12/6/25
The Toledo Riverhawks were searching for their 1st State Championship in school history while Tri-Cities Prep were going for their 2nd but 1st Title in 11-man football. The Jaguars won the 1B Title in 2009.
Below is our Championship coverage along with semifinals and the entire 2B bracket.
Links of Note
Link to watch full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
Championship Game
Saturday, December 6th
(3) Tri-Cities Prep 47, (1) Toledo 34
The Toledo Riverhawks took the 1st possession on their own 28 and put together an impressive opening all on the ground. The Riverhawks ran nearly half the time off the clock with a 13 play drive that ended with Cater Swofford plunging into endzone from the 1 yard line. Swofford then ran in the 2 point conversion and Toledo led 8-0 with 6:02 to play in the 1st quarter.
The Jaguars got their first possession and following a squib kick began in good field position on their own 37. After picking up a couple of first downs the Jags QB Jarrett Garza tried to find Karter Gardish but instead Toledo’s Rohan Feigenbaum stepped in front and picked off the pass. It was Feigenbaum’s 3rd interception in as many weeks.
Toledo tookover on their own 45 and the offense under QB Eli Weeks was already in a groove and on this drive it was a big pass play from Weeks to Adam Kruger setting up a another short run this time by Weeks going in from the 1 yard line. The 2 point PAT was no good and Toledo led 14-0 with just seconds to go in the 1st quarter.
The Jaguars got rolling on their 2nd possession starting from their own 42. After a short gain on 1st down, time ran out in the 1st quarter and then struck 10-seconds into the 2nd quarter when Garza quickly made amends finding a wide open Aiden McCabe who strolled into the endzone. The extra point by Gadish was good and the Jags cut the deficit in half trailing 14-7.
The Riverhawks offense didn’t miss a beat on their 3rd possession, starting on their own 33. Toledo reeled off an 11 play, 5-minute drive and Weeks capped it off with another keeper from the 5 yard line to put another 6 on the board but could not convert the 2 point play to lead 20-7 with 6:40 to go in the half.
The Jaguars got the ball back on their own 40 and with a well balanced attack hit a 21-yard TD pass but it got called back on a holding call. But Garza would come up with the big play this time with his legs with a 20 yard scramble setting up a 5 yard burst in for 6 by Jake Sherfey. Gadish added the PAT and it was a 6 point game with the Jaguars trailing 20-14 which is how it would stay going into the half.
Tri-Cities Prep received the 2nd half kick-off and it couldn’t have been a worse start for the Jags as they tried a reverse on the kick-off return and ended up back on their own 23. After going backwards with a 3rd and 21 they picked up a big 1st down and although they didn’t score it did set up good field position for a punt down to the Toledo 15.
This is where the wheels came off for the Riverhawks. On 1st down a fumble on their own 14 gave the ball to the Jags and 3 plays later Sherfey blasted in from the 3. The PAT was wide and no good but it was a new game all even at 20-20.
Toldeo took over on their own 21 and after a pass catch by Brady Weeks, the ball got punched out and a 2nd 1 play drive gave the ball back to Tri-Cities on the Riverhawk 28. Six plays later Garza found Tilden Shumway on a 3 yard TD catch. The extra point was good and the Jaguars did something no other team had done all year and that was to lead Toledo in a game 27-20.
The 3rd quarter problems were not over yet for the Riverhawks as the ensuing kick-off the ball bounced around and the Jaguars were able to recover it deep in Toledo territory on the 10 yard line. On a 4th and goal from the 1 the Jags Jameson Elliott bowled in for the score, add the PAT and took a 34-20 lead with 3:15 to play in the 3rd.
The Riverhawks quickly turned it around getting the ball on their own 26 and 9 plays later punched it in from the 3 on a Swofford run but the PAT try was no good making it 34-26 early in the 4th quarter.
The Riverhawks tried an onside kick and nearly grabbed but couldn’t secure the ball and the Jags recovered it on the 50 yard line. After a 30 yard run by Aiden McCabe the Jags were in business with Elliott running it in from the 9. With the PAT, Tri-Cities Prep led 41-26.
Toledo answered quickly on a 5 play drive capped with a 19 yard TD strike from Weeks to Garza, Swofford then ran in the 2 point conversion to pull within 7, trailing 41-34.
After a punt and two turnover on downs, Toledo got the ball backon their own 42 when Gadish stepped in front of a Weeks pass at the 47 and jetted for 6 into the endzone. The PAT was blocked but with 2:38 to play and a 47-34 lead the pick 6 iced the game.
