2B state football: Kalama cruises past Friday Harbor 32-14, setting up quarterfinal rematch against Onalaska

KALAMA — With a nearly fully healthy squad for the stretch run of the season, the Kalama football team is finally whole ahead of next week’s Class 2B state playoff quarterfinals.

The No. 5 seed Chinooks are headed to that stage to face Onalaska after getting past No. 12 Friday Harbor for a 32-14 win at Chinook Stadium, capping a perfect 7-0 mark for the season on their home field.

After facing a brief, 7-6 deficit after the Wolverines scored a touchdown to open the second quarter, Kalama buckled down and scored 20 unanswered points in the quarter. Junior quarterback Aiden Brown threw touchdown passes to Drew Schlangen and Ethan Brightbill, while Schlangen added one of his three rushing touchdowns to give Kalama a 26-7 lead at halftime.

Aside from that second-quarter Friday Harbor score, Kalama’s defense held the Wolverines scoreless until midway through the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.

“Dylan Jones was back, Luke Davidson was back, and everybody on defense was back,” said Schlangen, listing a number of players who returned this week from injuries. “I feel like our defense is something that nobody really wants to go against right now whenever we’re (at) full health.”

Yet for everything Kalama did well, the Chinooks were their own biggest critic after a game they felt they left plenty of room for improvement.

“We take away from this that, if we play like this again, we’re not going to be in the playoffs for much longer,” said Brown, who posted 302 passing yards with two touchdowns.

What specifically Kalama needs to clean up, Brown said, “(our) focus in practice day to day. … It’s been kind of a problem for us all year long. So, cleaning that up in practice and just making sure everyone’s on board.”

When it comes time to fine tune in practice next week, Kalama’s second-quarter performance will be a prime example to build from.

The Wolverines scored on a wild 47-yard play to open the quarter when Pierce Kleine caught a deep pass from Whiley McCutcheon, but fumbled just short of the goal line, before Channing Kleine recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a score.

The sequence appeared to be a wake-up call for the home team. Kalama put together an 11-play, 86-yard drive capped off by a 9-yard Schlangen touchdown catch from Brown. From there, the Chinooks’ defense twice turned over Friday Harbor on downs which led to two more touchdowns — a 5-yard Schlangen run and an 18-yard pass from Brown to Brightbill in the back corner of the end zone.

Brightbill finished with a team-high 137 receiving yards on eight catches, and served as Brown’s primary target when Kalama needed a conversion.

“Me and him have been playing together since like third grade, so we have a really strong connection,” Brown said. “It’s been great to have him all year. He’s my go-to.”

Kalama took its largest lead, 32-7, less than two minutes into the third quarter when Schlangen scored on a 23-yard touchdown run, his fourth score of the day. Schlangen finished with 95 rushing yards on 14 carries.

“(The) offensive line was blocking perfectly. I found holes; that’s why I scored,” Schlangen said. “Everybody on the O-line did great — Reece Achen, Aaron Winans, Kade Harriman — everybody on that whole line I would like to thank.”

Kalama’s matchup against No. 4 seed Onalaska in the quarterfinals is one the Chinooks are looking forward to. Kalama earned a 44-36 win over Onalaska on Oct. 6, yet were curiously seeded one spot behind for the state playoffs, while Onalaska was one of four teams to earn a first-round bye.

The Chinooks believe they were snubbed, and now have the chance to prove it in the rematch against the Loggers. The game will be played on Friday, Nov. 17 at Tenino High School.

“We should’ve been a No. 4 seed, but it’s whatever. We’ve gotta face adversity, and we’re going to win this game,” Schlangen said.

KALAMA 32, FRIDAY HARBOR 14

Fri. Harbor 0 7 0 7—14

Kalama 6 20 6 0—32

First quarter

K — Drew Schlangen 2 run (two-point conversion pass failed)

Second quarter

FH — Channing Kleine fumble recovery (Victor Velasquez kick)

K — Schlangen 9 pass from Aiden Brown (two-point conversion run failed)

K — Schlangen 5 run (two-point conversion pass failed)

K — Ethan Brightbill 18 pass from Brown (two-point conversion pass)

Third quarter

K — Schlangen 23 run (two-point conversion pass failed)

Fourth quarter

FH — Pierce Kleine 12 run (Velasquez kick)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Kalama: Ethan Brightbill 1-4, Drew Schlangen 14-95, Aiden Brown 1-(minus 5), Luke Davidson 2-(minus 5), Henry Sigfridson 1-(minus 5).

PASSING — Kalama: Aiden Brown 18-35-2-302, Henry Sigfridson 1-1-0-6.

RECEIVING — Kalama: Ethan Brightbill 8-137, Drew Schlangen 2-10, Henry Sigfridson 2-34, Quin Hahn 3-62, Jonny Martinez 3-59, Aiden Brown 1-6.