Monroe Overpowers Bear Creek in Opening Round of Holiday Tourney

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Steven Dion

Monroe Overpowers Bear Creek in Opening Round of Holiday Tourney
By Steven Dion

Monday- December 29	2014	Boys	4A/1A	Non-League
Bellevue College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Monroe	12	21	13	9	55
Bear Creek	14	8	13	4	39

Monroe Freshman Colby Kyle

The 44th Annual Holiday High School Boys Basketball Tournament tipped off on Monday night at Bellevue College as eight teams vie for the title. The second of four games slated would match Monroe of 4A Wesco and 1A Emerald City league squad Bear Creek. The winner would advance to face King’s in the second round whereas the team that fell in this contest would take on Hazen in the consolation bracket.

Monroe wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as the opening tip was advanced up the floor and converted to an easy layup in the opening seconds. The Grizzlies were not fazed by the quick basket as they strung together some offense primarily through Jonny Magee and Jordan Block. The pair accounted for 19 of BC’s 22 first half points. Coach Tyson Horner’s Bearcats grew stronger as the first half rolled along, especially after freshman Colby Kyle threw down a dunk after a steal on the defensive end. This propelled Monroe to taking a 26-19 lead midway through the second quarter prompting Coach Tyler Mendezona to call a Grizzlies timeout after his team’s confidence started to wane. At the break, the Bearcats accumulated a double digit lead as the scoreboard read 33-22.

The third quarter began with a three-point spree as Monroe’s Rhen Shore and BC’s Block heated up from beyond the arc. However, trading buckets did not change the Bearcats lead heading into the final quarter. The Grizzlies needed a major run, but the call was not answered. There was a chance to cut the deficit to single digits midway through the fourth, but BC could not quite muster a late rally as the Bearcats locked up a 16 point victory.

The Final Score: Monroe 55 Bear Creek 39

Top Performers:
Monroe
Rhen Shore-13 points (5/9 FGs, 3 3-pointers)

Bear Creek
Jordan Block-17 points (6/13 FG’s, 5 3-pointers)

Meadowdale Rolls Past Interlake in Tournament Opener

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Steven Dion

Meadowdale Rolls Past Interlake in Tournament Opener
By Steven Dion

Monday- December 29	2014	Boys	3A	Non-League
Bellevue College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Meadowdale	16	14	11	14	55
Interlake	5	10	9	13	37

Meadowdale Junior Nathan Heilpap

The third of four games slated for round one of the boys tourney at Bellevue College featured a 3A clash between KingCo and Wesco as Interlake would take on Meadowdale. During the shootaround, it was difficult to tell which team was which as both team donned their powder blue warmups. On the line in this contest would be a round two battle on Tuesday night with the winner of the Renton/Inglemoor game which followed this game. The stage was set for the Saints and Mavericks to determine which team would advance in the winner’s bracket.

The Mavs raced out of the gates on a 7-0 run during the first 3:50 of the game. Many of their early field goals stemmed from turnovers on the defensive end leading to transition buckets on offense. Reid Wilson and Charlie White accounted for 14 of Meadowdale’s 30 first half points. Interlake’s difficulty finding a groove was exacerbated by unusually unfortunate bounces around the rim. The Saints found themselves down by double digits after one quarter despite getting good looks at the basket. Meadowdale took advantage of slow zone rotations from IHS by allowing Aidan O’Neill and Nathan Heilpap dial a pair from downtown. Interlake’s Justin Jordan provided a spark off the bench by knocking down a few jumpers of his own in the second quarter. The first half ended with a Landon Hopkins three at the buzzer to give the Mavericks a 30-15 leading heading into the locker room.

With a sense of urgency by Darren Bowden’s Saints, the pace of the game picked up in the third frame, but MHS was prepared to defend their lead. Interlake chipped away at the deficit slowly, but the Mavs closed the quarter strong to set up the final eight minutes. Kyle Grund played a major role in putting the game on ice as the 6’6 senior scored 6 of his 8 points down the stretch. Interlake’s Ayden Allen put together a strong second half en route to a game high 13 points, but Meadowdale advances to the second round after an 18 point win.

