, while his twin, Tanner, intercepted two passes thrown by Forks quarterback Gabriel Reaume.

“Coach told us to come out here and make a statement,” Thomas said.

The Wildcats’ defense forced five turnovers including two fumble returns for touchdowns from Clint Smith.

“All I was thinking was ‘scoop it and get in the end zone,’ ” Smith said.

The offense scored on its first eight possessions and had four different rushers record a touchdown. Jeffrey Mayolo led the team with 68 yards rushing and was the first to find the end zone set up by an interception from Scott.

“We came out hard and we did everything we wanted to do,” Scott said.

La Center advances to the 1A state playoffs with their ninth consecutive victory.

“We think we can go far but we know we have to take it one game at a time,” Scott said.

Forks running back Jeffrey Schumack scored twice in the first quarter and consistently put the team in decent field position following kickoffs. The Wildcat defense proved too strong, however, as Forks recorded only two total first downs in the first three quarters.

While La Center was able to take a 21-0 lead after the first quarter, the offense struggled save a few huge plays. Eight of the first 13 plays by the Wildcats went for one yard or less, while the other five plays went for 10 yards or more. On fourth down on the team’s first drive, Scott found Thomas for a 35-yard completion to get to the 1-yard line of Forks and set up Mayolo’s lone score.

“We take this as one mark down,” Thomas said. “Our coach says it’s all about the journey.”

Before Thomas could finish his sentence, his brother Tanner stepped in and said “Our ultimate goal is state. We want to make it to the Dome.”

LA CENTER 66, FORKS 12

Forks 0 0 0 12–12

La Center 21 28 17 0–66

First Quarter

LC — Jeffrey Mayolo 1 run (Sean Fox kick)

LC — Jeremy Scott 10 run (Fox kick)

LC — Evan Honore 28 run (Fox kick)

Second Quarter

LC — Jake Wise 18 pass from Scott (Fox kick)

LC — Thomas Dreyer 14 pass from Scott (Fox kick)

LC — Thomas Dreyer 74 pass from Scott (Fox kick)

LC — Clint Smith 16 fumble return (Fox kick)

Third Quarter

LC — Fox 25 FG

LC — Smith 31 fumble return (Fox kick)

LC — Wyatt Dodson 29 run (Fox kick)

Fourth Quarter

F — Jeffrey Schumack 14 run (run failed)

F — Jeffrey Schumack 7 run (run failed)

Individual Statistics

RUSHING — Forks, Gavin Palmer 5-31, Tristen Pisani 10-31, Jack Dahlgren 8-28, Julian Ortiz 4-23, Schumack 6-21, Brett Moody 1-1, Gabriel Reaume 4-1; La Center, Mayolo 14-68, Honore 5-41, Dodson 1-29, Colton Dolezal 1-3, Tanner Rooney 1-3, Matthew Lincoln 1-1, Blake Krout 1- -1, Scott 4-(minus 15).

PASSING — Forks, Reaume 5-15-3-27. La Center, Scott 9-12-0-222.

RECEIVING — Forks, Cole Baysinger 2-12, Moody 2-9, Gabe Terrones 1-6. La Center, Thomas Dreyer 3-123, Wise 3-54, Honore 2-29, Smith 1-16.