MARYSVILLE – It should be a classic battle of the run vs. the pass when Marysville-Pilchuck travels to Vancouver to play the Columbia River Chieftains Saturday at 4 p.m. in the semifinals of the Class 3A state playoffs.

While the Tomahawks, 10-1, rely on the speedy backfield of Austin Joyner and Killian Page, the Chieftains, 9-2, rely on the arm of senior quarterback Gabe Evenson, the Greater St. Helens League Offensive Player of the Year.

In the team’s playoff game last week against Roosevelt, Evenson went 12-for-22 for 152 yards, and he also ran for 90 yards in a 36-26 win. Vincent Daniels added 90 yards on the ground.

Columbia River led 33-6 after three quarters before Roosevelt mounted a comeback.

In the previous week’s playoff game, Columbia River trounced Garfield 44-6. Evanson passed for 242 yards in that one completing 24-of-38 and four touchdowns.

Nathan Hawthorne caught 8 passes for 86 yards and three scores.

Hawthorne, a linebacker, was the the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Against Garfield, he had an interception, along with Daniels, Nic Briggs and Jacob Bystry.

Three players made the all-league team on both offense and defense: Hawthorne and linemen Dominguez Gomez and Isacc Ennis. Carson Bassett also was an all-league receiver, Bystry and Holding Fielding were all-league defensive backs, and Jacob Ringhold was the kick return specialist.

As usual, M-P relied on Joyner and Page in its playoff romp over Mountlake Terrace Friday. Joyner scored five touchdowns and Page two in the 49-14 victory.