Battle Ground’s Gunner Talkington only completed seven passes on Friday night. But five of them went for touchdowns.
And that’s all you need to know about Battle Ground’s 42-7 win over Evergreen at McKenzie Stadium.
The victory moves the Tigers one win away from assuring that its season will not end on Oct. 30. Battle Ground clinches at least a tie for second place in the 4A Greater St. Helens League with a win over Union next week.
The Tigers didn’t waste much time — they didn’t waste any time all game — on scoring first, driving 61 yards on four plays with Talkington hitting Cole Grossman on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 10:34 left in the first quarter.
On the first play of Battle Ground’s next possession, Kyle Cahoon had an 72-yard TD pass play to put the Tigers up 14-0.
Grossman had another TD catch in the second quarter, and Max Randle had 76-yard TD reception and a 69-yard interception return for a score as the Tigers led 35-0 at half.
An 88-yard TD pass play to Riley Betcher made it 42-0 early in the third quarter.
Talkington finished 7 of 9 for 296 yards passing.
Marquis Sampson got Evergreen on the board with a 17-yard TD catch with 12 seconds to play.
BATTLE GROUND 42, EVERGREEN 7
BG 14 21 7 0—42
Ever 0 0 0 7—7
First quarter
BG–Cole Grossman 8 pass from Gunner Talkington (Riley Betcher kick)
BG–Kyle Cahoon 72 pass from Talkington (Betcher kick)
Second quarter
BG–Max Randle 76 pass from Talkington (Betcher kick)
BG–Grossman 8 pass from Talkington (Betcher kick)
BG–Randle 69 interception return (Betcher kick)
Third quarter
BG–Betcher 88 pass from Talkington (Betcher kick)
Fourth quarter
E–Marquis Sampson 17 pass from Payton Monda (kick good)
Individual statistics
RUSHING — Battle Ground: Curtis Stradley 7-80, Reed Thompson 3-21, Manny Grote 1-1, Talkington 1-0, Bailey Buckner 1-(-1). Evergreen: Dallas Goodpaster 15-82, Sampson 14-74, Nathaniel Trevino 15-69, Ahmere Green 4-11, Dustin Nettles 1-9, MOnda 1-(-6).
PASSING — Battle Ground: Talkington 7-9-0-296. Evergreen: Monda 11-23-1-74.
RECEIVING — Battle Ground: Randle 2-116, Betcher 2-92, Cahoon 1-72, Grossman 2-16. Evergreen: Nettles 5-32, Sampson 2-31, Trevino 3-10, Leland Clark 1-1.
