9/20/16
La Center 31, Napavine 18
The Wildcat and Tigers faced off in a 1A/2A battle that was action-packed and exciting all night. Both teams in their respective classifications are no strangers to high-level competition, as they are both shoo-ins for deep playoff runs every year. Both schools are 1-1 to start their season. Last week, the Onalaska Loggers came to Napavine and took home the win, while La Center won against Woodland to get their first win of the season. In what became a fast-paced game with crazy plays left and right, these two powerhouses showed why they need to be feared by their opponents
In the first quarter, La Center got right to work. They began their night by marching down the field quickly. Scoring a 26-yard touchdown by WR Jonathan Suhajda from QB Nate Rembisz on their first drive of the night. The Tigers would come right back down the field and get across midfield. Tigers QB Grady Wilson would roll out to the right while being pressured and try to throw the ball away. The ball would hang in the air too long and would be intercepted by Suhadja. Wildcats would take back over possession and find their way to the Tigers’ 30-yard line as time expired in the first quarter. La Center led 7-0 going into the second quarter.
The Tiger defense came alive in the second quarter of the game. With La Center in striking distance to start the quarter, Napavine got a huge fourth-down stop to get the ball back. La Center would get a stop on the next drive on defense and get the ball at the 24-yard line after a punt. Wildcats would try to march down the field again, but would be stifled on fourth down once more. Dean Hamilton for Napavine burst out of a cannon for the sack on Remisz and gave the Tiger great field position. Napavine would capitalize by driving down inside the five-yard line. Caleb Von Pressentin would get a jet sweep that he took into the endzone for a touchdown. La Center would enter the half up 7-6.
Napavine got the ball to start the second half and started with a bang. In the first play of the game, Grady Wilson would fake the handoff and find a wide open Dean Hamilton. He would be off to the races and score an 80 yard touchdwon to begin the half fir Napavine and take a 12-7 lead. La Center was not fazed though. They would come back with a huge play of their own as Nate Rembisz found Quinn Stevens for a 53 yard reception. La Center would chip their way down inside the five and Rembisz would find the endzone on a three yard TD run. Momentum had shifted back and forth withing just a few moments. Once it came La Centers way however, they did not let up. Their defense would stalemate the Tigers and La Center would get the ball back at the end of the third quarter. Nate Rembisz while being hit on the throw, unleashed a pass to the endzone which was amazingly caught by Malik Britt for the TD. The Wildcats led 21-12 after the third quarter.
Napavine tried their hardest to make a fourth quarter comeback and almost did. La Center took a 24-12 lead after a field goal from Nate Rembisz. After that, Napavine would switch their game plan to being a pass heavy offense. Grady Wilson completed three back to back passes to Mason Jeg. One for 25 yards, 16 yards, and to cap off the drive a 28 yard TD reception on a desperation throw from Wilson. Again however, La Center was not fazed. They controlled the time of possession the rest of the game and didn’t allow Napavine any time to mount a comeback. The dagger came when Malik Britt caught a 28 yard pass from Rembisz. La Center would win a hard fought and gritty game 31-18
MVP and Stats
Our MVP of the game went to La Center QB Nate Rembisz. He racked up a total of four touchdowns on the game. One with his feet and three in the air. He finished the game going 16-28 passing for 236 yards and 14 carries for 95 yards. An outstanding game by Rembisz who looks to be an elite QB.
Other standout players for La Center included Malik Britt who had two TDs on the game and had 6 catches for 80 yards. Jonathan Suhajda had a touchddown with 5 catches for 60 yards. Quinn Stevens had 5 catches for 85 yards as well. Napavine had some great players as well. Caleb Von Pressentin had 9 carries for 52 yards and a TD. Dean Hamilton had a 8- yard TD reception. Mason Jeg had three catches for 75 yards and a TD. And the QB for Napavine Grady Wilson went 6-11 for 161 yards and two TDs as well as having 17bcarries for 56 yards.
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