Mason Wheeler had trouble all week fielding kickoffs cleanly. When it came to the opening play of Friday’s game at Columbia River, that wasn’t a problem.
“I don’t know why, I’ve always been good at it,” Wheeler said. “So when it happened in the game, I was like, oh man.”
The junior wide receiver took a bouncing kickoff at an angle, executed two quick cuts, making Chieftain defenders miss in rapid succession, then accelerated down the sideline for a touchdown on the opening play.
It was a tone-setting 20 seconds in what turned into a lopsided 34-6 Skyview win.
“Made one guy miss and all of a sudden had three beautiful blocks down the sideline — one, two three — and a lot of green grass,” Wheeler said.
Those blocks? He gave credit where credit was due. First there was junior Jake Miller — “Jake made a mean one,” he said. Then there was Jalynnee McGee. And the rest was was blur of open field.
But forget the heat of the moment. The symbolism of the score — an away rivalry game, on the debut of new turf — was not lost on Wheeler.
“That’s the first play on this field, so hopefully they’ll remember that forever,” Wheeler said, matter-of-factly.
The play will be a little more painful for River fans when they learn this nugget — The Columbian received visual evidence Saturday that Wheeler stepped on the sideline as he fielded the kickoff.
Statement performance
The defending 2A state champion Hockinson Hawks made a statement to fans, opponents and the rest of the state Thursday in a convincing 42-13 nonleague victory over Archbishop Murphy they’re still the team to beat in Class 2A.
Perhaps no player individually made a bigger statement than first-year starting quarterback Levi Crum.
The junior completed 27 of 36 passes for 376 yards and six touchdowns to four different receivers, and also rushed for a team-best 102 yards on nine carries as the Hawks rolled up more than 500 total yards and shutout the Wildcats in the second half.
Coach Rick Steele said postgame he’s heard rumblings of teams questioning how good the Hawks can be after the graduation of three-year starting quarterback Canon Racanelli, the reigning 2A state player of the year, who led Hockinson to an undefeated 2017 season.
“Well guess what?” Steele said, “Levi Crum just made a statement to a whole bunch of people saying you know what, I’m not Canon, I’m Levi and I’m a pretty damn good quarterback, too.”
In front of a regionally televised audience, Crum and the Hawks showed not only are they poised to repeat as state champions, but becoming a Class 2A state power. The Hawks have now defeated Tumwater and Archbishop Murphy — two of 2A’s perennial powers — in their past three games dating back to last season’s state final.
The Hawks’ home opener is next Friday hosting R.A. Long to open 2A Greater St. Helens League play.
Scoggins answers call
The first line of a backup quarterback’s job description: Be ready at a moment’s notice.
Heritage junior Skyler Scoggins was ready when his moment came.
Heritage had the ball near midfield in a crucial drive early in the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves had led 23-0 over Hudson’s Bay, but now clung to a 31-28 advantage.
Heritage freshman quarterback Nikki Scott scrambled for a 15-yard gain, but then lay on the turf after the play. Scott suffered a knee injury, which he and coaches afterward thought was only a sprain.
“I’ve been working behind Nikki,” Scoggins said. “I’ve been staying focused, taking those mental reps in practice when I’m not in.”
Those reps came in handy when he faced fourth and 19 from Bay’s 29-yard line. He knew he had a big target downfield in Jorden Oliveras, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior.
Oliveras caught the pass for a 26-yard gain, setting up Scoggins for a 5-yard touchdown run that helped put away the game.
“The line did great for me,” Scoggins said. “They gave me a hole when I needed it. When I threw the ball, they gave me time.”
Return of Marsh
Hudson’s Bay is happy to have its starting quarterback healthy again.
Parker Marsh missed the Eagles’ opener with an ankle injury. Friday, he completed 15 of 28 passes for 158 yards in a 38-28 loss to Heritage.
Marsh threw two touchdowns to senior Carter Morse. From the early second quarter through the late third, Hudson’s Bay scored touchdowns on five of six drives.
Eagles coach Ray Lions said there was uncertainly this week whether Marsh or Morse would start at quarterback.
“We had to evaluate how (Marsh) was doing,” he said. “He just started moving better and his ankle was a lot cleaner, so we gave him the green light. Offensively, that allows us to do so much more.”
Bea, the man
Overshadowed by Washougal’s 28-21 loss to Prairie was another stellar effort from junior Brevan Bea.
On offense, Bea rushed five times for 47 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown run. He also had a 17-yard reception that extended Washougal’s final drive.
On defense, he was in on several big stops and he came up with the biggest defensive play of the night — a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown that helped Washougal take a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.
