High school football: Special tribute on Friday at Columbia River High School

Columbia River fans, shown here at Kiggins Bowl last week, will get a true home game Friday, the first game on campus since 2019. The school is naming its football field after John O’Rourke. The former head coach, who led the program for 22 years, passed away last year. Photo by Mike Schultz

Football field to be named for former coach John O’Rourke

It was already going to be a big night at Columbia River High School on Friday with the opening of league play in the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League.

It will also be a special night for Columbia River football, its legacy.

With the renovated stadium opening, the field on the school’s campus will be named for John O’Rourke, the man who was the head coach for 22 seasons and with the program for 38 football campaigns.

O’Rourke retired from coaching after the 2015 season. He went 154-77, winning nine league titles. O’Rourke died last November at the age of 76.

There will be a pre-game ceremony before Columbia River takes on Mark Morris in a league contest. Clark County Today will be at the ceremony and will post a story, to go with photos.

While the River community honors O’Rourke, the rest of the county will honor the coach’s legacy by playing football.

The big one in the 2A GSHL is Hockinson at Ridgefield. Hockinson was the power of this league for years before Ridgefield took over the top spot last year.

These two teams played each other in Week 3 a year ago, as well. Back then, it was pretty widely accepted that the winner of that game would go on to win the league title. And that’s what happened. Ridgefield rolled over Hockinson, then rolled over everyone else.

This year? Not so fast. Oh sure, the winner of this game will have a great start toward winning a league title, but there are several teams in the league capable of winning the championship this season. This Week 3 game — and first league game — is important, but there will be plenty of football remaining in the 2A GSHL.

Hudson’s Bay will host R.A. Long, and Woodland will be hosting Washougal in the other two league games.

The Trico League has a league game, too, with Stevenson taking on Fort Vancouver.

Most of Week’s 3 schedule of non-league games for Clark County.

Union and Mountain View renew their district rivalry at McKenzie Stadium in the second game of a doubleheader. Evergreen will try to remain undefeated when the Plainsmen host Kentlake in the first game at McKenzie.

Skyview and Camas are both on the road for Saturday battles.

The battle of the Battle Ground School District is going on at, you guessed it, Battle Ground’s District Stadium. It’s Prairie vs. Battle Ground.

In Class 1A, La Center kicked off Week 3 with a 49-24 win over Kalama on Thursday.

Here is a look at the full schedule of Clark County football teams in Week 3:

Friday:

2A GSHL
Hockinson at Ridgefield, 7 p.m.
Mark Morris at Columbia River, 7 p.m.
Washougal at Woodland, 7 p.m.
R.A. Long vs. Hudson’s Bay, 8 p.m. at Kiggins Bowl

Trico League
Stevenson vs. Fort Vancouver, 5 p.m. at Kiggins Bowl

Non-League
Kentlake vs. Evergreen, 4:30 p.m. at McKenzie Stadium
Meridian at King’s Way Christian, 6 p.m.
Battle Ground vs. Prairie, 7 p.m. at District Stadium
Heritage at East Valley-Yakima, 7 p.m.
Mountain View vs. Union, around 7 p.m., after the first game at McKenzie Stadium
Life Christian at Seton Catholic, 7 p.m.

Saturday:

Non-League
Skyview vs. Bothell, 3 p.m. at Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell
Camas at Lincoln, 4 p.m.

Football field to be named for former coach John O’Rourke

Friday:

Saturday:

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