Plainsmen to meet Union in non-league game Thursday before finishing season with league powers Kelso and Mountain View
Evergreen Plainsmen (4-2, 2-1 3A GSHL)
Week 1: Evergreen 26, Columbia River 13
Week 2: Heritage 34, Evergreen 7
Week 3: Evergreen 12, Hudson’s Bay 7
Week 4: Evergreen 9, Black Hills 6
Week 5: Prairie 28, Evergreen 23
Week 6: Evergreen 56, Fort Vancouver 13
Next: vs. Union, 7:30 p.m. Thursday at McKenzie Stadium
Brotherly connection:
The Evergreen Plainsmen took advantage of the schedule to get playing time for a lot of people. Including a freshman quarterback.
Landon Allen came into the game, and the coaches gave him one assignment. Complete a pass to his brother, junior Luke Allen.
“A brother to brother thing that we wanted to make happen for them,” Evergreen coach Terry Hyde said. “Biggest excitement on our sideline was the Allen to Allen touchdown.”
Big brother helped his younger brother out, too. It was a 50-50 ball with the Fort defender, but Luke was able to outmuscle him for the ball, then waltzed into the end zone for his own touchdown reception and his brother’s touchdown pass.
Quick start:
Evergreen scored four first-quarter touchdowns in this one.
The Plainsmen got an interception from Miguel Cruz in the first quarter. And another from a defensive lineman. Forgive me, I could not see the number on the video. But think it was No. 75, Nate Fuatagavi. Evergreen also recovered a fumble.
Zyell Griffin had a 33-yard touchdown run. He made a spectacular move early in the play. Plus he had plenty of help. Nadil Hodzic blocked two different Trappers on the play, and David Crawford was still blocking his man 30 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Coach Speak:
What did Terry Hyde think of Week 6? “We had the opportunity to play a lot of players and get everybody involved. The younger players did a nice job of stepping up to the challenge.”
MVP on offense: “Nadil Hodzic did a great job running routes, blocking, and just doing an all-around nice job supporting the offensive scheme.”
MVP on defense: Linebacker Jacob Tillman. Seven tackles, two pass break-ups, and a “nice job of orchestrating the defense,” Hyde said.
Thoughts on Week 7 vs. Union: “They’re on the schedule. We’ll show up. Looking forward to the challenge,” Hyde said.
Because of the odd number of teams in the 4A and 3A GSHLs, there is a non-league game every week. This particular game really sticks out like a sore thumb for both squads. Union has Skyview and Camas in Weeks 8 and 9. Evergreen has Kelso and Mountain View to finish the regular season.
“It is a matter of getting this game done and getting out of there healthy,’’ Hyde said. “Both teams have quality league opponents (coming up) with playoff implications.”
