Eagles to travel to Bellevue for Saturday state qualifier
Hudson’s Bay Eagles (6-3, 2-3 3A GSHL)
Week 1: Hudson’s Bay 31, La Salle (Ore.) 28
Week 2: Hudson’s Bay 34, Rochester 7
Week 3: Evergreen 12, Hudson’s Bay 7
Week 4: Hudson’s Bay 16, Woodland 15
Week 5: Mountain View 38, Hudson’s Bay 25
Week 6: Hudson’s Bay 16, Prairie 13
Week 7: Hudson’s Bay 48, Mark Morris 0
Week 8: Hudson’s Bay 54, Fort Vancouver 0
Week 9: Kelso 26, Hudson’s Bay 24
Week 9.5: Hudson’s Bay won three-team tiebreaker Monday night to clinch third playoff berth from 3A GSHL
Week 10: at Bellevue, 7 p.m. Saturday in Class 3A state qualifier playoff.
The Eagles were heartbroken after Friday’s last-play loss to Kelso. But only heartbroken for a few hours. They had to focus on the tiebreaker. Then they returned the program to the postseason.
Hudson’s Bay grabs final Class 3A GSHL playoff berth
Quite the rebound:
It was close. Real close. We’re talking probably inches, not even a foot, and certainly not a yard. It was close.
Did the Kelso player reach the end zone? Or was he stopped just inches from the goal line?
The officials had a tough call to make Friday night, and they ruled touchdown. Last play of the game, too. That is how Kelso won to finish second in the 3A GSHL and that is how Hudson’s Bay fell into a three-way tie for third place.
It could have been devastating for the Eagles. Instead, it was a setback.
Of course they would have preferred second place. Of course they would have loved it if the official had ruled the player was down before reaching the end zone. Then again, they would have preferred stopped the ball carrier from even being in that position.
The Eagles, though, did not have much time to think about all the what-ifs from Friday night. If they wanted to make the playoffs for the first time since 2001, they had to regain their focus for Monday’s tiebreaker.
Prairie beat Evergreen, but then Hudson’s Bay beat Prairie in the mini-games. Quadrese Teague scored on a TD pass from Brian Perez for the Eagles. Defensively, Sir Barnes crushed the Prairie quarterback, forcing a bad throw that was intercepted by Seth Fox. Barnes was still on the ground when the interception was made.
“The celebration was earth-shaking,” Barnes said. “Just excitement and happiness.”
Congratulations to the Eagles for being playoff-bound. And more importantly, for getting a high grade in this life lesson. Things are not always going to go your way. How you respond to those things is crucial.
“It’s been the same thing with these guys all year long. This team is focusing on the next thing,” Hudson’s Bay coach Ray Lions said. “They haven’t been concerned about the last thing. They focus on the next play or the next situation.
“Our mission has been to play in November, play in Week 10. These guys stuck with it.”
MVPs of Week 9:
Lions said the entire line should get the nod for best performance on offense against Kelso. Defensively, Marco Cadiz shined. “Leadership, running the defense, keeping it together,” Lions said.
Next:
The Eagles have a tough task ahead, traveling to face 8-1 Bellevue in a Class 3A state qualifier playoff game. Bellevue’s only loss came against Class 4A Richland, the team that finished second in state last year.
