Extra Point

By Justin Damasiewicz

The Grizzlies played tough.

Hoquiam gave Montesano some trouble, forced some turnovers and surged offensively in the fourth quarter, but could not overcome the fourth-ranked Bulldogs (See story on Page B-2).

The Grays Harbor Red Rivalry game victory puts Montesano firmly in control in the race for the league title, and sets them up for a pretty good shot at a home game in the first round of the state tourney.

I’m known for getting ahead of myself and projecting what will happen over the next few weeks, but I just call ‘em like I see ‘em.

I see this Bulldog team having no trouble finishing out the season with wins over Tenino and Elma, then easily handling whichever crossover team ends up across the line from them on Nov. 3.

Let me lay it out for you.

Montesano is 7-0 on the season, 2-0 in league play. The Bulldogs already have defeated Forks and Hoquiam in league contests.

Next week Monte will host Tenino (0-3, 1-5) which has lost its three league games – at Elma and home to Hoquiam and Forks – by a combined 88 points. The Bulldogs beat Hoquiam 35-13 and Forks 44-6.

The MHS players and coaches are not allowed to look past the Tenino game, but I am, so I will.

Montesano will close the regular season with the East County Civil War game at Davis Field in Elma.

Elma is young and improving. The Eagles definitely have shown the ability to put points on the board, scoring an average of 30 per game over the last six weeks.

However, Elma has recorded 20-plus point losses to Aberdeen and Hoquiam this season. Montesano beat both Aberdeen and Hoquiam by 20-plus points.

The Eagles are led by juniors Taitum Brumfield and Niall Baxter, and feature several playmaking sophomores, including quarterback Cody Vollan.

We’ll see about next year, but the Eagles are not ready to compete with this season’s Bulldog squad.

After the regular season, the district crossover round would put the Bulldogs up against the third-place team from the Trico 1A League, which will likely be White Salmon, Castle Rock, Stevenson or King’s Way Christian.

Just like in the Evergreen League, the second and third spot in the Trico League are wide open.

Castle Rock beat King’s Way and Stevenson, but King’s Way beat White Salmon, and White Salmon beat Castle Rock, so it’s hard to get a good feel for which of these teams will land where.

However, watching Montesano dismantle Castle Rock 47-0 in week-3 makes me feel pretty comfortable that the Bulldogs will be able to dispose of their crossover opponent, whichever team it ends up being.

If those three games go the way I think they will, the Bulldogs are looking at a home game to open the state tournament.

After taking a long road trip to last season’s state-tourney opening-round game against the eventual second-place Connell Eagles, which Montesano lost 48-28, it would be nice to host a state playoff game.

Week after week, this Bulldog team has been responding to challenges and improving. As head coach Terry Jensen said, after Friday’s win over Hoquiam, they are not a finished product, but this group of kids is working hard to get better every day.

Defensively, Montesano completely stifled Hoquiam through the first three quarters. I kept waiting for a big gain or score by the Grizzlies on a trick play, or a run or pass by a lineman, but the Bulldogs seemed completely prepared for everything Hoquiam threw at them.

Montesano is well coached and talented.

We have seen some pretty special teams over the last several years.

In 2012, the Bulldogs overcame a couple of early-season losses and a fire which destroyed the grandstand at Rottle Field. Matthew Jensen led that team through the state tourney to a 43-28 win over Royal in the state title game. Jensen’s nearly flawless performance in that contest – 15-for-20 passing with 268 yards and two touchdowns – combined with 174 rushing yards by Elliot Mendenhall and two scores apiece by Mendenhall and Tucker Ibabo, punctuated Montesano’s storybook season with a state championship.

In 2015, a Montesano team featuring all-state selections Hutton Napier, Kylar Prante and Connor Lovell, made it to the semifinal round of the state tourney at the Tacoma dome before being edged out by King’s 28-25.

Last year, the Bulldogs cruised through the regular season undefeated, creating lots of great memories for fans and players along the way, before losing a tough opening-round state matchup.

The 2017 Bulldog team ranks right up there with those teams. They are ready to make some noise in the state tournament.

But first, it’s time to close out the regular season strong.

Go ’Dogs!