The Woodland Beavers won a league championship Friday night.
Or, one could say they won it this past summer in team camp.
After all, there is so much to a championship season. It is not just the result on the field in Week 9.
It is the work in the offseason.
It is the character development of the players during the season.
It is the faith the Beavers have in one another, to do their jobs, even when some of the jobs change.
Michael Belvin was rewarded for his incredible attitude this season, finishing the regular season of his senior season with a game that will be remembered.
A pick-six.
Then another pick-six.
A long reception to set up the third touchdown of the game. And then he himself would score that third touchdown.
Just like that, Woodland was on its way to a 40-3 victory over rival Ridgefield to decide the North Division of the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League.
Belvin, who started the season as the starting quarterback, said it was a great move by the team to change quarterbacks because his teammate, Jackson Andrews, made the Beavers better.
Seven weeks later, Belvin, Andrews, and the rest of the Beavers celebrated a championship.
“He’s a very good quarterback,” Belvin said of Andrews. “The best quarterback in our league and probably the best player in our league. Him going to QB allowed our offense to be more dominant and play better football.”
Andrews, though, credited Belvin for making the transition so easy.
“It’s amazing how unselfish he is,” Andrews said. “He never complains. He just puts his head down and works. He made plays tonight, and he’s been making plays all season.”
Belvin was the plan at QB1 for the Beavers going into the season.
Andrews, though, got an opportunity, by chance, this past summer at team camp at George Fox University. Belvin was unable to play that week, and Andrews was superb, voted the top quarterback in camp.
Woodland coach Glen Flanagan was impressed. He noted that everything starts with the quarterback position, the leadership role. After camp, the Beavers knew they were solid.
“When the chips are down, do you have a guy there?” Flanagan asked. “We have two dudes.”
After a loss in Week 2 to La Center, the Beavers made the change. But only after Flanagan had a discussion with Belvin.
“He was supportive. ‘Let’s go for it.’ He goes, ‘I can play a lot of other positions,’” Flanagan recalled. “It worked out great just cuz those are great guys.”
Belvin was more than supportive.
“I was really excited. I always wanted to play wide receiver and I kind of didn’t like playing QB so it was an easy switch,” Belvin said.
Woodland has gone on to win five of its last six games, with Andrews shining at quarterback.
Both Andrews and Belvin play both sides of the ball, too. And last week, it was Andrews who had two pick-sixes in the same game. Andrews also scored on offense last week for three total touchdowns — just like Belvin in Friday’s win.
“I’ve got to give all glory to God. It’s God’s plan. He had that set out for us,” Andrews said.
Woodland’s plan was to get back on top of the 2A GSHL. Mission accomplished.
“It’s our third league championship in four years, so I guess we’re doing something right,” Flanagan said. “These kids, they are great kids. They play hard, get after it. That’s what we do. We hit hard, and we play hard.”
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League champions around Southwest Washington
This season will forever feature two champions from the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League. As noted throughout the season, the 2A GSHL had a bizarre setup this season, with two divisions. Administrators opted to say that each division winner will be recognized as a league champion. Woodland won the North Division on Friday.
The South Division? That, too, was decided Friday.
And here is a salute to the Hockinson Hawks.
The Hawks stunned the defending league champion Washougal Panthers on Friday 21-14 to claim the title.
Hockinson improved to 5-4 overall to pick up its first winning regular season since 2021. The Hawks won one game in 2024 and only two games last year.
Now, they are league champions.
In another game that determined a champion, Kelso took down Evergreen 47-36 at McKenzie Stadium for the 3A GSHL crown.
Skyview had already won the 4A GSHL title. The Storm completed an undefeated regular season with a win over Union on Friday.
And Seton Catholic had already won the Trico League title. The Cougars won Friday to finish league play at 6-0.
All playoff teams will find out their Week 10 playoff matchups soon, likely this weekend.
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