Washougal beats Columbia River for first league title since 1999

On a wet night, the Washougal football program had a watershed moment.

With a gritty 28-23 win over Columbia River on Friday, the Panthers clinched a share of their first league title since they won the Trico League in 1999.

Washougal (7-1, 6-0) will be the No. 1 seed out of the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League. The Panthers hold a one-game lead over Mark Morris and can wrap up the title outright with a win over Hockinson next Friday in the regular-season finale.

“We have a banner in our weight room reminding us of the last time somebody won a league title,” lineman and co-captain Jose Alvarez-Cruze said. “We have to see that every day when we’re lifting weights. We had to know that it’s not us that board yet. And now it is, so that’s a very good feeling.”

It didn’t come easy. On a cool, rainy night at John O’Rourke Field, Washougal turned to its running game.

Liam Atkin answered that call. The senior rushed for three touchdowns and 131 yards on 24 carries.

“I knew it wasn’t just for me,” Atkin said. “It was for all by buddies beside me and all my linemen. They were doing it for me and I was doing it for them. They made it really easy for me.”

Atkin found the end zone twice in the first quarter. After scoring from 4 yards on a direct snap, he scored on a 6-yard run four plays after Washougal recovered a fumble in Columbia River territory.

“It was like the game slowed down,” Atkin said. “It was wide open. (Alvarez-Cruze) was like, follow me we’re going to the end zone. OK, nothing more I’ve got to do but run the ball.”

The Panthers led 14-0, but it wouldn’t be a cakewalk thanks to Columbia River quarterback Adam Watts. The senior completed his first 14 passes and racked up 335 passing yards on a night where the weather wasn’t inviting to the aerial game.

Watts also used his legs. His 21-yard scramble set up his 1-yard touchdown on a QB keeper on the next play. That pulled The Rapids (3-5, 2-4) within 17-10 late in the second quarter.

Watts’ top target was junior Thomas Blau, who had nine catches for138 yards. In the fourth quarter, the pair connected for a 40-yard pass on fourth and 20. The next play, Watts ran 10 yards to the end zone to cut Washougal’s lead to 20-17.

At that point, a strong squall hit West Hazel Dell, blowing a canopy onto the field. Washougal had to go into the driving rain, a task made easier when Atkin returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to River’s 35-yard line.

But River had life when it recovered a fumble at its own 10 with roughly three minutes to play.

Washougal’s defense, however, held strong and forced a four-and-out for turnover on downs. A few plays later, Atkins rushed 13 yards for his third touchdown to give the Panthers a 28-17 lead.

The rain let up as Watts scored his third rushing touchdown on the final play of the game. But that didn’t dampen Washougal’s celebration of its first league title in any of its players’ lifetimes.

“We’ve been preaching since summer weights that this is what we wanted,” Alvarez-Cruze said. “We’ve always believed in ourselves. Not cocky, but we believed that we could accomplish this.”

WASHOUGAL 28, COLUMBIA RIVER 23

Washougal 14 3 3 8—28

Col.River 0 10 0 13—23

First quarter

W — Liam Atkin 4 run (Koby Johnson kick)

W — Atkin 6 run (Johnson kick)

Second quarter

CR — FG, Gage Newman 30

W — FG, Johnson 32

CR — Adam Watts 1 run (Newman kick)

Third quarter

W — FG, Johnson 25

Fourth quarter

CR — Watts 10 run (Newman kick)

W — Atkin 13 run (William Cooper run)

CR — Watts 10 run (no PAT)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Washougal: Liam Atkin 24-131, Holden Bea 12-67, William Cooper 2-12. Columbia River: Levi Hongel 1-(minus-2), Nicholas Ianello 3-4, Adam Watts 12-53, Elijah Anguiano 3-14.

PASSING — Washougal: Holden Bea 14-23-0-135. Columbia River: Adam Watts 28-37-1-335.

RECEIVING — Washougal: Liam Atkin 5-16, Sam Evers 3-42, Jayson Graham 1-6, Talon Connelly 3-38, William Cooper 2-33. Columbia River: Thomas Blau 9-138, Chris Parkin 8-63, Elijah Anguiano 2-17, Satchel Baskette 1-8, Jacobi Fobbs 4-31, Levi Hongel 3-15, Hayden Rupp 1-12.