10/2/2026
| SCORE BY QUARTER | TOTAL | ||||
| NAPAVINE | 7 | 23 | 14 | 0 | 44 |
| ILWACO | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
(Napavine, WA) The Ilwaco Fishermen arrived in Napavine to take on the Tigers. Ilwaco came into the game with a 3-1 record against the 2-2 Napavine Tigers.
The two teams will begin their conference play after getting through their non-league schedule. Ilwaco and Napavine are in the Central 2B West division with Forks, Adna, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley and Raymond-South Bend. Getting that first conference win made this a big game for both teams.
1st Half
The Napavine Tigers took advantage of a misplayed catch of the opening kick-off and stopped the Fishermen on their own 10. Two negative running plays and an incomplete pass and Ilwaco was punting out of their own endzone. The punt went off the side of the foot and Napavine took over on the Fishermen’s 17.
On 2nd and 6 a completed pass from QB Beckett Landram hit Talon Tabor put the ball on the Ilwaco 1 yard line with a 1st and goal. On the 3rd play of the drive Napavine’s Dean Hamilton got the hand-off and surged in for 6. Freshman kicker Ikeer Gonzalez came on and drilled the PAT. With 8:41 to play in the 1st the Tigers had a 7-0 lead.
After forcing another Ilwaco punt, Napavine took over on their own 30 and drove it down to the 1-yard line of the Fishermen when the 1st quarter time expired. On the 1st play of the 2nd quarter Landrum handed the ball to Pono Moniz-Taitague who powered in for the 2nd score of the night. The PAT was good and Napavine led 14-0.
Ilwaco got the ball back and were moving toward midfield when they were flagged for a personal foul setting up a 2nd and 25 from their own 33. On the next play QB Haddox Hazen dropped back to pass and found Sawyer McClure over the middle. McClure then cut back and was gone 67 yards to the house and Ilwaco was on the board. The PAT missed but with 9:08 to go in the half it was an 8 point game with Ilwaco trailing 14-6.
After an exchange of possessions the Tiger took the ball on their own 40. Landrum handed off to Brody Mitchell on a straight dive play but the Tiger offensive line blocked it perfectly opening a giant hole and Mitchell went 60 yards for 6. Gonzalez punched the PAT through and with 5:16 to go in the half Napavine went up 21-6.
On the Fisherman’s next possession Haddox had scrambled a couple of times for the 1st down but on the second run they were flagged for a personal foul for a blindside block that no question the Ilwaco fanbase was questioning. This set up a 2nd and long and Haddox scrambling trying to get away from the pressure ended up back in his own end zone where Moniz-Taitague ran him down for a safety.
Ilwaco kicked off to Napavine after the safety but then was able to recover a bad snap by the Napavine offense that Landrum could not reel in and the Fishermen got the ball back near their 40 yard line.
Ilwaco was unable to move the ball and had to punt again. Carter Edmonds hauled it in on the Tiger 26 and returned it 30 yards to the Fisherman 46. They would work it down to the 2 yard liner and Hamilton would take it in for 6, the extra point was good with 20-seconds to play in the half and that’s how it would go to the break.
2nd Half
The Fishermen came out in the 3rd quarter and moved the ball but were unable to cash in to get back in the game. Meantime, the Napavine offense added 2 scores. The first one set-up by a 31-yard run by Dean Hamilton to the 6. Moniz-Taitague would run around the left end and in for his 2nd touchdown of the night.
Getting the ball back late in the 3rd quarter Landrum then hit Tommy Deebach for a 32-yard pass-catch and run for the final score of the game.
Chehalis Holiday Inn MVP
With many choices for the West 42 Sports crew to choose from including Beckett Landrum, Pono Moniz-Taitague, the offensive line, the special teams they went with Brody Mitchell as the Chehalis Holiday Inn Express MVP of the game. Mitchell ran the ball 6 times for 119 yards and a 60-yard TD.
What’s Next?
Napavine is now 3-2 on the season and 1-0 in league play. Up next the Tigers travel to Pe Ell-Willapa Valley next Friday at 7pm. Ilwaco drops to 3-2 and 0-1 in conference play. The Fishermen will look to bounce back next Friday night at home when they host Raymond-South Bend at 7pm.
Stats of Note
Napavine’s total offense was 449 yards with 316 on the ground and 124 throught the air. Leading the Tiger rushing attack was Brody Mitchell with 6 carries for 119 and a 60-yard TD. Dean Hamilton carried the rock 8 times for 71-yards and 2 TD’s, Pono Moniz-Taitague had 5 runs for 45-yards and 2 scores.
Beckett Landrum completed 9 passes for 133 yards and 1 touchdown. Leading the receivers was Tommy Deebach with 3 grabs for 67 yards and a touhdown.
The Napavine defense tallied 2 sacks and Moniz-Taitague got the safety. Kicker Ikeer Gonzalez was 7-7 in PAT’s.
Ilwaco rushed for just 55 yards which was an issue in keeping some of their drives alive. QB Haddox Hazen was their leading rusher with 41 yards. Hazen also completed 9 passes for 141 yards with a 66-yard TD strike to Sawyer McClure who led the Fishermen in receiving with 3 catches for 75 yards.
Watch full replay of game on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
West 42 Sports Postgame Show
Video Highlights
Ilwaco comes up big with a 6
Brody Mitchell bursts right up the middle and goes 60-yards for 6
Napavine defense adds to the scoreboard
Napavine caps off the win with a 32 yard pass catch and run
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