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QuickTake:
Bentlee Davenport scored three touchdowns in the first quarter to lead the Colts to a 49-6 first-round playoff victory.
Bentlee Davenport wanted the ball in his hands.
A short opening kick left the ball in the hands of an unintended Thurston returner, but Davenport caught up to him on the 20-yard line and called for a pitch. The junior wide receiver then peeled out to the left and found open space down the sideline for an 80-yard return touchdown.
It was just the beginning of Davenport’s dominant evening, as No. 2 Thurston raced past No. 15 St. Helens 49-6 Friday, Nov. 6 in the first round of the 5A state championship with the help of three touchdowns from Davenport. As a defensive back, he recorded a pick-six, accounting for Thurston’s first two touchdowns on his own, and later in the first half, he returned a punt 60 yards for another special teams score.
“That was great — nice little hat trick,” Davenport said.
Thurston completed the dominant victory without starting quarterback Emmit Distefano, who was carted off with a leg injury in the second quarter. During his time in the game, Distefano launched a 38-yard pass over the middle to wide receiver Rocco Folino for the Colts’ third touchdown.
“Just saying prayers for our quarterback,” Thurston head coach Justin Starck said.
Davenport completed his hat trick within the first quarter, fielding a punt on his own 40-yard line, cutting horizontally to his left and out running the first line of Lions defenders before finding himself in a horde of teammates guiding him to that guided him to the end zone to go ahead 28-0.
Zenon Orlinski, who led the Colts on the ground, hauled in an interception in St. Helens territory early in the second quarter and returned it up the gut of the Lions’ offense for another defensive touchdown.
Just two snaps after Distefano left the field to chants of his name from the student section, running back Bodie Bonar gave them a play to cheer for, taking a sweep play 55 yards for a touchdown, capped off by a juke of a defender who had caught up with him within the 10-yard line.
“The offensive line was just getting to work, running backs were running hard — Bodie Bonar had a great run on a fly sweep, just a good physical play,” Starck said.
Orlinski (nine carries, 76 yards, one offensive touchdown) got to work on the Colts’ final scoring drive of the second half and the game. The sophomore showcased excellent vision on six straight carries, marching down the field, largely through the middle of the Lions’ defense, and punching in a four-yard touchdown to go ahead 49-0.
The engine of the Colts’ dominance on both sides of the ball was their offensive and defensive lines. The defensive line posted three sacks and 10 tackles for loss, while the offensive line opened up a 182-yard rushing performance on limited offensive snaps.
“I think we all played really great, you know, we all came together and we did our assignments and we just executed,” tight end Leofatu Filipe said.
The Lions’ defense held strong to force a punt during the running-clock second half, and its the offense avoided the shutout.
St. Helens running back Tanner Naes (12 carries, 58 yards, TD) keyed the Lions’ lone touchdown drive, taking several direct snaps on their way downfield. Naes put their six points on the board with 1:31 remaining.
Thurston moves on to face the winner of No. 7 Sandy vs No. 10 Ridgeview in the second round of the playoffs.
“Oh, we’re ready; we’re always ready,” Filipe said.
Scoreboard
Friday, Nov. 6
- Willamette 42, Sprague 29
- Sheldon 35, Lakeridge 34
- Wilsonville 56, Churchill 22
- West Albany 42, Springfield 7
- Thurston 49, St. Helens 6
- Marist Catholic at Cascade Christian
- Junction City at La Grande
- Warrenton 28, Siuslaw-Mapleton 26
- Scio 49, Pleasant Hill 18
- Lowell 52, Oakland 16
- Mohawk at Crane
- Dayville-Monument-Long Creek 51, Triangle Lake 26
