56-7. Let that score sink in for a minute. That’s the absolute declaration Woodland football just made to everyone who wrote them off this offseason, kicking off the new season with a bang against GNH.
The Doubters Are Officially on Notice
New head coach Jeremy Clark took over a team that graduated a ton of seniors, including their previous coach Joe Lato. People were talking, man. They were saying Woodland lost its firepower after an 11-1 season that saw them reach the Class SS semifinals. But on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Van Why Field, the Hawks showed up and dropped a 56-7 season-opening bomb on GNH. Coach Clark summed it up perfectly: “All they wanted to prove was, now they just talk about how many guys we lost. They talk about this and that. Why don’t we just go be ourselves and play for each other?” You love to hear that straight talk from a coach, telling his guys to block out the noise and play their game.
A New-Look Offense Absolutely Explodes
Talk about being yourselves! The ground game was absolutely cooking, chewing up 324 yards and five touchdowns on just 24 attempts. Seriously, that’s absurd efficiency. Leading the charge? Senior tight end-turned-quarterback Evan Mastropietro, who piled up a game-high 128 rushing yards and a touchdown himself. This dude, who usually thinks of himself as a defensive player, just switched to QB and started torching defenses. And get this: senior guard-turned-fullback Colby Marsan rumbled for 46 yards and two scores on six carries. You know every big man dreams of running the rock, and Clark was loving it. Justin Pringle, usually a wide receiver, added 33 yards and a score on three carries. Even senior running back Daniel Keogh tore off a 73-yard sprint for the final touchdown, ending up with 117 yards on just six attempts. This wasn’t just running the ball, it was a clinic.
Dual Threats and Game-Changing Plays
And it wasn’t just a ground show. Mastropietro was efficient through the air, hitting 6-of-11 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns. One went for 40 yards to senior Ryan Kenney, the other a 12-yard strike to Pringle. Senior kicker Hunter Cronk was money on all eight of his extra-point attempts. No punts the entire game! Pringle even snagged two interceptions on defense, including one he took back 63 yards for a touchdown. He went from cornerback to safety and just immediately made game-changing plays. Coach Clark mentioned Mastropietro moving from “an unbelievable tight end” to quarterback, and Pringle’s switch, saying they’ve “embraced” it and become leaders. GNH grabbed a lone score from junior Airyn Berube on an option pitch, cutting it to 28-7, but Woodland immediately answered back with another touchdown. This team just wasn’t letting GNH get any momentum.
So, if you were doubting Woodland this offseason, you just got hit with a 56-7 reality check. This team, with new leaders in new roles, just announced they are *here*. This kind of dominant, all-around performance from day one sends a serious message. The Hawks are flying high, and everyone needs to take notice. What a start to the season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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