Ilwaco High School quarterback Kevin Brown tosses a long pass Friday on the way to a 44-12 victory over Tenino in the season's first football game. The game was dedicated to Brown's sister Julie, a 2001 IHS graduate, who died at home last Thursday. KEVIN and DEBBIE HEIMBIGNER photos

ILWACO – Riding a tide of emotion, the Ilwaco football team rolled to a 30-0 halftime lead, then battled Tenino tooth and nail the second half to earn a 44-12 victory at Peterson Field on Saturday.

Immediately following the win, coach Dustin Lamb addressed his team, “This (win) was not an easy thing to do today. I love you all. The cheerleaders, players, coaches, the Ilwaco football family, all gave a great effort out here.” He went on to say, “Let’s give Kevin, Marcus, and Craig a hug.”

Quarterback Kevin Brown, manager Marcus, and volunteer assistant Craig and wife Lorraine Brown were at the game with heavy hearts, following the loss Thursday of their sister and daughter, Julie, a 2001 IHS graduate.

The Fishermen and Beavers looked like neither team was going to score as the first four possessions led each time to three plays and a punt. Ilwaco got good field position at their own 49 and the ‘Heath Miller Show’ began. The 5’9 senior scat back ripped off runs of 14, 15, and 11 yards for first downs. Then, behind the blocking of Chris Lemons and Tony Kangas, Miller waltzed in for the first touchdown from five yards out.

Brown found Ryan Cadwell in the end zone for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 Ilwaco lead. Seconds later Tenino’s fullback, 6’3, 230 pound Johnny Hanson, fumbled and the Fishermen recovered on the Beaver 28 yard line. Brown hit wide receiver Andy Hudkins with a 15 yard strike, then ran a quarterback sneak for 10 more yards, followed by a three yard dive behind Lemons and Kangas for the Fishermen’s second TD. The point after pass was deflected.

In the second quarter, with Ilwaco ahead 14-0, Miller again went to work, this time for 16 yards around right end and the blocks of Randy Wiegardt and Dan Davis. The play set up a reverse to Hudkins, who rambled 43 yards for Ilwaco’s third touchdown. Brown then hit Miller out of the backfield for the PAT and a 22-0 lead with 7:43 to go in the half.

The drive typified the play calling by Lamb and his staff as they mixed the pass, the run, and then threw in just enough trickery with the reverse to keep Tenino defenders at bay throughout the contest.

The Beavers, behind the jarring running of Hanson, ground out their first two first downs of the contest, but he again fumbled, with the Fishermen recovering. Immediately Brown hit Hudkins with a 32 yard bomb, Miller ran through the left side for seven more yards, and Brown snuck for another first down before Ilwaco’s Davis punted.

A pass interception by Hudkins gave Brown the chance to hit Andy with a pass in the right corner of the end zone for yet another score. Brown followed Hudkins’ crushing block around right end for two extra points and a 30-0 lead at the half.

In the locker room, Lamb cautioned his team not to let down and was concerned they may be tiring. The first IHS series of the third quarter resulted in a turnover at the Ilwaco 17. Hanson, who else, eventually recovered a forward fumble in the end zone after a bevy of Fishermen appeared to have fallen on the pigskin when the whistle blew. The extra point kick was wide left.

Miller ran back the kickoff 20 yards and then peeled off a jaunt of 28 more on another great downfield block by Hudkins, but the offense stalled. Tenino began a long drive of their own, featuring the running of Hanson and quarterback Jake Hanson. After their ground attack garnered four first downs, the Beavers scored, but the option pitch for two points fell to the ground so the score stood 30-12 with 1:23 left in the quarter.

Early in the final period a great block by Greg Iverson gave Miller enough room to scoot 12 yards and ‘Mo Mentum’ was back on Ilwaco’s side. Three plays later Brown hit Hudkins with a 48 yard toss, good for a first down. Miller rambled for an additional eight yards, and Brown followed the block of center, Justen Schaak, for a five yard gain, with one of the many ‘face mask’ penalties in the game tacked on for good measure.

On fourth and goal, Brown scrambled from the pocket and found Cadwell for a touchdown. Kangas split the uprights with the point after touchdown to give the Fishermen a commanding 37-12 lead with 8:44 left in the contest. Three minutes later Cadwell recovered a fumble and Miller jogged 34 yards from scrimmage behind blocks from Lemons, Kangas, and Tommy Inserra for the final TD of the game. Kangas again added the PAT.

Tenino went to the air, but defensive backs Montez Pogue and Tony Crete contained them. Freshmen Nick Leonard intercepted a pass to seal the deal, as many Ilwaco underclassmen saw playing time on defense, under the capable direction of middle linebacker, Lemons.

The 1-0 Fishermen will host Stevenson Friday at 7:30. Coach Lamb was looking forward to a week where the players would be able to concentrate on school and football. And he was doing so with the confidence that the team had come together under the most difficult and trying of circumstances this past week.

Tenino 0 0 12 0 12

Ilwaco 14 16 0 14 44

Ilwaco – Miller 5 run (Brown pass to Cadwell)

Ilwaco – Brown 3 run (pass failed)

Ilwaco – Hudkins 43 run (Brown pass to Miller)

Ilwaco – Brown 22 pass to Hudkins (Brown run)

Tenino – Hanson fumble recovery (kick failed)

Tenino – Hanson 2 run (run failed)

Ilwaco – Brown 5 pass to Cadwell (Kangas kick)

Ilwaco – Miller 34 run (Kangas kick)

Leading rusher – Heath Miller 26 for 188 yards

Leading passer – Kevin Brown 7-18 for 102 yards

Leading receiver – Andy Hudkins 4 for 83 yards

Leading tacklers – Chris Lemons 14, Hudkins and Miller 10

Tenino – 142 yards rushing, 14 passing, 156 total

Ilwaco – 218 yards rushing, 102 passing, 320 total