The Final Score: Meadowdale 55 Interlake 37

Top Performers:
Meadowdale
Charlie White and Reid Wilson-12 points

Interlake
Ayden Allen-13 points

Auburn-Mountainview Escapes Tornados Down the Stretch

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Steven Dion

Auburn-Mountainview Escapes Tornados Down the Stretch
By Steven Dion

Friday- December 26	2014	Boys	4A/3A	Non-League
Kennedy Catholic High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Auburn-Mountainview	16	22	23	22	83
Yelm	7	26	17	8	58

Auburn-Mountainview Junior Victor Daggs

Day one of the 2014 Christmas Classic presented by Oberto matched up 3A SPSL representative in Auburn-Mountainview and Yelm of the 4A Narrows. Advancement to the second round in the winner’s bracket was on the line as the team that prevailed will take on the winner of the Kennedy Catholic/Cascade Christian game which would follow this one. The intriguing matchup in this game would be how the dynamic guards of AM in Victor Daggs and Ryan Lacey would fill the scoresheet against versatile forward Christian Davis of the Tornados.

The Lions captured an early lead in the game as 5 players scored in the opening quarter. Conversely, Yelm could not buy a bucket to start the game as their first points came nearly five minutes into the game. The scoring drought ceased quickly as Davis sparked a second quarter Yelm run. The 6’4 junior tallied 15 points in the second quarter as part of his game-high 27 points which helped the Tornados chip away at the early deficit they dug themselves into. On the other end of the floor AMHS’ Lacey notched nine of his own to maintain a five point lead heading into halftime. With a scoreboard reading 38-33 into the break, this game was shaping up for an exciting finish.

Auburn-Mountainview’s head coach Thomas Ostrander appeared to address his team’s size advantage during halftime as his 6’10 center Tristan Miguel played a major role in the pivotal third quarter. His rebounding on both sides of the floor led to second chances on offense and limiting Yelm’s time of possession. Miguel had 7 big points in the third which the Lions went on an 11-6 run in just under 5 minutes. However, early foul troubles by the Lions helped Yelm enter the double bonus with over 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter. At the third quarter buzzer, AM heaved a desperation throw from near mid-court. In a lapse of discipline, Yelm fouled the shooter giving Moutainview 3 free throws. This gave the Lions an 11 point lead heading into the fourth. That margin ballooned by an additional 14 points in the final 8 minutes as the 7 Lions scored in the fourth quarter while limiting Yelm to only 8 points. Auburn-Mountainview knocked down 17 of their 25 free throws in the contest en route to a big opening round win.

The Final Score: Auburn-Mountainview 83 Yelm 58

Top Performers:
Auburn-Mountainview
Victor Daggs and Ryan Lacey-18 points

Yelm
Christian Davis-27 points

Kentwood Exhibits Strength Against Cedarcrest

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Steven Dion

Kentwood Exhibits Strength Against Cedarcrest
By Steven Dion

Friday- December 26	2014	Boys	4A/2A	Non-League
Kennedy Catholic High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Kentwood	25	23	15	13	76
Cedarcrest	8	9	10	12	39

Kentwood Sophomore Rayvaughn Bolton

The opening round of the 2014 Oberto Christmas Classic at Kennedy HS featured 4A power Kentwood against Cedarcrest from the 2A class. A stark contrast between these two teams heading into the contest was team size and how it would affect the outcome of the game as the Conks are built like a football team on the hardwood. The Red Wolves are slighter in stature but have some crafty guards that do not back down. Would Cedarcrest give KW a challenge in the first round of the holiday tourney?

Kentwood challenged CHS from the start as they applied full-court pressure which resulted in backcourt turnovers. The Conks did not take advantage of the defensive effort early as they chose to take 3 point attempts that did not fall early. However, Cedarcrest’s early bit of momentum on offense went ice cold for the majority of the first half. After scoring only 8 first quarter points, the Red Wolves were in trouble. Preston White and Marcus Lubom both notched 10 points for the Conquerors in the first half which was more than CHS’ scoring total through quarters one and two. Nik Rearson tallied 5 for the Red Wolves as he went 5/6 from the line in the first 16 minutes. Mark Prince would hope to rally his Cedarcrest squad at the break to close the gap as the halftime score read 48-17 in favor of Kentwood.

Cedarcrest was able to play a competitive second half as the lead grew by a much smaller margin than it did in the first half. They held the Conks to 15 third quarter points and were able to drain a pair of three-balls from Alex Paulsen and Robert Cha. The fourth quarter featured quality minutes for Kentwood Coach Blake Solomon’s reserves. Jordan Jones knocked down two from downtown in the final frame as Kentwood secured a 76-39 victory. There was exceptional sportsmanship displayed by Kentwood as they overmatched their opponent, but showed respect for Cedarcrest.

