Flanagan helps Woodland to win over Ridgefield

WOODLAND — Woodland went into Friday’s game against Ridgefield knowing its future likely would be in someone else’s hands.

But the Beavers also knew there was business they needed to take care of.

And that’s what Woodland did, by putting the ball in the hands of sophomore Tyler Flanagan.

Flanagan rushed for 85 yards, caught four passes for 52 yards, and scored two touchdowns, including one on a dazzling kickoff return as the Beavers won for the first time in three weeks with a 38-16 win over the visiting Spudders.

“It feels good to get a win,” Woodland coach Mike Woodward said. “We kind of forgot what that feels like. It’s been a while.”

After struggling on offense last week at Washougal, the Beavers got a boost from their defense as Woodland forced turnovers from the Spudders in their first three possessions of the game.

“That sparked us,” Flanagan said. “That was a big part of the game — to give us a good momentum shift and to get up 16-0 in the first quarter. That was huge for us.”

Trent Snead’s fumble recovery on the Ridgefield 37 gave the Beavers a short field on their first possession. Flanagan capped that drive with a 23-yard touchdown run.

Marques Lies’ interception at midfield set up Woodland’s second possession, which led to a 13-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Harsh to Alex Bishop and a 16-0 lead.

Harsh added a wild 20-yard touchdown run on fourth down in the second quarter to give Woodland a 24-0 lead.

After Ridgefield cut the margin to 24-8 late in the third quarter, Flanagan turned the momentum around with a 76-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

“Tyler is a freak,” Harsh said. “Whenever he gets the ball, you never know what’s going to happen. Like on that kickoff, he’s was juking and jiving, finally got free. It was insane.”

Bishop added a second TD reception in the fourth quarter.

Jeremy Martin rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown for Ridgefield, which was eliminated from playoff contention. Jalen Williams rushed for 87 yards before leaving the game on a cart with a significant leg injury.

Woodland went into the game knowing it needed wins in its last two games, plus a Washougal loss to R.A. Long to bolster the Beavers’ postseason hopes.

But after Washougal won on Friday, Woodland’s postseason dreams were clinging by a thread.

The Beavers must beat Mark Morris next week, then hope first-place Hockinson suffers an upset loss to R.A. Long to keep Woodland in the playoff mix.

“We are just looking to finish strong, get the win, get a winning season, and not worry about what’s happening anywhere else,” Flanagan said.

WOODLAND 38, RIDGEFIELD 16

Ridgefield 0 0 8 8–16

Woodland 16 8 8 6–38

First quarter

W — Tyler Flanagan 23 run (Wyatt Harsh run)

W — Alex Bishop 13 pass from Harsh (Flanagan run)

Second quarter

W — Harsh 20 run (Flanagan run)

Third quarter

R — Brock Harrison 4 pass from Dawson Lieurance (Jeremy Martin run)

W — Flanagan 76 kickoff return (Bishop pass from Harsh)

Fourth quarter

R — Martin 26 run (Martin run)

W — Bishop 10 pass from Harsh (pass failed)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Ridgefield: Jalen Williams 9-87, Martin 12-66, Riley Adams 7-18, Jacob McCarthy 2-3, Lieurance 5-(-20). Woodland: Flanagan 15-85, Kenyon Guy 8-17, Anthony Clifford 1-4, Harsh 6-(-8).

PASSING — Ridgefield: Lieurance 5-14-1-51. Woodland: Harsh 12-17-0-101.

RECEIVING — Ridgefield: Martin 2-37, Conner Bell 1-15, Harrison 1-4, Williams 1-(-5). Woodland: Bishop 7-49, Flanagan 4-52, Isaac Andersen 1-0.