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Monte crushes Seton Catholic to advance to state playoffs

ryan sparks, the daily world, aberdeen, wash.
·5 min read

Nov. 5—Conventional football wisdom dictates that in wet and windy weather it is easier to run the football than throw it.

The Montesano Bulldogs proved that old adage correct in their 1A district crossover game against Seton Catholic.

In the midst of Friday night's blustery rainstorm, the Bulldogs ran wild en route to a 47-7 victory at Jack Rottle Field in Monteano.

The Bulldogs (8-2 overall) ran for 463 yards in the game, with 10 runs of over 20-yards and averaged a staggering 14.9 yards-per-carry.

Montesano quarterback Jayden McElravy led the way, rushing for a career-best 266 yards and three touchdowns on just 13 carries (20.5 yards/carry).

RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD Montesano quarterback Jayden McElravy carries the football during the Bulldogs' 47-7 win over Seton Catholic in a 1A district crossover game on Friday, Nov. 4, in Montesano. McElravy had 266 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD

Montesano quarterback Jayden McElravy carries the football during the Bulldogs' 47-7 win over Seton Catholic in a 1A district crossover game on Friday, Nov. 4, in Montesano. McElravy had 266 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

McElravy opened the scoring when he outran the field to the far pylon for a 37-yard touchdown with just over nine minutes to go in the first quarter.

On the Cougars' ensuing possession Monte linebacker Mateo Sanchez broke through the line to stuff a run on fourth-and-short, giving the ball back to the Bulldogs at midfield.

Monte then marched downfield and took a 13-0 lead with 6:31 left in the period on an 8-yard touchdown run by junior running back Gabe Bodwell.

Monte made matters worse for Seton Catholic (5-5) in the second quarter, scoring 21 points and rushing for 221 yards in the frame.

The Bulldogs got two rushing touchdowns from junior Bode Poler — an eight- and 24-yarder — and a 28-yard scoring run from McElravy in the second quarter.

Monte defensive backs Tucker Eaton and Bode Poler each intercepted Seton Catholic freshman quarterback Kolten Gesser in the period, leading to 14 points off turnovers in the second quarter.

With the Bulldogs leading 34-0 at halftime, Seton Catholic got on the board using a bit of trickery when running back Joe Callerame hit running back Jacob Willians on a double-pass play for a 13-yard touchdown, breaking Monte's shutout bid early in the third quarter.

But the Bulldogs responded on the next possession, needing just over a minute of game time to march downfield and score on a McElravy 14-yard run.

Later in the quarter, Monte's defense forced Seton Catholic to turn the ball over on downs and two plays later Bodwell weaved his way through the Cougars defense for a 30-yard score and a 47-7 lead.

In addition to McElravy's 266 rushing yards, Poler carried the ball five times for 79 yards followed closely by Bodwell, who had five rushes for 73 yards.

RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD Montesano running back Bode Poler, middle, tries to break away from the tackle attempt of Seton Catholic linebacker Jacob Williams (4) during the Bulldogs' 47-7 win over Seton Catholic in a 1A district crossover game on Friday, Nov. 4, in Montesano

RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD

Montesano running back Bode Poler, middle, tries to break away from the tackle attempt of Seton Catholic linebacker Jacob Williams (4) during the Bulldogs' 47-7 win over Seton Catholic in a 1A district crossover game on Friday, Nov. 4, in Montesano

"Initially, (Seton Catholic's defense) was plugging everything up the middle, so we decided we needed to get to the outside and run some sweeps with Jayden and that really loosened things up," Montesano head coach Terry Jensen said. "That turned around and opened up everything on the inside after that."

The veteran head coach also had heaps of praise for his star quarterback.

"Jayden ran hard and looked really fast tonight," he said. "We blocked really well on the perimeter tonight and limited penalties on the perimeter tonight and those were real crucial."

Monte's defense held the pass-happy Cougars to 137 passing yards as a team and 275 total yards and forced three turnovers, the aforementioned interceptions and a first-quarter fumble recovery by Sanchez.

RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD Montesano defensive lineman Tyler Johansen, left, chases Seton Catholic quarterback Kolten Gesser during the Bulldogs' 47-7 win over Seton Catholic in a 1A district crossover game on Friday, Nov. 4, in Montesano.

RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD

Montesano defensive lineman Tyler Johansen, left, chases Seton Catholic quarterback Kolten Gesser during the Bulldogs' 47-7 win over Seton Catholic in a 1A district crossover game on Friday, Nov. 4, in Montesano.

"They hurt us a little bit early with a couple of screens, but we adjusted to that and I thought we made a couple good calls there and kind of took them out of that and they kind of went away from it," Jensen said. "I thought we tackled really well. (Seton Catholic) is going to be really good. They were playing a lot of sophomores but they have a couple of good skill guys. They are going to be OK."

With the win Montesano advances to the state tournament. Monte is currently ranked No. 10 in the latest WIAA RPI ranking — a measurement used to assist in determining playoff seeding — meaning the Bulldogs could end up playing on the road in the first round.

"We'd love to have a home game. It would be great," Jensen said. "But at this point, we'll go where ever we have to go."