Battle Ground takes down rival Prairie 41-6 to improve to 3-0, and senior leaders believe this could be a breakthrough season for the football program
Paul Valencia
Clark County Today
The Battle Ground Tigers got them back.
They got even.
Friday’s game was more than just taking down one rival, more than just moving back into a tie for the overall series.
Oh, yes, it felt good for the Tigers to dominate district-rival Prairie 41-6 on Friday at a packed District Stadium, evening the all-time series 26-26.
The victory, though, is more about what it means to play for Battle Ground, what it means for the team this season, what it means for the community.
Their head coach played for Battle Ground. Several assistant coaches played for Battle Ground.
Today, every Tiger plays for Battle Ground.
“Family and toughness for sure,” senior Thomas Avery said of what it means to wear the orange and black. “If you are born in Battle Ground, you are naturally tough. Coach Woody says it: BG Tough.”
Mike Woodward’s family moved to Battle Ground in 1977, and he was an outstanding athlete for the Tigers. He knows the history of the football program, too. After Friday’s win, he said this team has the potential to go down as one of the best football teams in school history.
No promises. Just potential, he said. These Tigers will have to earn it.
Still, that is high praise considering the Tigers went 3-6 last year.
Today, they are 3-0, and they got there by avenging a loss to Prairie last year in a wild one. The Falcons stunned the Tigers with a late touchdown for a 43-38 victory in 2024.
The 2024 Tigers never really got over that loss.
The 2025 Tigers, clearly, did not forget.
“We’ve been looking forward to this game for 365 days,” Avery said.
The Tigers were just minutes away from earning a shutout over a team that scored 46 and 48 points in its first two games. The Falcons have a do-everything quarterback who can sling it and keep plays alive with his legs — a tough player to stop.
And yet there was linebacker Emet Ordway, tracking him down, making tackle after tackle.
“We really have to praise our coaching staff, especially our new defensive coordinator,” Ordway said, referring to former Hockinson head coach Clint LeCount. “He’s amazing. He’s given us all we need, getting us to rally to the ball today. We knew we were the better team coming in. We just executed this year.”
Woodward described Ordway as the heart and soul of the team, and one of his favorite players he has been around in decades of coaching.
“He’s like that All-American kid who does everything right. He goes to church on Sundays. He’s cleaning the neighbor’s garage. He wrestles. He had no business wrestling, and he made it to state. He did track because we told him he needed to get faster. Next thing you know, he’s out there sprinting with the sprinters. Just a phenomenal kid.”
Avery excels as a safety on defense. He also caught a touchdown pass on offense on Friday.
“Thomas is the tough, plays-with-an-edge, attitude kid,” Woodward said. “He’s a Yacolt kid who lives in the boonies. His brother (Turner) is our center. Both of those kids are tough as nails. They probably beat up on each other their whole lives.”
These Tigers also took some beatings last year on the football field. The seniors, led by Emet Ordway and Thomas Avery, knew they would be improved this year, though.
“I started football in sixth grade. We’ve known this class has been special since then,” Ordway said. “We’ve just built a family in this class. We really showed up in the weight room, we really put in the work, knowing we can do great things.”
The work ethic was contagious. This class has taught the younger players, too.
“Our coaches have been waiting for this senior class,” Thomas Avery added. “Everyone finally hit the weight room. We had a ton of kids come up from JV, out of nowhere, hit the weight room and became warriors.”
Young warriors along with senior leaders have Battle Ground on the verge of doing something special in 2025.
“I love this school. Ever since I was little, I always liked tigers. Just being here is great. The atmosphere is great. We’re trying to change the culture here,” Ordway said. “I’m really proud of being a Tiger. I’m really looking forward to what’s to come this year.”
Rivalry notes: This was the 52nd meeting in the series that dates back to 1979. (There were times when Battle Ground and Prairie played each other twice in the same year.) … This year’s game was the first time the two teams were undefeated going into their matchup, not including Week 1 matchups.
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