Thunder are 2-2 after four non-league games against Class 4A opponents

Mountain View Thunder (2-2)

Week 1: Mountain View 34, Ferris 7

Week 2: Union 26, Mountain View 21

Week 3: Mountain View 55, Battle Ground 22

Week 4: Skyview 49, Mountain View 21

Next: Mountain View vs. Hudson’s Bay, 8 p.m. Friday at Kiggins Bowl

The difficult non-league schedule against four Class 4A schools has come to an end, and now the Thunder are getting ready for 3A GSHL play.

Some gains, some setbacks:

It was a lopsided game — 42-7 at the half, in fact — but the Thunder did move the ball against another quality team.

The Thunder got a first down on the first drive.

They picked up three first downs, while overcoming two holding penalties, on their second drive, reaching the Skyview 1-yard line. They would lose a fumble there, costing them a chance to tie the game at 7. Skyview would go 99 yards the other way for a 14-0 lead instead.

Mountain View had one three-and-out series in the first half. The Thunder had a penalty to open that drive.

Next came two first downs before an interception.

The Thunder picked up four first downs on their first-half touchdown drive.

And then they lost their quarterback, Glen Perry Jr., to an injury on the next series.

Perry update:

Day to day is how Mountain View coach Adam Mathieson describes his quarterback’s injury. That means exactly that, so we won’t know if Perry will play Friday or not.

Perry led the team in rushing the first two weeks, then threw for six touchdown passes in Week 3. The dual-threat will be missed if he misses any time, let alone an extended period of time.

My favorite Mountain View play:

Skyview was already out to a big lead. Then the Thunder fumbled, and the ball was caught in midair by a Storm defender, who turned and ran toward the end zone.

Despite the score, despite the frustration of another turnover, the Thunder did not give up on the play. Nile Jones hustled and caught the Skyview player, tackling him before he could score a defensive touchdown.

Never give up in a game. Never give up during a play. Win or lose. Love that about watching this team every week.

Coach Speak:

What did Adam Mathieson learn about his team in Week 4? “We have been behind twice this year when the final whistle sounded, and in both cases we were on the wrong side of the turnover battle. In Week 2, we were behind by five points in the game and 2-1 in turnovers (one of which led directly to seven points). On Friday night, we spotted the hands-down best team on our schedule to date … five turnovers (and they scored off all of them). That is on me, and I will get it corrected.”

Thoughts on Week 5 vs. Hudson’s Bay: “It’s like returning to the scene of the crime, going back to Kiggins Bowl at 8 p.m. (the Thunder lost to Skyview at Kiggins) and playing a great Hudson’s Bay team,’’ Mathieson said. “They are 3-1, riding high after a great win last week and will most likely be favored this week. We will embrace the challenge before us; We need to have a great week of preparation as we will be in for a great 48 minutes of football.”