Washougal football caps perfect 2A GSHL season

To get a real feel for how a football game went, just ask the one player who touches the ball on every offensive play.

“It was raining. It was pouring. It was super muddy,” Washougal senior center Lucas Phillips said. “Sometime when I was snapping the ball, it just wouldn’t move.”

Through all the elements of a soggy Halloween night, the Panthers had another huge rushing game from senior Royce Jones and finished 2A Greater St. Helens League play undefeated with a 21-0 win Friday at Hockinson.

Jones rushed for 296 yards on 31 carries and scored all three touchdowns. He scored on runs of 1, 50 and 16 yards and also ran in a two-point conversion after his first TD.

“Yeah, I’m a little tired,” he said standing in a rain and mud soaked jersey that started game bright white. “But we should have a home (playoff) game, so I’m excited to play some more.”

The Panthers (8-1 overall, 7-0 2A GSHL) shut out its third opponent in its last four games. They will learn their Week 10 playoff opponent on Sunday.

“This sets us up pretty good with this shutout,” Phillips said.

All the rain and mud on the grass field at Hockinson produced a run-heavy contest. But it’s also what was expected.

Hockinson (2-7, 2-5) had all its offense on the ground, rushing for 162 yards. The Hawks, who only trailed 8-0 at halftime, only attempted one pass and that came with 53 seconds to play in the game.

Probably the Hawks’ best possession came following Washougal’s first TD. An 11-play drive reached the Washougal 22-yard line but ended with a fumble that the Panthers recovered. The Hawks would not get any closer to the goal line.

Washougal coach Dave Hajek said he was impressed with Hockinson’s effort.

“This was a great test for us,” he said. “The Hockinson kids played really hard. Conditions were wet and muddy and that probably helped them more than us.”

It didn’t seem to matter for Jones, who had 174 yards rushing at halftime.

“We were setting holes, opening it up,” Phillips said of the offensive line’s role in helping Jones head up field. “And honestly, it’s just Royce. He does everything.”