Ashworth stars; Bulldogs repeat
The second go-round was far more sweet for Okanogan quarterback Clay Ashworth.
He sat out 11 games last season with a Lisfranc fracture — including the Class 2B state championship game.
Not this time.
The senior racked up 306 total offensive yards and three passing touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to their second title win over Napavine in as many years, 36-34, on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.
“It was really tough last year, a lot of emotions going, I couldn’t be with my team,” Ashworth said. “They got it done. This year, it kind of built up a fire in me. … We made it happen together.”
This is the second state-championship win for coach Erick Judd (fifth season) and third overall for Okanogan. Both of Judd’s wins are over Napavine — last season, the Bulldogs held on to win, 17-14.
“Last year was a nail-biter, too,” Judd said. “It felt about the same. They’re a great coaching staff, both people are making adjustments, just a great game.”
But Okanogan had to come from behind to do it this year.
Ashworth and Napavine quarterback Wyatt Stanley — who tallied 365 total offensive yards and had a hand in all five of the Tigers’ touchdowns — traded scores before Napavine took a two-score lead, 27-14, on a Stanley 1-yard run with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter
The Bulldogs forced a safety with 2:15 remaining in the third and scored on the ensuing drive on a 3-yard run by Greyson Fields.
Less than two minutes later, Ashworth hit Mason Guerette for 46 yards to give Okanogan its first lead at 30-27.
Napavine retook the lead on a 31-yard pass from Stanley to Mac Fagerness, but Fields answered with the winner on a 1-yard run with 2:54 to play.
“I always say it takes skill and luck to get here, so when you get here, you better win,” Judd said.
And he has. Twice.
Lauren Smith: 360-754-5473, @smithlm12
Okanogan 7 7 2 20_36
Napavine 7 13 7 7_34
N – Jordan Purvis 34 pass from Wyatt Stanley (Austin Filley kick)
O – Mason Guerrette 56 pass from Clay Ashworth (Arnulfo Mercado kick)
N – Chase Van Wyck 5 pass from Stanley (Filley kick)
O – Riley Prescott 3 pass from Ashworth (Mercado kick)
N – Mac Fagerness 34 pass from Stanley (kick failed)
N – Stanley 1 run (Filley kick)
O – Safety
O – Greyson Fields 3 run (2-pt attempt failed)
O – Guerrette 46 pass from Ashworth (Guerrette pass from Ashworth)
N – Mac Fagerness 31 pass from Stanley (Filley kick)
O – Fields 1 run (kick blocked)
This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 11:19 PM with the headline "Ashworth stars; Bulldogs repeat."