Columbia River scored on two long plays in the first three minutes of Friday’s game at Kiggins Bowl.
But it took until the second half for the Chieftains to shake free of Fort Vancouver for a 35-13 win.
Columbia River quarterback Garrett McKee ran for two second-half touchdowns to help the Chieftains pull away in their Class 3A Greater St. Helens League opener.
The run that effectively solidified the win was a 95-yard run on a third-quarter option play. That was the third scoring run of more than 50 yards for River.
The league opener for the Chieftains (3-3, 1-0) was the last 3A GSHL game of the season for the Trappers. Fort Vancouver (1-5, overall, 0-3 in league) showed signs of progress in the loss, but scored only one offensive touchdowns on six trips inside the River 25.
“I can’t argue with our effort. We just didn’t finish (drives),” Fort coach Cal Szueber said.
An eight-point margin at halftime became a 22-point margin early in the third quarter.
A 42-yard kickoff return by River’s Isaiah James started the third quarter and set up a 31-yard score by Pearson. Fort responded with an 11-play drive that ended on a fourth-down that came up just short. The next play was McKee’s 95-yard score on an option keeper.
The Chieftains finished with 398 rushing yards. McKee passed for 131 yards, most of those on two plays of more than 40 yards.
The Trappers ran 76 plays on offense, netting 229 rushing yards and 194 through the air. In the first half alone, Fort ran 42 plays to 22 plays for River.
But the Chieftains made their plays count.
On River’s first snap of the game, Travon Santiago ran 75 yards for a touchdown. On the Chieftains fourth offensive snap, Hunter Pearson went 57 yards. The Chieftains were up 14-0 and seemed headed for a big night.
But the River lead was only 14-6 at halftime, the Trapper points coming when Kai Campbell picked off a McKee pass and raced 80 yards the other way.
A successful onside kickoff followed and the Trappers moved to the 10 yard line, but a third-down interception by Mason Schell kept Fort ended that threat. The next Fort possession reached the River 8, but a Shane McCarroll interception on a second-down play ended that drive.
Each team had three turnovers in the first half.
