Quilcene’s Jayden Love made history this week.

Just an eighth-grader — yes eighth-graders play varsity high school sports at the 1B level — Love was one of the players named Player of the Game for the Rangers this week.

Love was a big part of the Rangers’ huge 36-12 win over Odessa in the state 1B semifinals held in Moses Lake this weekend.

With Quilcene up two scores, Love had the longest play of the game on the opening kickoff of the second half. Love grabbed an Odessa onside kick and sprinted past the entire Tigers’ defense for a 55-yard touchdown.

The play put Quilcene up 26-6 and broke the back of Odessa, which never seriously threatened after Love’s big play. It’s not often that an eight-grader gets to be a difference-maker in a state 1B semifinal.

Love and his Ranger teammates play Almira-Coulee-Hartline on Saturday in the state 1B championship.