BATTLE GROUND — The Battle Ground Tigers showcased a commanding performance against the Prairie Falcons, securing a decisive 41-6 victory on September 29, 2023. This win marks the Tigers’ third consecutive lopsided triumph to start the season, leaving no doubt about their dominance in this highly anticipated rivalry matchup.
As the sun set behind District Stadium’s west end zone, the vibrant orange hues reflected the spirit of Battle Ground High School. The atmosphere was electrifying, with a standing-room-only crowd eager for a competitive showdown, given both teams entered the game with a 2-0 record. Both had consistently scored over 40 points in their prior matchups, setting the stage for an exciting contest.
Battle Ground’s defense, however, quickly established control, effectively neutralizing Prairie’s prolific dual-threat quarterback, Deven Vigue. Known for his ability to both pass and rush, Vigue entered the game as the area’s third-leading passer with 494 yards and the second-leading rusher with 254 yards. Against the Tigers, he managed only 129 yards passing and 63 yards rushing, with most of his yardage coming from a late-game 40-yard touchdown scramble.
Tigers’ coach Mike Woodward emphasized the importance of pressuring Vigue throughout the week leading up to the game. “It takes 11 guys to just swarm to him and try to just bury him,” Woodward stated. “You tackle with such aggression and attitude that eventually you wear him down. That kid is phenomenal, so for our defense to do that…”
On the offensive side, Battle Ground’s own dual-threat quarterback, Ethan Adams, continued to shine. While he completed just eight passes, three resulted in touchdowns. Adams also rushed for over 100 yards for the third consecutive game, finishing with a total of 101 yards. He credited the defense for alleviating pressure on him during the game. “When the defense is dominating like that, anything seems possible on offense,” Adams remarked.
The Tigers scored on two of their first three drives, setting the tone early. Tight end Thomas Avery recorded his first catch of the season for a 6-yard touchdown, followed by Miles Skov breaking free for a 29-yard touchdown run. The highlight of the first half came when Broderick Heerlein caught a short pass and sprinted down the left sideline for an impressive 82-yard touchdown, bringing the halftime score to 24-0 after Bryland Fick nailed a 45-yard field goal as time expired.
As the game progressed, Battle Ground’s defense continued to hold strong, allowing an average of just 111 yards across three games this season. “Our team was rallying together, just dominant and always talking,” defensive tackle Tony Sahli expressed. “Keep eating. Keep eating.”
Woodward, a Battle Ground native, conveyed to his players the potential they possess, suggesting they could be the best team in the school’s storied history. “This team could be special. This is a good group of kids,” he asserted.
As a four-year varsity player, Adams relished the victory over their rivals, especially after last season’s narrow loss. The all-time series between the schools is now tied at 26-26. “It doesn’t get better than that, beating your rivals like that,” Adams said. “We came in underdogs and showed them, don’t bet against us.”
The scoring breakdown for the game is as follows:
BATTLE GROUND 41, PRAIRIE 6
Prairie 0 0 0 6 — 6
Battle Ground 7 17 7 10 — 41
First Quarter
BG — Thomas Avery 6 pass from Ethan Adams (Bryland Fick kick)
Second Quarter
BG — Miles Skov 29 run (Fick kick)
BG — Broderick Heerlein 82 pass from Adams (Fick kick)
BG — FG, Fick 45
Third Quarter
BG — Dominick Rivas 5 pass from Adams (Fick kick)
Fourth Quarter
BG — Xavier Ortegon 22 run (Fick kick)
BG — FG, Fick 33
P — Deven Vigue 40 run (kick failed)
Individual Statistics
RUSHING
Prairie: Sam Watts 7-19, Deven Vigue 13-63, Kian Krueger 5-31.
Battle Ground: Ethan Adams 13-101, Xavier Ortegon 11-73, Miles Skov 7-78, Blaine Wertz 4-8, Jacob Bryant 3-18, Sebastian Anaya 2-4.
PASSING
Prairie: Deven Vigue 16-30-1-124.
Battle Ground: Ethan Adams 8-15-0-105.
RECEIVING
Prairie: Jackson Kimball 2-15, Tommie Vick 6-36, Alex Blakeslee 6-58, Asay Cruz 1-15, Olin Cecil 1-0.
Battle Ground: Dominick Rivas 2-6, Trenton Righter 3-15, Thomas Avery 1-6, Broderick Heerlein 1-82, Trent Richardson 1-(minus-4).
This significant victory sets the tone for the remainder of the season, as Battle Ground looks to build on its strong performance and continue its winning streak.