Peterson, Wolves advance

Black Hills 42, Woodland 7: Wolves rush for 425 yards in win

BART POTTER; For The Olympian | • Published November 07, 2009

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TUMWATER – Game-planning on how to stop the Woodland Beavers starts with a scheme for containing quarterback Trevor Hurn and a stable of receivers.

Woodland knew that slowing Black Hills running back Cody Peterson was its priority.

But neither team could have game-planned for the weather in a 42-7 Black Hills victory in a crossover Class 2A playoff game at Tumwater Stadium.

Not this weather. When the game started, it was hailing. That was followed by heavy rain.

The moisture hurt Woodland’s passing game more than it hurt Black Hills’ ground attack, which primarily means Peterson, who carried 32 times for 269 yards and three touchdowns.

“I never get tired of talking about Cody Peterson,” Black Hills coach Jack Zilla said. “He’s a wonderful kid. He’s a warrior.”

By halftime, the tally was Hurn 7-for-14 passing for 78 yards and a touchdown; Peterson 18 carries for 152 yards and a TD; five fumbles, two lost by the Wolves; and a blocked punt for a touchdown.

Late in the half, Black Hills’ Jared Pauly broke through to block a slow-developing punt that started as a fake. Ben Westrum and Marshall Green fell simultaneously on the wildly bouncing ball in the end zone with 34 seconds left in the first half to give the Wolves a 14-7 lead at halftime. Green was given credit for the touchdown.

The second half was more of the same – more weather, and then some more weather, and lots more Peterson. The senior carried four times for 52 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown, on the Wolves’ opening second-half possession.

Peterson carried eight more times for 56 yards on Black Hills’ next drive, the capper a 3-yard burst to the end zone.

Taylor Charette found the end zone when he took a Trent Alsin pass and outran his closest defenders to complete a 37-yard play. It was Alsin’s only completion of the night out of two attempts.

Tom Turner closed Black Hills’ scoring with a slashing 40-yard TD, two plays after the junior reeled off 42 yards on first down. The drive was set up when the Wolves took over on their 13 after the Beavers turned the ball over on downs on their deepest penetration of the second half.

Hurn, who passed for 312 yards and five touchdowns last week in a win over Ridgefield and had 400-plus yards against R. A. Long earlier this season, was everything as advertised on the Beavers’ opening drive, which ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Shane Brady on fourth-and-9.

He was less stellar the rest of the game, finishing 13-for-35 for 125 yards and two interceptions, both by Zeke Baxter.

Zilla credited linebacker Evan Jackson and defensive ends Kyle Davidson and Pauly for keeping the pressure on Hurn. Woodland was limited to 210 total yards, compared with 462 for Black Hills – 425 of it on the ground.

“My defensive staff and the kids did a great job this week in practice,” Zilla said. “We came out and showed it.”

Black Hills’ next playoff opponent depends on the outcome of games in Lynden and Longview. Mark Morris plays River Ridge and Lynden meets Squalicum other 2A games today.