Subbing in its second-team and JV players starting in the second quarter once again, the No. 1 Napavine football team defeated Ilwaco for its Homecoming game, 69-15, Friday night in Tiger Town.
The Tigers once again scored efficiently and quickly, with five first quarter scores, and four more in the second quarter.
Ashton Demarest went 7 of 8 with four touchdown passes and a rushing score, and backup quarterback Grady Wilson nabbed three touchdowns as well, with a run and scoring tosses to Tyler Watson and Cal Bullock.
Eight different players scored for Napavine, led by a first team unit that was headlined by Karsen Denault’s two scores and another by James Grose through the air.
“Our ones did a really nice job through the first quarter to put us in a position to play everyone,” Tigers coach Josh Fay said. “Everyone got in there in comfortable minutes. A lot of good things tonight. The thing that stood out was our blocking up front, it was really crisp. From the sideline, I would say we were close to 100% on our assignments and finished all of them.”
Fay gave credit to an undermanned Ilwaco squad that never quit and fought until the end against the Tigers.
It’s clinching season for Napavine, as it takes on undefeated Raymond-South Bend in Tiger Town next Friday with a chance to clinch the Southwest Washington North league title.
“It’s going to start with the coaches taking a good look at the matchup,” Fay said. “We’re going to try to keep things standard for us, we’re not going to change much. This is going to be a different opponent than we’ve played. They’re playing awesome football and have some real weapons.”
