Tigers defeat Columbians on the road

Clatskanie High School's varsity football team continued its perfect season with a 45-28 victory at Rainier last Friday. Sophomore quarterback Will Van Voorst started the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, but Rainier countered with a one-yard touchdown run of their own to tie it. The back and forth would continue, as senior Lucas Andreasen ran in a touchdown from the two-yard line. With the Tigers' extra point attempt falling short, Rainier would eventually take a 14-13 lead in the second quarter with a 53 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Gage Mohammad. Order would be restored by halftime, as the Tigers scored the first of what would be three unanswered touchdowns to take a 31-14 lead in the fourth quarter. A 65-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Rainier brought the score to 31-20, but two straight touchdown runs by the Tigers - one being a 55-yard run by Andreasen - put the game out of reach for the Columbians. Trailing 45-20, Mohammad threw yet another long touchdown stripe for Rainier to bring the score to its final tally.

Though throwing a pick, Van Voorst still managed to pass for 99 yards, as well as rush for three scores. Andreasen stole the show for the Tigers, though, rushing for 304 yards on 24 attempts and scoring two touchdowns of his own. Senior Daylon Gutierrez led the team in receiving with 69 yards on two catches. Junior Michael Simpson had the team's only other score with his 10-yard run in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

"On [defense], we were very physical and aggressive," said Coach Sean Gorley. "Too aggressive at times, leading to their two TD passes." Gorley noted Simpson and senior Ayden Blackshire as standouts on defense. "Ayden is a converted CB (cornerback) to DE (defensive end) and really is making a difference for us there," said Gorley.

Senior Russ Carver and Van Voorst led the team in tackles with seven apiece, and Blackshire and junior Zion Ausmus each recovered a fumble for the Tigers.