Our Thorbeckes MVP of the game went to Karter Gadish with his defensive effort. Gadish had 7 tackles, 5 for loss along with the pick 6.
Tri-City Preps finished the season with a perfect 14-0 season and now own an 8-man and 11-man State Football Championship.
Toledo ends the year 12-1, tying their best finish ever with the 2nd place trophy.
Video Highlights
Rohan Feigenbaum picks off the Jags in the 1st quarter
Jarrett Garza hits Aiden McCabe in stride for a 55 yard TD
Eli Weeks hits Adam Kruger for a 19 yard TD throw
Karter Gadish picks off the Riverhawks and streaks 47 yards for 6
Semifinals
(3) Tri-Cities Prep 34, (7) Adna 28
(Richland, WA) The Adna Pirates jumped out to a 14 point lead but the Jaguars were relentless and behind the efforts of many it was Jameson Elliott who led the Tri-Cities Prep comeback.
Elliott scored 3 touchdowns one by kick return, a rushing score and catching another. That performance led the Jags attack and earned Elliott our Sumner Holdiay Inn Express MVP of the game award.
For more on this game check out our postgame show below followed by video highlights.
You can also get full coverage from The Chronicle’s Dylan Wilhelm on this link
Link to watch full replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
ESN Postgame Show
Video Highlights
Trevin Salme runs in the 1st score for 6
Jarrett Garza finds Jameson Elliott for 6
Jameson Elliott takes it to the house on a 74-yard TD run
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(1) Toledo 24, (5) Okanogan 8
(Tumwater, WA) The Toledo Riverhawks advanced to the State Championship game for the first time since their only trip in 1996. They are set on a way differfent outcome next Saturday at Husky Stadium than the 1996 experience where they were beaten 70-0 by Royal in the 1A championship.
To get there they would have to get by the 2-time defending champs Okanogan Bulldogs to do so.
The Riverhawks and Bulldogs battled to a 0-0 tie through the 1st quarter but then Toledo began to catch fire. QB Eli Weeks would get things started with a 40-yard scramble up the far sideline for a 6-0 lead as they failed on the 2 point attempt. Carter Swofford pounded in a 4 yard run for 6 more and the ‘Hawks would go to the break with the 12-0 lead.
In the 3rd quarter, the Riverhawks added to their advantage with a 2nd TD run by Weeks from 10 yards out and the Weeks found Adam Kruger on a beautiful 22-yard strike. Toledo never converted an extra point but led 24-0.
The Bulldogs got a big drive together before the end of 3 with Wesley Allen scoring from 6 yards out. The Dogs converted the 2 pointer and it was 24-8 with a full 4th quarter still to go.
The 4th quarter turned out to be like the 1st with the defenses stealing the show shutting each other out. Toledo’s Nico Acosta stood out with multiple tackles for loss and playing both sides of the ball was enough to earn him our Thorbeckes MVP of the game award.
#1 seed Toledo improves to 12-0 and faces #3 Tri-Cities Prep for the Championship at 11am on Saturday at Husky Stadium.
Okanogan finishes their season 10-3 and falls just short of going for 3 Titles in a row.
For more on this game check out the ESN Postgame show below and video highlights.
Link to watch full replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
ESN Postgame Show
Video Highlights
Eli Weeks busts off a 40 yard TD run
Eli Weeks finds Adam Kruger for 6
The Bulldogs Wesley Allen pounds in for 6 then get the 2 pointer to keep their hopes alive
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Quarterfinals
Friday, November 21
(5) Okanogan 34, (4) Freeman 32
Saturday, November 22
(3) Tri Cities Prep 55, (11) Liberty Bell 12
(7) Adna 42, (2) Newport 32
(1) Toledo 42, (8) Napavine 0
Opening Round
Friday, November 14
#4 Freeman 47, #13 Cle Elum-Roslyn 6
#1 Toledo #16 Columbia (Burbank)
#5 Okanogan 24, #12 Reardan 0
#7 Adna 36, #10 Kittitas 15
Saturday, November 15
#2 Newport 56, #15 Rainier 6
#11 Liberty Bell 40, #6 Onalaska 38
#3 Tri-Cities Prep 56, #14 Pe Ell/Willapa Valley 0
#8 Napavine 34, #9 Northwest Christian (Colbert) 28
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