For West Linn, no shame in semifinal exit: ‘We did our best, and this is what our best got us’

“We had a lot of new guys, a lot of new starters, and to make it to the semifinals is a huge accomplishment for this group, and I’m just proud of all of us.”

By Dan Brood | Photos by Leon Neuschwander

The West Linn football team certainly had what easily could be called a successful 2021 fall season.

After all, the Lions shared the Three Rivers League championship with Lake Oswego and Tualatin before reaching the semifinal round of the Class 6A state playoffs.

But there was just one thing West Linn couldn’t overcome — Tualatin.

The Lions, whose only regular-season setback came against Tualatin, saw their season come to a close with a 35-13 loss to the same Timberwolves in a Class 6A semifinal Friday at Hillsboro Stadium.

But, West Linn says, that season-ending loss doesn’t take anything away from what the team accomplished — and how much the squad grew — during the 2021 fall campaign.

“At the beginning of the year, things were kind of shaky. We had some ups and downs as a team,” said West Linn junior receiver/defensive back Mark Hamper, who scored two touchdowns and had an interception in the semifinal. “We didn’t really know what our season was, but I think we broke through that and fought as a family. We truly became a family this season. We did our best, and this is what our best got us. Sometimes, at the end of the day, you just have to tip your cap to the opposing team.”

“We went through a lot. I think we had the toughest schedule in the state,” said West Linn senior receiver/defensive back Jordan Tawa, who had an interception Friday. “We had a lot of new guys, a lot of new starters, and to make it to the semifinals is a huge accomplishment for this group, and I’m just proud of all of us.”

West Linn finished its season 11-2. The Lions had plenty of highlights during the season, including wins over Jesuit and Lake Oswego, and a thrilling quarterfinal overtime victory against Lakeridge. But according to Tawa, maybe the biggest highlight for the team happened prior to all of that.

“It was even before the season started, at the Seaside team camp,” Tawa said. “Out there, we have a campfire every year. Everybody stands up and says their goals for the year. I think a lot of people feel that they accomplished their goals this year, and that’s really honorable.”

As for the semifinal game, West Linn found itself having to fight from behind early, as Tualatin took a 7-0 lead after Timberwolves junior Jack Wagner scored on a 9-yard run with 8 minutes and 11 seconds left in the first quarter. A 33-yard touchdown pass from Tualatin running back Malik Ross to tight end Richie Anderson increased the Timberwolves’ lead to 14-0 late in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Tawa gave the Lions a spark, making a leaping interception of a Tualatin pass with 1:27 remaining in the period.

“I was guarding (Tualatin senior) Cole (Prusia) all game, and obviously, he’s an incredible player. I have so much respect for him, and the things that he does, that I just try my best to contain him the best I can,” Tawa said. “I feel like I did a pretty good job. I’m just glad I got the pick, too. He got me on the drive before, on the same go route, with a back shoulder-type thing. I was just playing press bump-and-run on that one, so I bailed on this one, saw the ball the whole way, and jumped up and made a play on it.”

In the third quarter, Tualatin added to its lead. The Timberwolves, getting a 1-yard touchdown run by Ross and a 54-yard scoring run by Wagner, led 28-0 with 5:31 left in the period.

But West Linn kept fighting. The Lions answered with their first scoring drive of the game. An 11-yard pass by senior quarterback Chase Harmon to senior Zach Stefanich and a 39-yard pass from Harmon to Hamper helped set up a 5-yard Harmon-to-Hamper scoring toss, which cut the Tualatin lead to 28-7 with 2:31 left in the period.

Tualatin responded right away with a 50-yard touchdown run by Ross, but, again, the Lions kept battling.

Hamper came up with an interception in West Linn territory, returning the ball 37 yards to the Tualatin 46-yard line.

From there, a fourth-down 6-yard run by Wiley Donnerberg helped set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Hamper, making the score 35-13 with 3:54 left.

“You just have to be ready when a play comes to you, and a few plays came my way,” Hamper said. “I just had to make them happen.”

Hamper’s two touchdowns also helped show that the Lions were ready to battle to the very end.

“That’s what I like most. I like that we didn’t give up,” Tawa said. “It shows heart, shows character. It lets the guys coming back next year know that we can continue to fight. I’m just so proud of us.”

“We’re a team that’s never going to give up,” Hamper said. “When you’ve got these seniors that you’re playing for, who gave their heart and soul to this game of football, the guy right next to them has to give their heart and soul, too. That’s what a family does. We have each other’s back.”

Hamper was West Linn’s leading rusher, gaining 24 yards on 10 carries. Senior Jaxon Steinhauer had 11 yards on three carries.

Harmon completed 6 of 10 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. Junior Earl Ingle completed 6 of 20 passes for 65 yards.

Hamper was the Lions’ top receiver with five catches for 61 yards. Sophomore Gus Donnerberg had two catches for 36 yards, and Stefanich had two receptions for 11 yards.

For the West Linn defense, junior Jake Holmes had a sack. Hamper and Tawa each had a tackle for loss to go with their interceptions.

“This season was incredibly fun,” Tawa said. “I don’t get emotional. I’m bummed out, obviously, but I know that I can look back at my senior year and know it was an incredible season. It was a great season, a fun season.”

The Lions will have a strong group of returnees in 2022, including Hamper, Ingle, Holmes, Wiley Donnerberg, Koffi Kouame, Gus Donnerberg, Benjamin Winjum, kicker Gage Hurych and others.

And that group of Lions will be looking at this past season, and the semifinal setback, as inspiration for the future.

“It’s just going to be motivation,” Hamper said. “We’re going to get right back to work, starting next week. This is going to be motivation for us for next year, and next year, we’re going to go get that state championship.”

More photos, full game story