Washougal wears down Stevenson

Motivated by a calm and steady attack, the Washougal High School football team earned a hard fought 18-6 victory at Stevenson Friday.

“I’m happy with how the kids responded when it was 0-0 at halftime,” said head coach Dave Hajek. “We just kept hammering at them and hammering at them, and we finally broke through.”

The Panthers pounced on the Bulldogs in the third quarter. Tristan Roseff flipped the script with a 7-yard run into the end zone, and Brandon Casteel caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kyron Carlson. Roseff added a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Roseff, Casteel and Garrett Duey combined for 143 rushing yards. Spencer Adams made two catches for 28 yards.

“The kids kept playing hard throughout the whole game, and that kind of wore down Stevenson,” Hajek said. “We have some veterans out there who know what it takes. We just have to continue to develop and practice with that same game speed, focus and mentality because that’s how we’re going to get better.”

Washougal (1-0) heads home for the next two weeks of football. The Panthers host White Salmon Friday, before kicking off league against Ridgefield Friday, Sept. 12. Both games begin at 7 p.m., at Fishback Stadium.

“It will be great to be home for the first time this year,” Hajek said. “If we can come out with the same intensity and focus, hopefully we’ll have the same results.”

Friday will be the first time in six years that Hajek coaches a football game at Fishback Stadium. He said the moment will not be for him. It’s for the team and the community. It’s a brand new start for everybody.

“We want people to be proud of their Panthers,” Hajek said. “And they should be. This is a great group of kids to be around, and they all work hard.”