Week 7: What we learned from high school football in Olympia area

Tough competition may be exactly what the doctor ordered for playoff-bound teams. Tenino and Timberline got wins over conference rivals this week, while Tumwater likely benefitted from a loss to 4A power Camas that went down to the final minute. Here’s what we learned from Week 7 of the high school football season in the Olympia area.

SECOND LOSS TO A RUGGED FOE COULD HONE TUMWATER FOR PLAYOFFS

It’s rare for both coaches to say their team got the same value from a game, even one as close as Tumwater’s 28-26 loss to visiting Camas on Friday night.

The Papermakers (3-4) opened their season with four consecutive losses to four of Oregon’s top teams, Central Catholic, Clackamas, Jesuit and West Linn, before bouncing back to win their first two 4A Greater Saint Helen’s League games. Still ahead are the two other contenders for the GSHL crown, Skyview and Union.

Camas’ battle with Tumwater (4-2), which wasn’t decided until the Thunderbirds missed a two-point conversion with 30 seconds to play, gave Papermakers’ first-year coach Jack Hathaway exactly what he’d hoped for.

“It’s huge,” he said. “To beat a program like that is really good for our kids’ confidence. We’ve been through a ride like no other.”

Meanwhile, Tumwater’s Bill Beattie said earlier in the week that he likes a schedule mixing games the T-Birds can win handily, allowing free substitution and development of depth, with challenging contests against top flight opponents.

For the second time this season, after losing in overtime to Central Catholic last month, Tumwater, ranked No. 1 in 2A, got just that against 4A power Camas. The T-Birds fell behind 28-7 in the first half thanks to a proliferation of penalties and mistakes, before scoring 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to nearly force overtime.

Tumwater won the last 2A state tournament contested, in 2019, while Camas won 4A state that season, so fireworks were to be expected. Fans got their money’s worth as the teams played what Beattie called “two different games.”

“We want to play great competition and teams like that are going to come out and get after you,” Beattie said. “It took us a half to wake up. We made way too many mistakes. Those mistakes fall on my shoulders. We had way too many penalties, way too many miscues.”

Tumwater’s rally came with Alex Overbay coming in at quarterback in place of starter Brady Prothero.

Taking over at their own 27 late in what turned out to be a scoreless third quarter, the T-Birds moved quickly to the Camas 30. On the first play of the fourth period, Overbay threw a cross field pass to receiver Seth Weller to cut Camas’ lead to 28-14.

Holding Camas to just five yards on its next possession, Tumwater put together a 14-play, 69-yard drive culminating in another 1-yard touchdown blast by Matheney, who totaled 150 yards rushing.

What turned into disaster struck, though, when a bad snap on the extra point attempt left Tumwater down, 28-20.

With just three minutes to play, the T-Birds needed to recover an onside kick and did. This time, they drove 45 yards in nine plays and scored when Overbay, who completed 8 of 10 passes for 113 yards, found Ryan Otton for a 21-yard touchdown.

“Alex stepped in and did a fantastic job during the second half,” said Beattie.

On the two-point conversion, though, the guy who had shined in Camas’ passing game, Thorkelson, stymied Tumwater’s, stepping in front of tight end Ryan Otton to intercept Overbay’s pass.

“I saw the quarterback staring (Otton) down, so I just went there and got it,” Thorkelson said.

In addition to Matheney’s production on the ground, Tumwater got 105 yards rushing from Hoyt.

The T-Birds’ next opponent will be Pioneer Bowl rival Black Hills, but Beattie says the job at practice over the coming days will be to reduce Tumwater’s own mistakes as much as working on a scouting report.

“I can’t wait for Monday,” Beattie said. “I can’t wait to get back out on the field. Our kids are going to be hungry to play next week.”

Meanwhile, Centralia (1-6) notched its first victory of the season, snapping a 10-game losing streak with a 29-14 victory over Hoquiam. The Tigers broke a 6-6 halftime tie on a fumble return for a touchdown by Chase Sobelesky and never looked back.

Sobelesky rushed 14 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns while Anthony Saucedo gained 67 yards and Gabe Seymour 42.

“Everywhere, from top to bottom, we played well,” said Centralia coach Jeremey Thibault. “Both sides of the ball, our linebackers made some plays. Ariel Velazquez was flying around.”

