LA CENTER — Separated by just six miles, La Center and Woodland have played plenty of tight football games.
But despite their proximity, there was nothing close about the annual rivalry game Friday.
La Center beat Woodland 41-6 with a performance as dominating as the final score would suggest.
Jeffrey Mayolo rushed for 198 yards and two touchdowns, including a 92 yard run in the third quarter.
By then, the game was long out of reach. That wasn’t the case, however, when Mayolo blocked a punt that Jackson Leslie returned 20 yards for a touchdown.
That gave La Center a 14-0 lead just six minutes into the game.
More importantly, it energized the Wildcats with a swagger they would keep the rest of the game.
“That was huge,” Mayolo said. “It got the energy going. Right then, we knew we had this game.”
For the second straight game, La Center faced a talented quarterback and a potent passing attack.
But unlike La Center’s 46-35 season-opening loss to Hockinson, the Wildcats stifled their opponent with an intense pass rush and tight coverage.
Woodland quarterback Wyatt Harsh threw for 299 yards and three TDs in a season-opening win over Kalama. Friday, he was held to 129 yards, completing 16 of 32 passes.
“We mixed up our coverages a lot more,” La Center coach John Lambert said. “We had a couple of kids back who weren’t playing last week, so we were able to do some more things.”
Sure, preparation, defensive tactics and execution all led to Friday’s win.
There was also another ingredient, according to La Center linebacker Colton Dolezal.
“We were just having fun,” he said. “That’s why we won. We’re just having fun playing the game that we love.”
Jake Wise put La Center up 28-0 with a 33-yard touchdown catch early in the third quarter.
Mayolo uncorked his 92-yard run late in the third quarter. Wyatt Dodson a night of big plays with a 49-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
LA CENTER 41, WOODLAND 6
Woodland 0 0 0 6 – 6
La Center 14 7 14 6 – 41
First quarter
LC – Jeffrey Mayolo 1 run (Sean Fox kick)
LC – Jackson Leslie 20 return of blocked punt (Fox kick)
Second quarter
LC – Brett Judd 1 run (Fox kick)
Third quarter
LC – Jake Wise 33 pass from Jeremy Scott (Fox kick)
LC – Mayolo 92 run (Fox kick)
Fourth quarter
LC – Wyatt Dodson 49 run (kick failed)
W – Levi Orem 10 pass from Wyatt Harsh (run failed)
Individual statistics
RUSHING – Woodland: Levi Orem 11-62, Tyler Flanagan 3-7, Wyatt Harsh 7-5. La Center: Jeffrey Mayolo 16-198, Brett Judd 7-80; Jeremy Scott 3-18; Wyatt Dodson 4-66; Isaac Johnson 1-7; Jackson Leslie 1-minus 3; Nick Budke 1-2.
PASSING – Woodland: Wyatt Harsh 16-32-129. La Center: Jeremy Scott 3-4-102.
RECEIVING – Woodland: Tyler Flanagan 10-83, Levi Orem 3-6. Logan Knight 2-25; Charles White 1-15. La Center: Jackson Leslie 1-57, Jake Wise 1-33, Tanner Dreyer 1-12.
