VANCOUVER — There were times when Jeremiah Wright walked toward the sideline between plays and begged his coach to throw him the ball even more Saturday night at the Freedom Bowl Classic.
His coach reminded him that he was being double-teamed.
So?
Wright could have been triple-, maybe quadruple-teamed, and it probably would not have made much difference.
When the West team needed a big play, they did throw the ball to No. 21. The recent Skyview graduate delivered, catching 13 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns, earning the all-star football game’s most valuable player trophy.
Hudson’s Bay quarterback Jordan Hickman had the high school game of his life, as well, throwing four TD passes as the West led from start to finish for a 38-23 victory.
The high school game is the main event of a special day celebrating football and charity. There were two Clark County Youth Football games earlier in the afternoon at McKenzie Stadium.
The Freedom Bowl Classic is a fundraiser for Shriners Hospital for Children. Several youngsters who are or have been under the care of Shriners Hospitals were in attendance. This was the 15th Freedom Bowl.
At halftime, both teams honored the parents of Hunter Pearson, the star running back from Columbia River who was planning to play in this game. Pearson died in a drowning accident in May. The Shriners gave his parents a No. 30 jersey and players from both teams lined up to show their support.
This was more than just any other charity game for one father and son. This was the culmination of almost a lifetime of work for Ryan Bishop. He has been coming to this game since he was 3 years old. His father, Ric, a Shriner, has helped produce this game since its inception in 2003.
As Ryan got older, he started volunteering, helping in the ticket booth, helping wherever he could, continuing the family tradition of giving.
This year, instead of helping out around the stadium, Ryan played in the game, representing Hockinson High School. His father called it a “family dream come true.”
As far as the game, it was the Hickman-to-Wright show much of the night.
Wright caught TD passes of 34, 8, and 54 yards. He also played some defense, giving him the edge for overall MVP of the game.
Hickman completed 22 of 34 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns and was named his team’s offensive player of the game.
Derek Nelson of Skyview caught a TD pass. Columbia River’s Nathaniel Trevino rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
Trevino also had an interception in the end zone that turned into a 14-point swing as the West would go on to score on the ensuing possession. Trevino was named his team’s defensive player of the game.
For the East, Kevin Aguirre of Prairie passed for 234 yards and a score and was the game’s leading rusher with 81 yards and a touchdown. He was his team’s offensive player of the game.
Luke Miller of Mountain View caught five passes for 112 yards.
Hockinson’s Gannon Kytola was the East’s defensive player of the game for his hard hits and half-dozen tackles.
Individual statistics:
West:
Nathaniel Trevino (Columbia River): 14 carries, 66 yards, 2 TDs; 1 catch, 14 yards.
Riley Opgrande (R.A. Long): 7 carries, 36 yards.
Jordan Hickman (Hudson’s Bay): 4 carries, 9 yards; 22-34 passing, 311 yards, 4 TDs.
Brett Judd (La Center): 6 carries, 38 yards
Jared Bacon (Hudson’s Bay) 1 carry, 6 yards.
Dalton Garrett (Columbia River) 1-1 passing, 35 yards; 2 catches, 4 yards.
Jeremiah Wright (Skyview) 13 catches, 267 yards, 3 TDs.
Michael Garrison (King’s Way Christian) 2 catches, 14 yards.
Derek Nelson (Skvyew) 5 catches, 47 yards
East:
Kevin Aguirre (Prairie): 13 carries, 81 yards, TD; 13-31 passing, 234 yards, TD
Gannon Kytola (Hockinson): 9 carries, 46 yards.
Oscar Patino-Gonzalez (Heritage): 4 carries, 20 yards, TD; 1 catch, minus-1 yard.
Denis Baraiac (Heritage): 2 catches, 20 yards.
Devan Riggs (Hockinson): 4 catches, 55 yards, TD.
Luke Miller (Mountain View): 5 catches, 112 yards.
Jaelen Stephen (Prairie): 1 catch, 48 yards.
