MOSSYROCK — Easton Kolb up the middle. Easton Kolb sweep. Easton Kolb into the ‘A’ and ‘B’ gaps.
The do-to-all quarterback for the Mossyrock High School football team had his number called nearly every offensive snap in the second half. No matter the down and distance or time left on the clock, Kolb was getting the ball.
And he delivered for the Vikings to nab a defining win on Friday night.
The senior plunged forward for a 6-yard touchdown that proved to be the game-winner with 2 minutes, 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter and one last defensive stand spurred Mossyrock to a 42-37 triumph over Toutle Lake at home.
“Oh man, it was awesome,” Kolb said. “I love how supportive everybody is. We’re all tough kids; it is Mossyrock football. We can gut anything out.”
Kolb ended the night with a whopping 484 yards of total offense, accounting for six scores and a pair of two-point conversions. He lined up in the backfield for the majority of the final three quarters and was given the ball 42 times.
It looked like a one-man show, but Kolb knew it was far from.
“Our line played excellent tonight,” he said. “That’s why our run game was (working) the entire time. We told them at half you guys gotta be tough. Put your head into somebody and we’ll win this game.”
There was still time for the Ducks to find the end zone one last time for a potential go-ahead score of their own. They hit three explosive plays for touchdowns – including a hook and ladder in the first half – that burned the Vikings defense.
It took a tackle from Charles Edgar that knocked Toutle Lake’s starting quarterback Jamison Schelb out for one play. On 3rd and 11, Kyle Brockway and Cameron Kuberth met the ball carrier in the backfield for a five-yard loss.
Schelb returned and on fourth down, heaved a pass towards the sideline that was overthrown.
“Even if we get beat on one play, we can come together and play (the) next play,” Brockway, a junior, said. “It all comes down to the will power of everybody who wants to do it.”
Once the final buzzer sounded, Mossyrock (2-4, 2-2 C2BL East) was sent into a frenzy. It is the first contested 11-on-11 win for the program since 2019. In Week 4, it was scheduled to play Winlock, but the Cardinals had to forfeit.
It counted for a win in the record book and standings. Still, Friday night was a different feeling.
“It was a fun game,” Vikings head coach Eric Ollikainen said. “I’m just proud of the guys and how they battled. We’ve faced a lot of adversity this season , more than we've had in a long time.”
Mossyrock maneuvered its way inside the Ducks’ five-yard line a couple instances in the opening two quarters, but penalties were nearly a back-breaker.
Then Kolb found a little fourth down magic.
Eathan Johnson snared a one-handed catch to set up Kolb’s 1-yard score in the first period, then Edgar caught a deflected pass off a Toutle Lake defender’s glove for a 23-yard TD in the second stanza.
“That kid is a warrior, he can do it all,” Ollikainen said of Kolb. “He won’t be denied.”
Freddy Solis added three catches for 90 yards and a score for the Vikings while Wylde Greisen chipped in 47 yards on the ground.
They close the non-league slate at home against Warrenton before resuming league action at Rainier in Week 8 and home versus Morton-White Pass in Week 9.
A chance at being in a crossover after returning to 11-man football has been one of the primary goals for Mossyrock. Now, it is closer to reality.
“Everyone was looking over the top of us after those first couple games, but I know everybody will be looking at us now,” Kolb said. “We ain’t a bad team. We’re going to come up with some good things the rest of the season.”
