![Pierson Lameh was all over the field for the Prairie Falcons on Friday, helping out on offense with his strong running and blocking skills and dominating as a linebacker on defense. Photo by Mike Schultz](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Story_Clark-County-Today-Prairie-Football-37-RB-Pierson-Lameh-03.jpg)
Reporter Paul Valencia gives us his observations from Prairie’s big win over Evergreen
The Prairie Falcons still have hope of making it to the postseason.
Oh, they will need to win next week and get some help, but it is still possible to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League. That would set up some sort of tiebreaker contest to determine which team would go to the playoffs.
Yes, hope is alive at Prairie.
But no matter what happens next week, and no matter what happens if there is a tiebreaker, the Prairie Falcons will always be able to say they gave one of the most impressive defensive performances in recent memory on Friday night.
I’ve been covering high school sports in Clark County since the 2001 season. I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like this:
The Evergreen Plainsmen reached the red zone on their first four possessions on Friday night.
Didn’t score.
The Plainsmen reached the red zone two more times the rest of the game.
Didn’t score.
Three times — once after a fumble recovery and twice after long punt returns — the Plainsmen opened drives in the red zone.
Didn’t score.
Evergreen’s lone score on Friday was a fantastic kickoff return from Mr. Everything Jonathan Landry.
The rest of the game belonged to the Prairie defense.
“We knew this was our season,” linebacker Pierson Lameh said. “This was all we had if we wanted even a chance to make the playoffs. We went out there with heart and just played as hard as we could.”
![Pierson Lameh was all over the field for the Prairie Falcons on Friday, helping out on offense with his strong running and blocking skills and dominating as a linebacker on defense. Photo by Mike Schultz](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Story_Clark-County-Today-Prairie-Football-37-RB-Pierson-Lameh-03.jpg)
One of Evergreen’s red-zone drives ended with back-to-back sacks. Lameh and Noah Green teamed up for the third-down sack, then Lameh ran untouched into the backfield and brought down the Evergreen quarterback on the fourth-down play.
“Didn’t care how big the dude across from us was,” Lameh said. “We just hit him every single play with no regard. We were playing with an unstoppable force.”
![Jonathan Landry says so long to the Prairie special teams unit on his way to an 85-yard kickoff return for an Evergreen touchdown. Photo by Mike Schultz](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Story_Clark-County-Today-Evergreen-Football-4-WR-Jonathan-Landry-KO-TD-08.jpg)
The Falcons, like all teams in the region, did not get to practice outdoors much, or at all, this week because of smoky conditions.
“We’ve been wanting to hit so bad,” Green said. “Our coach hyped us up. We were ready.”
The first red-zone stop was relatively easy. Evergreen fumbled the ball.
The next three stops were from Prairie’s defense making play after play.
“After a couple of stops, we were so confident,” Green said. “We knew they could not get by us.”
![Aiden Miller hauled in this 32-yard touchdown pass to give Prairie a 7-0 lead late in the second quarter. Photo by Mike Schultz](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Story_Clark-County-Today-Prairie-Football-3-WR-Aiden-Miller-02.jpg)
The last Prairie stop did not happen in the red zone. But it was crunch time. Evergreen, trailing by seven and hoping to win to secure a playoff spot, had the ball at midfield in the closing minutes. Green rushed the quarterback, got to him as he was throwing the ball. The pass was misdirected by that hit, and Bryce Phillips got the interception.
A couple first downs by the Prairie offense, and it was time for Victory Formation.
![Prairie quarterback Braeden Slamp threw a touchdown pass and ran for one in Prairie’s 13-6 victory over Evergreen. Photo by Mike Schultz](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Story_Clark-County-Today-Prairie-Football-QB-5-Braeden-Slamp-01.jpg)
3A GSHL update
Prairie’s win sets up the potential for chaos.
If Prairie beats Heritage next week, and Kelso beats Evergreen, there will be a three-way tie for second place between Prairie, Evergreen, and Mountain View. Only one can go to the playoffs.
However, Evergreen, even with Friday’s loss, could still tie for a league title and earn the No. 1 seed from the league with a win next week against Kelso. If Evergreen beats Kelso, Prairie and Mountain View will be eliminated.
4A GSHL update
Camas has secured another league title, cruising past Union on Friday night to improve to 2-0 in a four-team league. Win or lose next week against Battle Ground, Camas is the No. 1 seed. Union and Skyview will square off in Week 9, with the winner earning a playoff berth.
2A GSHL update
Washougal held off a comeback attempt by Columbia River on Friday night to claim at least a share of the 2A Greater St. Helens League. The Panthers secured the No. 1 seed, as well. This is Washougal’s first league title since 1999.
Trico League update
La Center and Castle Rock will play each other next week for the league title. Seton Catholic and King’s Way Christian will play each other for third place. All four teams are going to the Week 10 district cross-over playoffs.
Also read:
- Raptors make a trade, giving them a home game in Ridgefield to celebrate Independence DayClark County’s West Coast League baseball team traded home dates with Corvallis, giving Raptors a home game on the day that the city of Ridgefield holds its annual Fourth of July Celebration, combining the Independence Day with baseball.
- Clark County Today Sports Podcast, July 3, 2024: What are the summer expectations for high school athletes and coaches?The sports administrators and reporter Paul Valencia discuss the expectations of high school athletes and coaches during the summer months, plus we talk about our Fourth of July traditions.
- Video: Children rally to Dash for Cash with the RaptorsThe annual Dash for Cash night, courtesy of iQ Credit Union, was a big success as children from Clark County got to sprint on the Ridgefield Raptors baseball field, looking for cash that was scattered throughout the outfield.
- New football coach: Prairie graduate Junior Miller prepared for job at PrairieJunior Miller is one of several new head football coaches at Southwest Washington high schools, and the 2002 Prairie High School graduate said he is excited to bring a new vibe to his old school.
- Curt Daniels Invitational baseball tournament starts Wednesday, June 26The Clark County baseball community invites baseball standouts from all over the Northwest every summer for a tournament to honor the memory of a teacher and a coach at the Curt Daniels Invitational.