3A GSHL football: Mountain View 49, Fort Vancouver 0

Nine days before they faced off in the final league game of the season, Fort Vancouver coach Neil Lomax asked Mountain View coach Adam Mathieson if he team could come watch the Thunder practice.

Him, and his entire roster.

The Trappers are amid a longstanding rebuild, and the coaching staff wanted to show the players what a winning culture looks like day-to-day.

It was the first time in Mathieson’s long coaching career he’d ever had an entire team come watch a practice, let alone a league opponent. But he was happy to do it, and bare all to see.

The same mutual respect could be seen when the two teams met on Thursday night at McKenzie Stadium, when No. 4 Mountain View won 49-0 to mark a sweep of the 3A Greater St. Helens League. The Thunder posted its best regular season record, 8-1, in program history.

But none of that matters anymore now that the regular season is over. That’s what Mathieson told his team on the field after the final horn Thursday night, as the Thunder enter what he describes as “stage six” of the season (stage one is the first day of winter workouts).

“We’re going to flush it at midnight,” Thunder tight end Rodolfo Montiel said. “This is the last of the guaranteed.”

Garrett Moen completed 10 of 16 passes for 256 yards, three passing touchdowns opposite an interception. Jack Mertens had four total touchdowns on six carries for 75 yards on the ground as well as 79 yards receiving from two catches. The Thunder led 21-0 at half then scored 21 points in the third quarter.

Despite finishing its season winless, the Trappers felt they took away many positives away. Nick Laurenza finished with two catches for 72 yards and Tyler Runkle had 46 yards on 21 carries. Sid Slom, who stood in as head coach for Lomax, said the Trappers continue to take notes on how Mountain View runs its program.

The Thunder say they accomplished many of their goals in the regular season. Now they turn the page to the postseason, where they will likely play Ballard or Lakeside, both Seattle schools, at McKenzie Stadium on Nov. 2 or 3.

“We (took care of business) for the most part,” Montiel said. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do. We’re going to get to Monday, get back to work.”

MOUNTAIN VIEW 49,
FORT  VANCOUVER 0

Fort 0 0 0 0—  0

Mtn. View 14 7 21 7—49

First quarter

MV—Makai Anderson 69 pass from Garrett Moen (Aiden Hargrove kick)

MV—Jack Mertens 19 run (Jude Mullette kick)

Second quarter

MV—Philip Earnhardt 51 pass from Moen (Hargrove kick)

Third quarter

MV—Mertens 22 run (Mullette kick)

MV—Mertens 9 run (Hargrove kick)

MV—Mertens 59 pass from Moen (Mullette kick)

Fourth quarter

MV—Isaiah Johnson 23 run (Hargrove kick)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Fort Vancouver: Tyler Runkle 21-46, Niko Liufau 4-4, Nick Laurenza 2-0, Austin Real-James 1-0, Myron Lawrence 3-22, Anthony Wilhite 1-14, Isaac Martinez 2-12. Mountain View: Jack Mertens 6-75, Garrett Moen 4-34, Malikiah Batties 4-28, Dallas Johnston 3-(-3), Michael Bolds 1-10, Jovan Bustos 1-0, Isaiah Johnson 1-32, Kevin Chen 2-4.

PASSING — Fort Vancouver: Austin Real-James 2-8-1-70, Isaac Martinez 1-3-0-33. Mountain View: Garrett Moen 10-16-1-256, Kury Santiago 1-2-0-9, Kevin Chen 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING — Fort Vancouver: Nick Laurenza 2-72, Ethan Esparza 1-31. Mountain View: Makai Anderson 2-88, Rodolfo Montiel 2-53, Philip Earnhardt 2-55, Jordan Cook 1-15, Jack Mertens 2-79, Michael Bolds 1-12.