W.F. West improved to 5-2, 3-1 in the 2A Evergreen Conference, with a 45-14 home rout of Aberdeen as quarterback Gavin Fugate rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns while Brock Guyette ran for two other Bearcats’ scores.

Black Hills fell to 1-6 as Shelton (3-4) bounced back from a dismal loss at Tumwater to rout the Wolves, 36-7.

TENINO GETS ANOTHER SIGNATURE WIN, DOWNING MONTESANO

Takari Hickle embraced his role as Tenino’s workhorse, rushing for 187 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries as the Beavers grabbed a 20-point halftime lead and held on for their first home win over 1A Evergreen Conference power Montesano in 24 years, 32-26.

“We’ve always been underestimated. The time for that is over,” said the Oregon State-bound Hickle. “We’ve earned our respect now.”

Sixth-ranked Tenino (6-1) rolled up a total 354 yards rushing, with Dylan Spicer joining Hickle in triple figures with 102 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

The Beavers led 32-12 at the half but were plagued by penalties after intermission.

Montesano (3-3), which was the undefeated 1A EvCo champ during the spring season, had a chance to catch the Beavers, but on fourth down inside Tenino territory, Hickle and Andres Capilla-Zumido combined for a sack of Bulldogs’ quarterback Jaxson Wilson that ended any doubt as to the winner.

“There are times when you have to dig deep and make plays,” Hickle said. “Andres is an all-star. He’s 24/7, all motor, all the time.”

Elma had a tougher time with Eatonville than Tenino did, falling 51-6 on the road. Jarred Bailey’s 70-yard touchdown run was the Eagles’ lone score.

YELM ROLLS PAST RAMS, CLINCHES TITLE OFF THE FIELD

Yelm, which moved up to #2 in this week’s Associated Press rankings, blasted North Thuston, 47-6, for its 13th straight win as Palaina Hooper threw four touchdown passes, two each to Nathan Paul and Aden Schaler.

Schaler also ran a punt back 60 yards for a score. Kollin Gifford and William Carretto ran for TDs. Defensively, Logan Platt recorded three sacks.

Aiden Godines caught a 25-yard pass from Eli Anglin for North Thurston’s only touchdown

The Tornados’ bid for another 3A South Sound Conference championship was solidified away from the playing surface, though, when Peninsula cancelled two games because of COVID-19 protocols, including what was expected to be a showdown for the championship with Yelm (7-0) on Thursday.

The Seahawks were undefeated in league play before calling off games with Central Kitsap and Yelm. The Tornados have not yet scheduled a replacement game.

Timberline upped its record to 5-2 with a hard-fought 37-32 victory over crosstown rival River Ridge. Capital (2-5) fell 29-7 to Gig Harbor.

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN GETS TOP SEED IN SIX-MAN

Junior Babber piled up 211 yards of total offense to lead Northwest Christian to a 46-26 road win at Mary M. Knight, giving the Wolverines (3-0) top seed and home field advantage in the WIAA’s experimental six-man football playoffs.

With one game remaining, at home on Tenino’s field against Wishkah Valley on October 29, the Wolverines assured themselves of home games in the playoff semi-finals, and if they win, the finals in early November.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how our defense played,” said Northwest coach Kyle Dunn. “MMK came in averaging more than 50 points per game. To hold them to just over half their average was a testament to the defense’s focus, preparation and effort.”

Dig Zilla had 13 tackles and Isaac Appadurai 10 to pace that Wolverines’ defense. Zilla also scored two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, in 2B action, Rainier (0-4) fell on the road, 38-28, to Pe Ell Willapa Valley despite a big passing night from Mountaineers’ quarterback Ian Sprouffske, who completed 19 of 42 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns.

OLYMPIA’S PLAYOFF HOPES WANE AFTER THIRD STRAIGHT LOSS

Olympia (2-5) dropped its third consecutive 4A South Puget Sound League game, 28-14 at home to Curtis, to leave their playoff chances hanging by a thread pending this week’s game at Bethel.

Gabe Downing completed 26 of 41 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns to Mason Juergens. Kenyatta McNeese, Jr. rushed 16 times for 67 yards. Juergens totaled nine catches for 106 yards while Jayce Walters caught six passes.