Late surge makes it an All-American day at Freedom Bowl Classic

The pressure was on the American squad at the Freedom Bowl Classic on Saturday night.

Although the American squad led the entire game, the National stars had cut the advantage to eight points and were getting the ball back after a safety.

Dylan King, though, used hit foot, then his hands, then his feet to give the American squad the momentum again.

A few minutes later, Marcus Gaylor put the finishing touches on a supreme performance.

Just like that, the American squad won by three touchdowns, 40-18, at McKenzie Stadium.

“It just felt good to come out here and play with the best guys around,” Skyview’s King said of this game, which features recent high school graduates from Southwest Washington.

“It’s honestly an honor. It’s a privilege to play in this thing,” said Gaylor of Columbia River.

The event raises funds for Shriners charities.

“It’s all for the kids,” Gaylor said. “You can’t think of it as winning. It’s more about the kids. You’re lucky to be here.”

Still, Gaylor was named the game’s overall most valuable player. He only touched the ball four times on offense, but he gained 101 yards and scored two touchdowns.

King was the defensive player of the game for the American squad. He boomed a 53-yard free kick right after the safety to pin the Nationals back inside their own 30-yard line.

“I just asked Coach if I could punt it,” King said. “It just felt good.”

On the next play, King intercepted a pass and returned it 52 yards to secure the win, giving his team a 34-18 lead.

“It just dropped right in my hands,” King said. “I started running and everyone got a great block. I was wide open.”

Washougal’s Bobby Jacobs was named the American offensive player of the game, rushing for 51 yards and two touchdowns.

For the Nationals, Skyview’s Jacob Dennis — with an interception and a sack — was the defensive player of the game.

“It’s really amazing how far I’ve come,” said Dennis, crediting his coaches at Skyview. “Football wasn’t my best sport coming into high school.”

R.A. Long quarterback Ryan Peerboom threw for 276 yards and was named the offensive MVP.

Peerboom brought the National squad within two points on his team’s first drive of the second half. He went 5 for 7 for 58 yards on the drive and scored on a 1-yard run to make it 18-16.

But Jacobs and the American squad responded. Jacobs scored on a 5-yard run and then scored on a 2-point conversion to make it 26-16.

When the American squad stopped the National on the 2-yard line with just minutes to go, it appeared the American squad had a solid grip on the game. But the National forced a safety for two points and the ball.

Then King did his thing.

After another change of possession, Gaylor broke free for a 51-yard TD reception from Woodland’s Hunter Huddleston for the final touchdown of the night.

Jacobs scored the game’s first touchdown, with a couple of moves to get outside and then speed to make the end zone on a 9-yard run to give the American team a 6-0 lead.

Then there might have been a little quarterback favoritism on the American’s next touchdown. Jonathan Branson of Columbia River found Jess Krahn on a 7-yard touchdown pass to give American a 12-0 lead. Krahn played quarterback for Hockinson and also had a few series at QB in this game. But he was playing tight end when Branson was the team’s QB.

Union and R.A. Long teamed up for the National’s first score. Ethan Beniga returned a kickoff 43 yards to set up a touchdown. Then Beniga made a diving catch of a pass Peerboom to the 1-yard line. The next play, Union’s Leon Siofele scored for the Blue squad.

Gaylor, one of the fastest tracksters in the state, scored on a 22-yard run to make it 18-8 at the half.

AMERICAN (RED) 40, NATIONAL (BLUE) 18

National 0 8 8 2–18

American 6 12 8 14–40

First quarter

A — Bobby Jacobs (Washougal) 9 run (pass failed)

Second quarter

A — Jess Krahn (Hockinson) 7 pass from Jonathan Branson (Columbia River). (Pass failed)

N — Leon Siofele (Union) 1 run (Samuel Harris of Mark Morris pass from Ryan Peerboom of R.A. Long)

A — Marcus Gaylor (Columbia River) 22 run (pass failed).

Third quarter

N — Peerboom 1 run (Jacob Dennis of Skyview run)

A — Jacobs 5 run (Jacobs pass from Jo. Branson)

Fourth quarter

N — Safety, American penalty in end zone.

A — Dylan King (Skyview) 52 interception return (Jorden Payne of Camas run).

A — Gaylor 51 pass from Hunter Huddleston (Woodland). Run failed.

Individual statistics

RUSHING — National: Siofele 16-74, Peerboom 9-(minus 38), Justin Straup (Evergreen) 3-6. American: Huddleston 5-20, Jacobs 14-51, Jayson Branson (Columbia River) 4-15, Gaylor 2-37, Jo. Branson 9-21, Krahn 2-1, Dewayne Whitley (Hudson’s Bay) 1-12.

PASSING — National: Peerboom 20-40-1-276, Jacob Dennis (Skyview) 0-2. American: Jo. Branson 6-8-0-34, Krahn 2-5-0-5, Hunter Huddleston (Woodland) 5-6-1-67.

RECEIVING — National: Dennis 8-60, E’Lon Mack (Heritage) 4-84, Justin Smalley (Battle Ground) 3-24, Ethan Beniga (Union) 2-70, Siofele 3-38. American: Tyler Adams (Ridgefield) 2-11, Victor Duran (Heritage) 3-28, Jorden Payne 2-6, Gaylor 2-64, Krahn 3-9, Huddelston 1-18.