KENT — This was a long, long time coming for the Battle Ground football program.
Heck, the disco era was still dancing along the last time this has happened to the Tigers.
Hey Battle Ground, you ready for this?
The Tigers are going to the state football playoffs for the first time since 1979.
Oh, and the Tigers also won a playoff game for the first time in program history.
Gunner Talkington accounted for three touchdowns, Reed Thompson scored two, and Battle Ground never trailed in a 35-16 victory over Kentlake in a Class 4A state preliminary round playoff game Saturday at French Field.
“1979? Jeez. It’s just amazing how far this program has come, how much work we put in this place,” said Talkington, the Tigers’ junior quarterback who rushed for two touchdowns and threw one to Max Randle. “We have great coaches and our players are willing to put in the work.”
And with that, the Tigers are going to places unseen at Battle Ground.
The Tigers will open the Class 4A state playoffs Saturday on the road in Spokane next week against Gonzaga Prep.
“It’s the most amazing feeling. I’ve been dreaming about this since I was 5 years old,” said Randle, who caught four passes for 82 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown. “I’ve been playing with these guys since the fifth grade. It’s been great seeing us come up through the years and getting better and better.”
While the Battle Ground offense put up 386 yards of offense and scored five touchdowns, the defense held the Falcons to two touchdowns in a road playoff contest. Austin Adams had two interceptions. Taylor Stewart and Riley Sprecher also had big plays all night for the Tigers.
“We worked hard for it. I think we deserve this. This entire atmosphere is amazing,” Sprecher said, looking at his teammates. “I love my football family.”
“This is awesome,” Stewart said. “We did it. We. Did. It.”
In convincing fashion, too.
The Tigers took more than half the first quarter on the first drive of the game, going 80 yards on 18 plays. Thompson scored from a yard out to make it 7-0.
“That kind of set the tone for everyone,” said Talkington, who completed his first six passes of the game on that drive. “Everyone was really hyped. And that’s how the rest of the game went.”
Kentlake would respond with a field goal, but the Tigers then went back to its faster pace, scoring a touchdown in less than 90 seconds. Talkington scored on a 15-yard run for a 14-3 lead.
Talkington, known more for his passing, ended up leading Battle Ground in rushing, too, finishing with 92 yards on the ground. He also was 16 of 24 for 188 yards through the air.
The Tigers extended their lead to 21-3 on a Talkington-to-Randle 39-yard pass with five minutes to play in the first half.
Kentlake’s Andrew Dixon scored on a 7-yard run to make it 21-9 with 43 seconds left in the half.
That’s when Logan Hertner made the special teams play of the night, returning the ensuing kickoff 64 yards, setting up the Tigers at the Kentlake 23-yard line. The next play, Talkington ran into the end zone. A 12-point game turned into a 19-point game at the half.
Just. Like. That.
After a scoreless third quarter, Dixon found the end zone again for Kentlake, making it 28-16. The Tigers did not sit on the ball, trying to run out the clock. They stayed aggressive and were rewarded when Thompson capped a 68-yard drive with a 4-yard TD run, making it 35-16 with 9:47 left in the game.
“That’s when I knew we were probably going to win this game,” Thompson said. “It was just a great feeling.”
Thompson was almost speechless after the game, but he managed to say what was probably on every Tiger’s mind Saturday night.
“This is awesome. Battle Ground’s never been this good before,” Thompson said. “It’s a cool thing to bring up a program.”
BATTLE GROUND 35, KENTLAKE 16
B. Ground 14 14 0 7—35
Kentlake 3 6 0 7—16
First quarter
BG — Reed Thompson 1 run (Riley Betcher kick)
K— Tyler Padilla 37 FG
BG — Gunner Talkington 15 run (Betcher kick)
Second quarter
BG — Max Randle 39 pass from Talkington (Betcher kick)
K — Andrew Dixon 7 run (run failed)
BG — Talkington 23 run (Betcher kick)
Fourth quarter
KL — Dixon 21 run (Padilla kick)
BG — Thompson 4 run (Betcher kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Battle Ground, Curtis Stradley 10-45, Chase Gunter 2-2, Talkington 12-92, Bailey Buckner 2-9, Thompson 13-52, Team 2-(minus 2). Kentlake, Cody Faulkner 8-59, Dixon 13-63, Eddie Edwards 2-2, Jacob Mancia 5-17, Trey Helgeson 8-60, Trask Rogers 1-2.
PASSING — Battle Ground, Talkington 16-24-0-188. Kentlake, Faulkner 10-15-1-69, Helgeson 5-14-1-70.
RECEIVING — Battle Ground, Randle 4-82, Gunter 4-42, Kyle Cahoon 2-12, Betcher 5-34, Riley Sprecher 1-18. Kentlake, Austin McBride 3-75, Edwards 2-4, Mitchell Lockhart 4-7, Lucas Storey 5-37, Larry Alar 1-16.
