Tumwater junior Carlos Matheney ran for three rushing touchdowns and top-ranked Tumwater blew past Centralia, 48-6, at Tiger Stadium Friday night.
All three of Matheney’s scores were in the first half, including two by Payton Hoyt, as Tumwater led 27-0 after one quarter and 41-0 at the half. Matheney led all rushers with eight carries for 89 yards, while Hoyt added 59 yards on five touches. The T-birds outgained the Tigers 344 to 98 on total yardage.
“They were who we thought they were,” Centralia head coach Jeremy Thibault said. “We tried to take them out of their game plan and it didn’t work. They’re gonna go really far.”
It was senior night and the season finale for the Tigers, and nine seniors were honored before the game: Alexander Kennedy, Chase Sobolesky, Caiden Sobolesky, Rex Akins, Anthony Saucedo, Gabe Chapin, Isaiah Vasquez, Colton Aitken and Kobe Prue.
“They’re a bunch of good kids and it was tough the last couple of years with COVID,” Thibault said. “As unsuccessful as we were winning, they made it enjoyable to be here every day.”
Caiden Sobolesky scored the Tigers’ lone touchdown, a 60-yard jaunt with five minutes left in the game. Centralia ends its season with a 1-8 overall record, and Thibault said it's time now for the players to start lifting, play basketball and wrestle in preparation for next season.
Tumwater (6-2) moves on to the District 4 crossover playoffs and will host the No. 4 seed from the 2A Greater St. Helens League, with the winner earning a state berth.
