Wildcats will attempt to capture another Trico League title, starting with a win over White Salmon Friday
La Center Wildcats (5-2, 2-0 Trico League)
Week 1: Hockinson 42, La Center 6
Week 2: Woodland 35, La Center 28
Week 3: La Center 35, Ridgefield 7
Week 4: La Center 30, Hoquiam 19
Week 5: La Center 56, King’s Way Christian 14
Week 6: La Center 64, Stevenson 32
Week 7: La Center 48, Burlington-Edison 20
Next: vs. White Salmon, 7 p.m. Friday at La Center
Wyatt Dodson rushed for more than 300 yards as La Center won its fifth game in a row.
Fourth-down theme:
Burlington-Edison’s defense did an OK job early on in the down chart. But La Center owned fourth down.
La Center’s first touchdown was a fourth-down pass from Hayden Williamson to Jackson Leslie. Actually, it could have gone to any of three receivers.
The Wildcats faked out the defense, and there was one defensive back trying to cover three Wildcats in the end zone. WIlliamson had his choice.
La Center took the lead in the second quarter, picking up one first down on a third-down pass interference call. The key here, though, was Williamson avoiding what appeared to be a sure sack. He avoided the sack, kept the play alive, then threw the ball. His intended receiver was interfered with, giving La Center a first down. But that never would have happened if the QB had been sacked.
Later in the same drive, Dodson got the first of his five touchdown runs – and this one was on a fourth-down play.
Dodson used the vision that allowed for him to rush for 321 yards. The play was going right, but the lane was clogged. He pivoted left, found an opening and scored on an 11-yard run on fourth-and-2.
The Wildcats faced third-and-20 on their next drive. Normally a passing situation. Not necessarily. The Wildcats ran the ball, picking up 18 yards, setting up fourth-and-2. Dodson wanted more than a first down, though. He scored on a 22-yard run.
Good bounce, too:
Burlington-Edison had cut the lead to 14 at 27-13 when the Wildcats went on another impressive drive. There was a run of 19 yards, followed by 20, then 14. Later, a 13-yard run.
Dodson did not get the touchdown on this one, though, because he fumbled going into the end zone.
No problem. Evan Honore was there for an offensive recovery in the end zone for a touchdown.
It was La Center’s night.
More fourth-down plays:
Dodson scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but only after two fourth-down conversions. He had a 35-yard run from the 38, setting up La Center into the red zone. The next drive, he had a 22-yard run on fourth-and-1 from the 25.
Another big number for a big dude:
Wyatt Siebert now has 10 sacks and 13 tackles-for-loss this season for the Wildcats. He is 6-7. Coach John Lambert calls him The Mad Stork, the nickname of the very tall and very talented NFL Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks.
Coach Speak:
Who did John Lambert pick for his MVPs?
Offense: “Have to go with Wyatt Dodson. The second-highest game rushing total in La Center history. (Chris Concannon had 376 in a game in 2008.) It was a team effort. Burlington was big up front, and I am really proud of the team’s blocking and effort.”
Defense: “Thomas and Tanner Dreyer. Both had interceptions,’’ Lambert said. “They prevented any big plays from their passing game and both were very active.”
Thoughts on Week 8 vs. White Salmon: “White Salmon’s program has been ascending for the last few years,’’ Lambert said. “Coach Hallead has done an excellent job with their team. They are battling for a playoff spot, and so are we.”
