The Tualatin Timberwolves fell short to West Linn, with a final score of 37-6, after playing their first football game as a team in over 15 months. 

They were originally scheduled to face off against Lake Oswego, but a COVID-19 outbreak on the Lakers’ end forced a cancellation. 

Starting the season opener on an undesirable outcome was not ideal; however, the Timberwolves were more than grateful for the opportunity to play after a long off season. 

“We lost, but this is the most fun that I’ve had in a while. There’s nothing like getting out there and playing football with the boys,” Tualatin senior defensive back/receiver Jake Alton told SBLive Oregon after the game. “This was a great time. They’re actually a really fun team to play. They’d go really far if we had playoffs this year.”

West Linn looked dominant on the field with a strong running game and quarterback Blake DeBisschop who threw for 311 yards. 

At half, West Linn led 17-0, and with only eight minutes to play, they advanced their lead to 37-0. Senior fullback Casey Raz contributed a late touchdown for the Timberwolves, preventing a shutout and surely lifting the spirits of the team. 

The Timberwolves were missing a key piece in running back Malik Ross, who was not present at the game on Friday. He later played in the home game vs North Medford, demonstrating his impact on this young team.

The Tualatin Timberwolves are scheduled to play Lakeridge on Friday, Mar. 19. Only the third game of the season, the Timberwolves hope to have a long and successful season ahead of them.