FOOTBALL

Titans 24, Ducks 12

MENLO — Peter Hamilton and Max Smith combined for 238 yards rushing as Pe Ell-Willapa Valley survived a strong Toutle Lake challenge to earn a state berth in Friday’s District IV 2B crossover football game Friday at Crogstad Field.

The Titans (8-2) will host Friday Harbor in a state opener next Saturday, probably at Menlo.

Underdog Toutle Lake gave the state-ranked Titans all they could handle. But PWV took a permanent lead on a pair of Tyson Nissell touchdowns runs within a 2 1/2 minute span late in the first half.

Nissell scored on a 3-yard run to break a 6-6 tie with 3:33 remaining in the second quarter. The Titans got the ball back when Ryan Shepherd recoverd a fumble forced by Kyah Carter and Nissell again scored from 3 yards out with 1:02 left prior to intermission.

The Ducks again cut the margin to six on Asher VanHoof’s 25-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. But Matt Pearson’s 41-yard TD pass to Ryan Shepherd with 6:18 remaining gave the Titans sufficient cushion.

“It was a good game. Credit (Toutle Lake), they played hard,” PWV assistant coach John Peterson said. “But kudos to our kids for getting it done. They did a great job.”

Hamilton amassed 125 yards on 21 carries, including a 2-yard TD run in the second quarter. Smith added 113 yards and Nissell 76 yards for Pe Ell-Willapa Valley.

Carter led Titan tacklers with 10 stops, while Hamilton had nine and Shepherd eight. Hamilton and Shepherd earned praise from head coach Josh Fluke for fine all-around performances.