Evergreen loses out in bid to advance to postseason

Evergreen finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League this season but the Plainsmen lost a tiebreaker with Hudson’s Bay and Prairie and will not advance to the playoffs.

Hudson’s Bay earns playoff bid in three-way tiebreaker with Plainsmen and Prairie

Evergreen Plainsmen (4-5, 2-3 3A GSHL)

Week 1: Evergreen 26, Columbia River 13 Week 2: Heritage 34, Evergreen 7 Week 3: Evergreen 12, Hudson’s Bay 7 Week 4: Evergreen 9, Black Hills 6 Week 5: Prairie 28, Evergreen 23 Week 6: Evergreen 56, Fort Vancouver 13 Week 7: Union 49, Evergreen 6 Week 8: Kelso 14, Evergreen 7 Week 9: Mountain View 55, Evergreen 3 Week 9.5: Evergreen lost a three-team tiebreaker Monday night and did not qualify for a Week 10 playoff game. The Plainsmen earned two more wins than in 2016 but came up a win, or a tiebreaker, short of qualifying for the playoffs.

Painful end:

The Plainsmen held Kelso to 14 points but could not get it done on offense in Week 8. By Week 9, they were so banged up, plus they had to play the league champs knowing that a loss would likely send them to a Monday tiebreaker. By Monday, it just was not meant to be this season for the Plainsmen. “We were a M*A*S*H unit,” Evergreen coach Terry Hyde said, noting that nine players in the main rotation either missed Monday or played injured. Hyde specifically noted Evergreen quarterback Triston Fich. “My hat’s off to Triston. He could barely walk, and he came out here and battled like that.” Prairie beat the Plainsmen in the first mini-game, ending Evergreen’s season. “They made the plays, and we didn’t,” Hyde said.

Season in general:

The Plainsmen desperately wanted that fifth win, to give them a winning regular season. They came up a win short. Probably did not help to have 4A GSHL champion Union on the non-league schedule. But there are a couple games the Plainsmen wish they could have back. Regardless, Hyde was impressed with how his players responded all year long. “They fought. They just kept fighting, fighting, fighting,” Hyde said. “Odds always seemed stacked against them, but they just fought through.” Hyde also noted wide receiver Luke Allen for his influence. “Luke has been a great catalyst for the kids, constantly inspiring the kids around him,” Hyde said. “He’s always positive.”