Panthers drain Beavers in the rain

Rain created the perfect recipe for the Panthers to run the football right at the Beavers and force some big turnovers.

Washougal scored 16 points in the second quarter and shut out Woodland in the second, third and fourth quarters to secure a 26-8 victory Friday, at Fishback Stadium.

Marcos Martinez got the Panthers on the board first with a 49-yard touchdown run. The Beavers countered with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to gain a slim lead that lasted to the start of the second quarter.

Ryan Stevens kicked a 24-yard field goal to give Washougal the lead again, by two. Tyler Bowlin intercepted a pass for the Panthers on defense and returned the ball 25 yards. Kade Coons snagged a short pass from Stevens and turned it into a 55-yard gain. Stevens kept the ball crossed the goal line for a touchdown.

Jake Klackner recovered a fumble for Washougal. The Panthers backpedaled on offense and had to punt. Bowlin’s kick bounced slowly in front of the goal line and the Panthers pinned the Beavers on their own 1-yard line.

The ball slipped out of Woodland’s hands on the next snap, and Brevan Bea recovered the ball on the 2-yard line. Stevens took it into the end zone again to give Washougal a 15-point lead at halftime.

The Panthers continued to hunt the Beavers in the second half. Klackner sacked the quarterback for a 12-yard loss to force a punt. Bea and Tristan Schipull trapped the quarterback on the next possession, and Grant Lewis came around the other side to complete the tackle.

Stevens hooked in a 34-yard field goal during the fourth quarter. Bea completed a memorable defensive game with an interception and a few more big tackles.

Washougal (3-4 overall, 3-2 in league) is one win away from securing a playoff spot for the first time since 2007. The Panthers host R.A. Long in their last league game Friday, Oct. 21. It starts at 7 p.m., at Fishback Stadium.

Read more in Thursday’s print edition of the Post-Record.