It is the job of a quarterback to lead, and Kolten Gesser is getting a ton of credit from his head coach for how he went about his senior season, by leading a team with some question marks to another Trico League championship after the Cougars beat La Center 12-7 on Friday
Paul Valencia
Clark County Today
It was crunch time.
Game on the line.
Seton Catholic had the advantage on the scoreboard.
La Center, with some momentum, was closing in on the end zone, hoping to take the lead in the final seconds.
One Seton Catholic leader was calm and confident.
He was not even on the field. Still, he knew. He just knew.
Seton Catholic quarterback Kolten Gesser has been guiding this team all season long. He was picking up his guys after the Week 1 setback loss. He was finding chemistry with new standouts after last year’s incredible senior class graduated. And on Friday, he was looking on in the final minutes, willing his team to another Trico League championship.
The Seton Catholic defense shined down the stretch, stopping La Center on four consecutive plays in the red zone to secure a 12-7 victory and a second consecutive league title for the Cougars.
There was never a doubt, according to Gesser.
“I was pretty confident. The whole night, they were shutting them down really well. It was really impressive to watch our defense,” Gesser said. “They have been playing super well. For me, I could sit back, relax, and watch the show. It was fun to watch because I knew they were going to pull it out in the end.”
It was the confidence of a leader, the confidence of a champion.
“He exudes poise. He exudes character. He exudes integrity,” Seton Catholic coach Dan Chase said of Gesser. “And he’s one of the hardest workers on the team. He is always working to get better. He’s always working to help his teammates get better.”
Oh yes, that was key. Not just for this game, or any one game. The whole season.
The Seton Catholic Cougars made a sensational run to the state championship game in 2024, winning a program-record 12 games before losing to Royal at Husky Stadium in Seattle. That team had a great mix of senior and underclass talent. However, those seniors, wow. They were a Who’s Who of Class 1A football in Washington.
So while the Seton Catholic program would likely continue to shine, there were some question marks coming into 2025.
Then in Week 1, the Cougars lost to a team it had topped 56-7 in the previous year.
“We were still trying to figure out who’s fitting where, and trying to get used to certain guys,” Gesser said. “It was definitely a feel game, trying to find out where we want our guys and trying to gain a feel for each other.”
The loss was more than a wake-up call, though.
“It brought us closer together,” Gesser said.
Chase credits Gesser for leading the Cougar charge.
“That’s my job as a quarterback, to be that guy for the team,” Gesser said. “But the team makes it super easy for me to do that. They always want to come out when I say, ‘Let’s go work on routes’ on off days. They are always there, always showing up.
“It’s my job to do that, but it’s not a one-way thing. Everyone on the team responded,” the quarterback said.
Seton Catholic responded to that Week 1 loss, put together some wins, and even found out what it felt like to lose again, but to an incredibly talented team. The Cougars lost to Banks, currently 9-0 and the second-ranked team in Oregon Class 3A (the equivalent to 1A in Washington).
Through it all, the Cougars were getting better every week, win or lose.
“Even when we had good wins, we tried to fix things that we messed up on,” Gesser said. “It was about never taking days off and never letting games get to our head. Always staying humble and understanding who we are.”
The Seton Catholic Cougars are league champions again.
“It will mean more for us after the season when we can think about it,” Gesser said. “Right now, we’re not too worried about it. We won this week. We’ll work on what we can fix.”
The Cougars will head to the playoffs on a five-game win streak, with a quarterback and a team always looking to get better.
…
The regular season in high school football came to an end in Southwest Washington on Friday, and more than one game with playoff implications came down to the wire.
Class 4A Greater St. Helens League: Camas rallied from a 10-0 deficit to beat Skyview on a last-second field goal, 16-13. This is Camas’ sixth consecutive league title. Battle Ground, which beat Union on Thursday, finished in second place. Camas and Battle Ground advance to the state preliminary round playoffs next week.
Class 3A GSHL: Prairie held off Heritage 21-20 to claim the final playoff berth from the league. Heritage scored a touchdown in the final seconds but the conversion failed. Evergreen finished second to league-champion Kelso.
Class 2A GSHL: The Ridgefield Spudders edged Woodland 17-16 to secure a playoff berth. Washougal had already clinched the league title. Columbia River won to earn the No. 2 seed. Mark Morris will be the No. 4 seed.
Trico League: As noted, Seton Catholic won the league title Friday night. La Center is the No. 2 seed. Kalama and King’s Way Christian are also playoff teams.
Week 10 playoff matchups will be determined this weekend. The winners of Week 10 advance to the state playoffs.
Also read:
- The Study of Sports Podcast, Nov. 13, 2025: It’s November, which means it is playoff time for fall high school sports and the sports enthusiasts talk football, volleyball, and soccer
Playoff season arrives for high school football, volleyball, and girls soccer as The Study of Sports dives into local matchups and a quick turn to pro sports talk, including a World Series recap. - High school football: Hold everything, it is time to celebrate a Camas legend
Camas football announcer Dale Croswell is retiring after 45 seasons at Doc Harris Stadium, where his voice became a beloved part of Friday nights. - High school football: Camas kickers share an important role for the PapermakersCamas seniors Jackson Tyler and Carter Pak share kicking duties and support each other as the Papermakers claim the Class 4A GSHL football title.
- Opinion: Sophomore season may be even better for former Camas standout Addison HarrisKen Vance writes that former Camas standout Addison Harris had a breakout 27-point game for Montana State, signaling a strong sophomore season ahead.
- A job well done by Seton Catholic, led by senior quarterback Kolten GesserSeton Catholic, led by senior QB Kolten Gesser, edged La Center 12–7 to clinch another Trico League title, highlighted by a late red-zone stop and steady leadership throughout the season.
