4 Washington high school football games you should not have missed from Week 9 (10/27/2023)

Woodland caps off regular season with first 2A Greater St. Helens League championship in more than a decade

Everything Elijah Anderson does looks easy.

The Woodland High School football star was a difference maker and helped his team nail down a 2A Greater St. Helens League title, the school’s first league crown since 2007.

Anderson racked up three first-half touchdowns as Woodland put away Ridgefield early and then finished off a 28-21 victory to claim its first league title in 16 years on Friday night.

WEEK 9 WASHINGTON FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

“We came out firing on all cylinders, you know the offense played great the first half,” Woodland coach Sean McDonald said. “I think (Ridgefield) made some good defensive changes at half and they really came to play in the second half.”

In the 104th meeting all-time between the two schools, Woodland (7-2 overall, 6-1 league) evened the series at 50-50-4 with the victory. Ridgefield (6-3, 5-2) likely will be involved in a playoff tiebreaker to play in the postseason Week 10.

“I’m just so proud of these boys,” said McDonald. “I don’t think anyone counted us in for a league championship, except ourselves.”

Cly Stephens, who had two rushing TDs for Ridgefield, pulled the Spudders within 28-21 with 5:45 to play in the game on a 6-yard scoring run on fourth-and-2.

Woodland senior lineman Cody Armstrong snared a tipped pass for an interception with 2:36 left in the game to help the Beavers seal the win. Jess Starr tipped the pass over the middle and Armstrong gathered it in.

The Spudders had one last gasp, taking over with the ball at their own 43-yard line with 43.3 seconds to go, but Anderson batted down one last pass attempt to make the outcome official.

“We just did everything right,” McDonald said. “(Anderson) is just one of those dudes offensively you just try to get him the ball at all times and as much as possible. He’s just always there where the ball is on defense, and one of those big-time playmakers.”

Woodland built a 20-0 lead with 6:21 left before halftime on the strength of two short rushing touchdowns by Anderson, his 20th and 21st of the season. Anderson added a 27-yard TD catch just before intermission as the Beavers hiked their lead to 28-6 at halftime.

Anderson, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound junior, pushed his touchdown total to 28 for the season with the late first-half scoring catch and finished with 155 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 27 carries.

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AUBURN RIVERSIDE WINS 3A NPSL

Auburn Riverside (6-3, 6-0) wrapped up its second 3A NPSL title in three years by dismantling Auburn, 41-14, at Memorial Stadium.

The Ravens jumped out to a 34-0 lead early in the third quarter and cruised to victory. 

“Anytime you are playing for a league championship against an in-district rival, I think the guys are going to get fired up for those games,” said Auburn Riverside coach Greg Herd. “Our guys have been looking forward to this game all week. They came out like they were shot out of a cannon and peaking at the right time.” 

Thyrou Umi-Tuato’o, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound running back, ground out 109 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 22 carries for Auburn Riverside. Ravens’ quarterback Andrew Wold completed 13 of 20 passes for 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Cole Svendson. 

Auburn (7-2, 5-1) entered in a tie atop the 3A NPSL, but was blitzed early in defeat and managed just 35 yards rushing.

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LAKE STEVENS MAKES IT 11 CONSECUTIVE 4A WESCO TITLES

The Vikings (8-1, 4-0) locked up the Wesco 4A conference title for the 11th season in a row - with the past 10 titles in unbeaten fashion under coach Tom Tri.

Lake Stevens earned the top seed by breaking a tie with the Grizzlies (6-3, 3-1) in dominant style. Jayshon Limar rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns for the Vikings and quarterback Kolton Matson hit on 16 of 30 passes for 220 yards and two touchdown tosses.

“Playing Glacier Peak at Glacier Peak, they’ve been our biggest league rival, and they’ve been a good program for the last few years, so it’s always nice to go beat them at their place for the Wesco championship,” said Lake Steven coach Tom Tri, whose squad hasn’t lost a league game since 2013. “I thought our kids played really hard tonight and (forced) a couple of turnovers. We executed really well. We work really hard on our culture and make sure our guys are working really hard, but having fun.”

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MOUNT SI STAYS IN THE PLAYOFF MIX

The Wildcats (6-3, 4-2) kept their postseason hopes alive with a dominating road performance in KingCo 4A in a 30-18 win over Bothell.

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CAMAS WINS THIRD CONSECUTIVE 4A GSHL TITLE

The Papermakers (8-1, 3-0) were thorough in everything they did in bringing home the school’s third 4A GSHL title in a row and fourth in the last five years.

Battle Ground (7-2, 1-2) could’ve made for a crazy league playoff tiebreaker, but they never got on track.

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