‘Greatest feeling in the world.’ West Linn avenges Week 2 loss on biggest stage, shuts down high-powered Sheldon to claim Oregon 6A football title

By Alex Tam | Photos by Jeff Hinds  

HILLSBORO — The hugs, the jubilation and the joy as the final seconds ticked down of the Class 6A state championship game was the culmination of West Linn’s revenge tour after what transpired 78 days earlier. 

That memory from back on their home field was clearly etched on the minds of the Lions players.

That memory of seeing Sheldon celebrate a statement victory on West Linn’s turf in September.

To many, it was no surprise to see both teams meet again in the final game of the season.

“That game, I was crying,” West Linn senior Koffi Kouame said. “I saw them celebrating, and that’s the worst feeling you could have.”

Added senior Sam Leavitt: “I’ve been looking forward to this since Week 2. Ever since we saw them jumping around, I was like, ‘Dang, we’re not going to let that happen again.’ They gave us a second opportunity and we came through.” 

That they did. West Linn started fast and held off a late Sheldon comeback attempt for a 23-14 win to secure the second football state championship in school history on Friday at Hillsboro Stadium. 

The Lions (12-1) won their first state title in 2016 under previous coach Chris Miller and added another to their trophy case under former Camas (Wash.) coach Jon Eagle, who won two state championships with the Papermakers and finishes his first season at West Linn on top of Oregon 6A football.

“When you get beat at home, a lot of people don’t own it,” Eagle said. “We owned the loss and we said we needed to get better here, here and here. The kids did it, the coaches did it, and we just kept getting better and better each week.”

West Linn’s defense was a huge factor after giving up 35 points to Sheldon in their previous meeting. This time, the Lions allowed the Irish to score just 14 points, which marked a season low and was 33 points under their season average.

West Linn bottled up Sheldon quarterback Brock Thomas, a three-year starter, and tight end Teitum Tuioti, a University of Oregon commit, for the entire first half en route to shutting out the Irish and taking a 20-0 lead to halftime.

“Our defense really came out,” Kouame said. “They came out with all those trick plays (the first meeting). We knew they were coming to do that. The defense really came prepared for whatever they were going to do.”

The Irish (12-1) rallied in the second half, using an 11-play, 80-yard drive to open the third quarter and scoring their first touchdown on Tuioti’s 1-yard dive to the end zone to cut West Linn’s lead to 20-7 with 7:43 to go in the period.

After the teams alternated five scoreless drives, Sheldon made it a one-score game when Thomas broke through the middle of West Linn’s defense and ran 50 yards to the end zone. The Lions’ big halftime lead suddenly diminished to 20-14 with 8:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.

“We felt like we swung the momentum,” Thomas said.

But West Linn came up with the answer it needed from an unexpected hero. After senior running back Earl Ingle got his first four carries of the game, including a 25-yard gain, to get to the red zone, junior kicker Gage Hurych came up big with a 35-yard field goal that undoubtedly cleared the crossbar.

Not only did it stop Sheldon’s momentum, it gave the Lions a nine-point lead with 3:44 left — making it a two-score game.

“That won us the game,” Leavitt said. “That brought us back the momentum and everything. That dude (Hurych) is cold-blooded.”

Hurych called it “redemption” after missing a PAT in the first half, which could have proved costly in the fourth quarter.

“I knew in my head I had to move past that and act like it didn’t happen and move on to the next one,” he said. “Just be confident. I had to be confident. I know I’m a great kicker and I know confidence is a big thing for a kicker.

“I knew I was going to make it. I stepped up to that smiling and there was no doubt.”

The Irish had an opportunity to answer again on their next drive. After getting a first down on Thomas’ eight-yard pass to senior Luke Leighton, plus tacking on a 15-yard personal foul penalty by West Linn to get near midfield, Thomas’ final four passes fell incomplete, turning the ball over with 2:46 to go.

Sheldon got the ball back with 1:54 remaining, but Thomas’ final pass was intercepted by senior Hudson Staats.

Thomas completed 12 of 30 pass attempts for 118 yards, and he rushed for 113 yards on 18 carries. Tuioti was limited to 44 yards on 12 carries.

Leavitt, a Washington State quarterback commit, set the tone early for West Linn with his legs. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder rushed for 59 yards on five carries on the opening drive, capping an impressive start with a 16-yard touchdown run to give the Lions a 7-0 lead at the 8:55 mark.

Leavitt was a dual threat all game, leading all rushers with 171 yards on 20 carries. It was intentional by Eagle and the West Linn coaching staff to hold him back the entire season and give the quarterback “the green light” when the team needed it most.

“We purposely did not run him for the entire year,” Eagle said. “We told him to run (Friday). We designed some plays for him and there you go.”

Leavitt described it as “fun” to get the confidence from the coaching staff to run the ball.

“We’ve been trying to hold me back all season, so I don’t get hurt or anything,” Leavitt said. “I had the green light today and I tried to use my legs to the best of my ability and get the team a win.

“I’m not used to running that much, so it was really fun, and I was able to help the team, and that’s all that matters.”

The Lions looked like they were going to run away in the first half behind their high-powered offense. Kouame, who rushed for 62 yards on 15 carries, scored on a two-yard run with 3:24 left in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead. The touchdown was set up by Leavitt’s 23-yard run.

West Linn added another touchdown a minute into the second quarter on senior Ben Winjum’s three-yard run —one of his two carries for the game.

Leavitt completed 13 of 21 passes for 131 yards. Junior Gus Donnerberg led all receivers with eight catches for 68 yards. Senior Mark Hamper had four catches for 54 yards.

Winjum led West Linn’s defense with a team-high nine tackles, and senior Jake Holmes added five tackles and one sack.

“There’s no words to describe it,” said Leavitt, who transferred from Westview before the season. “It’s just pure joy and excitement. It’s incredible.”

His teammates had “no words,” either.

“It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” Hurych said. “All the work we put in all season came down to this moment. It’s amazing and it feels great to win.”

Added Kouame: “It’s the best feeling in my life and that’s ever happened to me. This moment and memory, it’ll never vanish. I’ll hold on to this for the rest of my life. It’s a good win — all thanks to my teammates, our line. We worked really hard this week, and this was the payback.”

—

West Linn 23 Sheldon 14

Sheldon – 0 – 0 – 7 – 7 — 14

West Linn – 14 – 6 – 0 – 3 — 23

First quarter

8:55 WL - Sam Leavitt 16 run (Gage Hurych PAT)

3:24 WL - Koffi Kouame 2 run (Hurych PAT)

Second quarter

11:08 WL - Ben Winjum 3 run (PAT missed)

Third quarter

7:34 S - Teitum Tuioti 1 run (Rocco Graziano PAT)

Fourth quarter

8:02 S - Brock Thomas 5 run (Graziano PAT)

3:44 WL - Hurych 35 field goal

STATISTICS

RUSHING: Sheldon-Brock Thomas 18-113; Teitum Tuioti 12-44; Grafton Robinson 2-minus 3. West Linn-Sam Leavitt 20-171; Koffi Kouame 15-62; Earl Ingle 5-35; Ben Winjum 2-3; Mark Hamper 1-1; TEAM 2-minus 3.

PASSING: Sheldon-Brock Thomas 12-30-1-118; Cade Welch 0-1-0-0. West Linn-Sam Leavitt 13-21-0-131.

RECEIVING: Sheldon-Cade Welch 5-55; Luke Leighton 2-16; Teitum Tuioti 2-13; Zach McEwen 2-10; Isaac Peters 1-24. West Linn-Gus Donnerberg 8-68; Mark Hamper 4-54; Wiley Donnerberg 1-9.