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Prep Football: The BZM All-Area Team
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Prep Football: The BZM All-Area Team

Gridiron Glory — Honoring the best football players from across The Blast Zone

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Blast Zone Media
Dec 24, 2024
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Prep Football: The BZM All-Area Team
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Woodland quarterback Elijah Andersen turns the corner with the football while Dylan Hartje of Cedarcrest reaches out in an attempt to slow him down during a 2A football crossover playoff, Friday, Nov. 8, at Beaver Stadium. — Candy Durgeloh / Durgeloh Photography

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MVP

Elijah Andersen, Woodland

The 2A GSHL MVP and future Idaho State defender, Anderson did a little bit of everything during his time at Woodland. A four-year varsity player, he’s played wide receiver, running back, quarterback, safety, returns kicks, you name it.

As a quarterback in his senior season, Andersen accounted for 831 yards passing for 19 TDs, 1,192 yards rushing with another 19 scores. Without the ball he racked up 103 total tackles (74 solo) with three picks, four fumbles forced and one recovered while leading the Beavers to a 2A GSHL title and a spot in the playoffs.

“His dad’s one of our assistant coaches, so he’s a football kid,” Woodland coach Glen Flanagan said. “He grew up around football. His dad played college football. And so he’s just smart and he was always a calming force.”

Offensive MVP

Aden Mintonye, Kelso

The 3A GSHL Co-Offensive Player of the Year led the region with 1,989 yards on the ground with a staggering 28 touchdowns, which puts him in the pantheon of the great Kelso running backs. He set a single-game record with seven scores against Prairie while going over 300 yards.

“You never saw him get tackled backwards,” Kelso coach Steve Amrine said. “It was never just a stone hit. Great vision. Great balance. Keeping his pads behind his feet. When he got a chance he had really good breakaway speed.”

Defensive MVP

Logan Busig, Woodland

A two-time 1st Team All-League selection, Busig was the highest vote getter at the 2A Greater St. Helens League coaches meeting. A seemingly unlimited motor made Busig a disruptive force in the middle of the Beaver defense. Busig led the Beavers with 10 tackles for loss with two sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

Coach Flanagan told a story of Busig taking on two massive Hudson’s Bay interior linemen, then, while still engaged, stopping the 290-pound Eagles fullback dead in the hole. That’s what it was like to run the ball against the Beavers, and it all started with Busig.

“It’s like, I don’t think he feels pain,” Flanagan said. “I don’t think he understands that these people are in the way. I honestly think he sees ball and goes (and) gets ball.”

Coach of the Year

Glen Flanagan, Woodland

The 2A GSHL Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm in Woodland, Flanagan took the head football job late after Sean McDonald left for Mountain View and still won the 2A Greater St. Helens League title.

Also the girls basketball coach for the Beavers, and an assistant coach with the football team for nearly three decades before taking the head role, Flanagan’s deep roots in Woodland caused some uncomfortable feelings after an 0-2 start that included a 28-0 loss to La Center.

However, there were more good things than bad in the loss to the Wildcats. The score doesn’t indicate the physicality and effort the Beavers exhibited against a quality foe. And Woodland went on to win its next seven contests, including a 14-7 Week 9 upset of then league-leader Ridgefield, to claim the 2A GSHL title and a spot in the playoffs.

“It was kind of a cliche,” Flanagan said. “Everyone (of us) believed, and probably we were the only ones that believed, but everyone loved each other and found a way to get it done.”

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