10/1/2026
WF West 49, Washougal 29
(Chehalis, WA) The GSHL and EvCo 2A continued their season-long rivalry on the gridiron on Friday night as the Washougal Panthers visited the WF West Bearcats. Entering Friday night, the EvCo 2A was 4-0 against the GSHL 2A but the Washougal Panthers were looking to change that. Coming into the game at 2-2 with four close games so far. With an average point difference of 8.25 points per game, Washougal would hope to bounce back from a close league loss last week to Mark Morris. WF West came into the game a perfect 4-0 after a dominant 63-0 shutout of Columbia River last week. The Bearcat’s defense has dominated this season, allowing just 34 total points in four game this season.
1st Half
WF West began the game with the football and looked like they had some explosive plays early on. A dropped pass by Holden Kunz erased what could have been an explosive play, and even potentially a touchdown. A read option would be kept by Wyatt Hoffman and the quarterback broke free for a huge 34-yard gain. That set the Bearcats up as Hoffman would find Holden Kunz this time for a 28-yard touchdown to put WF West on the board with a 6-0 lead after a blocked extra point.
Washougal’s opening drive never really got going and the Panthers were force to punt. It turned into a fake punt and it did not work as the Bearcats were all over it to force a turnover on downs. That gave WF West a short field to work with and the duo of Jay Bieker and Wyatt Hoffman ate away at that yardage. Hoffman worked into the endzone for a five-yard score and the Bearcats converted the two-point conversion to make it 14-0 with still 7:16 to go in the 1st quarter.
It was another quick drive for Washougal as they once again gave the ball back to WF West. The Bearcats again marched right down the field against an exhausted Washougal defense. Working their way inside the five, the Bearcats looked to break the game open. Washougal’s defensive front would not allow the Bearcats to run it up the middle. WF West elected to run a play action on fourth and goal but Michael Jehne was all over and recorded the sack to get a stop and a turnover on downs.
Without the offense clicking, Washougal was once again asking their defense to slow down a very good WF West offense. They couldn’t do it as Wyatt Hoffman found Brendan Stevens for a 17-yard score to make it 21-0. That would be the turning point for Washougal as the offense began to find a groove. Sophomore quarterback Matteo DiGiacomo was dialed in and the Panthers went to the short passing game which allowed them have offensive success for the first time in the game. A 21-yarder to Luca DiGiacomo showed that the short passes could turn into explosive plays. That would be emphasized on a screen pass from DiGiacomo to Sam Kellar who would break three tackles and take it in for a 25-yard touchdown. Washougal was finally on the board but trailed 21-6.
WF West would put together a response as the offense was lights out. Wyatt Hoffman and Holden Kunz were in sync and Hoffman found Kunz for 31 yards. Hoffman also broke free on a 31-yard run but the true highlight of the drive was the final play. Hoffman threw up a jump ball to Jalen Amoroso and the sophomore showed why his QB trusted him. Amoroso went up and over a defender to haul in the pass for a 29-yard touchdown. The highlight reel catch put a stamp on a dominant first half and gave WF West a 28-6 lead at halftime.
2nd Half
With a 22-point deficit, Washougal would need everything to go right to get back into the game. The Panthers would have the ball to begin the 3rd quarter and looked sharp moving the ball down the field. Matteo DiGiacomo would get an explosive play on a 44-yard catch and run by Luca DiGiacomo to move Washougal into Bearcat territory. Unfortunately, the drive would stall there but it wasn’t the worst case scenario. WF West’s first snap went over the head of Wyatt Hoffman and through the endzone for a safety. A great return set up a nine-yard touchdown pass from Matteo DiGiacomo to Ethan Culton and all of a sudden, Washougal’s deficit was down to 28-15.
With Washougal back in the game, WF West’s offense was dealing with pressure once again after dominating the first half. The pressure was seeming to get to WF West as they dealt with a handful of penalties on the drive which slowed down the Bearcats for the first time in the game. Those penalties slowed down WF West, but they didn’t stop them. A 25-yard pass to Constantine Robertson from Hoffman moved the change on a long-to-go situation. Hoffman would then somehow break free from a group of Panthers for a 38-yard score to open it back up to a 35-15 Bearcat lead.
The two offenses were both moving the ball up and down the field after that. Matteo DiGiacomo would score a couple of two-yard touchdown runs in the 4th quarter but the Bearcats would answer right back both times. Jay Bieker broke a 43-yard touchdown run and Holden Kunz made a juggling catch for a 13-yard touchdown as well. The difference in the game was Cody Schwarz as the defensive lineman had an interception would gave WF West the breathing room. The dominant first half was what allowed WF West to remain comfortable and undefeated with a 49-29 victory over Washougal.
Chehalis Holiday Inn Express MVP of the Game
Our Chehalis Holiday Inn Express MVP of the game went to wide receiver Holden Kunz for WF West. The Bearcat senior was all over the field offensively, defensively, and on special teams. Kunz finished the game with five catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns and also had a six yard carry. Adding on a number of tackles and pass break-ups just added to the big day for Holden Kunz.
Stats
WF West was led by junior quarterback Wyatt Hoffman who went 14/24 passing for 260 yards and two touchdowns while also running the ball eight times for 133 yards and two scores. Jay Bieker was great on the ground as well with 10 carries for 73 yards and a score while catching a 31-yard screen pass. Brendan Stevens was great at tight end with four catches for 46 yards and a touchdown and Constantine Robertson had three catches for 43 yards. Jalen Amoroso had just one catch but it was a highlight reel catch for a 29-yard touchdown. Cody Schwarz had an interception on the defensive line while Joel Mendez hit five extra points.
On the other side for the Washougal Panthers, Matteo DiGiacomo was outstanding in a career night. DiGiacomo went 29/45 for 311 yards and also carried the ball 13 times for 55 yards with two touchdowns through the air and two touchdowns on the ground. Owen MacDonald was the only other ball carrier for Washougal and had nine carries for 18 yards and also caught four passes for 37 yards. Devin Williams was terrific and had seven catches for 44 yards while Sam Kellar had six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. The go-to receiver was Luca DiGiacomo who had eight catches for 98 yards for the Panthers. Ethan Culton was a major playmaker with a number of big plays on defense and special teams and also had three catches for 58 yards and a touchdown and Calvin Dayley had a four-yard catch. Michael Jehne had a sack and a batted pass while Michael Noah was 3/4 on extra points.
What’s Next?
WF West remains perfect on the season with a now 5-0 record. The Bearcats will try to stay perfect next week when they visit the Hockinson Hawks in another EvCo vs. GSHL matchup on Friday at 7pm. Washougal drops to 2-3 and things won’t get any easier for the Panthers as they host the Woodland Beavers on Friday at 7pm as they return to league play.
Link to watch full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
West 42 Sports Postgame Show
Video Highlights
Washougal Screen Goes for Six
Jalen Amoroso Mosses Defender
Washougal Fights Back
Bieker Breaks Free
Holden Kunz Makes Juggling TD Catch
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