The Final Score: Kentwood 76 Cedarcrest 39

Top Performers:
Kentwood
5 players in double figures (Preston White-14, Davonte Sanchez-12, Marcus Lubom-11, Rayvaughn Bolton-11, Malik Sanchez-11)

Davis
Kyle Walsh-7 points (5/6 FT’s)

Davis Rallies, But Cleveland Hangs on for Non-League Win

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Steven Dion

Davis Rallies, But Cleveland Hangs on for Non-League Win
By Steven Dion

Saturday- December 20	2014	Boys	3A/4A	Non-League
Cleveland High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Cleveland	19	17	12	18	66
Davis	7	15	17	20	59

Cleveland Eagles

Saturday afternoon included a contest with 3A against 4A in Cleveland and Davis. The Pirates based out of Yakima won the 4A state championship in 2012 and have regressed since that memorable run. However, some of the members of that title squad are still on the roster as upperclassmen so Davis is still a quality basketball team. Cleveland has struggled to remain competitive in the highly talented Metro League in recent years, but appear to be headed in the positive direction this season. Would Davis be able to get two wins in as many days or would Cleveland prevail on home court?

The pace of this game got off to a fast start as both teams were eager to score in transition. The advantage of size in the paint for Cleveland was evident early as the Eagles rebounded well on both sides of the floor. In addition, they were able to get plenty of quality shots in the paint which translated to leading by a dozen after one quarter of play. The Pirates started to chip away at the early deficit they found themselves in primarily in the perimeter shooting of Nick Navarro. The sharpshooter buried 6 triple in the contest en route to his game-high 20 points. CJ Elleby earned a handful of trips to the free-throw line which he converted as his tenacity helped Cleveland extend their lead to 36-22 at halftime.

Davis was committed to make their road-trip worthwhile as the Pirates increased their second-half intensity to cut the Eagles’ lead. The home team had some foul trouble and turned the ball over to give DHS multiple opportunities to score on offense. The lead started to dwindle and by the end of the third quarter, the difference was nine points. Cleveland’s Nico Buchanan went 6 for 6 from the charity stripe in the final frame to protect the lead. Navarro scored another pair of buckets from downtown to cut the lead to a mere 4 points. This game was still unsettled even though Cleveland led from the opening tip! However, Townsend and the Eagles closed the door by knocking down clutch buckets down the stretch as the Davis shooting starting to cool off. When the buzzer sounded, the home team picked up a quality win against a 4A team by 7 points.

The Final Score: Cleveland 66 Davis 59

Top Performers:
Cleveland
Malik Townsend-16 points

Davis
Nick Navarro-20 points (6 3-pt FG’s)

Rainier Beach Glides Past Lakeside in League Matchup

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Steven Dion

Rainier Beach Glides Past Lakeside in League Matchup
By Steven Dion

Friday- December 19	2014	Boys	3A	Metro
Rainier Beach High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Rainier Beach	23	21	26	17	87
Lakeside	18	12	18	20	68

Rainier Beach Junior Keith Smith

Quality basketball is a guarantee on a Friday night inside Crawford Court at Rainier Beach High School. The reigning 3A champs hosted the Lakeside Lions in a Metro League showdown on Friday night as some of the top talent in the state would put their talents on display. Could the Lions pull an upset on the road?

Lakeside’s dynamic guard Isiah Brown established his pivotal role on the team by scoring 13 of his team’s 18 first quarter points. Beach countered with a balanced attack of point guards Shadeed Shabazz and Ivy Smith feeding Dejounte Murray and Keith Smith. The Vikings built a five point lead after one frame, but the slim margin kept the door open for the Lions. With increased intensity on the defensive end for Lakeside, they rebounded the ball well and found points at the other end. Mid-way through the second quarter, Mike Bethea called a full timeout because the scoreboard read 27-26 Rainier Beach. The Viking responded like they are accustomed to by closing out the half on a 17-4 run. Murray and Shabazz were major contributors to the surge of points to extend the halftime score to 44-30.

The Viking lead grew even more after the break as Keith Smith and Dejounte Murray knocked down some transition buckets at the cup. Ivy Smith tacked on seven in the third quarter also. Lion guard Connor Duffy provided a nice spark off the bench knocking down 10 points in the second half. Lakeside slowly cut the Rainier Beach lead and with over 5 minutes remaining, were trailing by single digits. However, RB closed out the second half like they did the first half and kept their undefeated record intact with a 19 point victory.

The Final Score: Rainier Beach 87 Lakeside 68

Top Performers:
Rainier Beach
Dejounte Murray-29 points

Lakeside
Isiah Brown-35 points

Bellevue Hands Sammamish First Loss, Takes Lead in 3A KingCo

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Steven Dion

Bellevue Hands Sammamish First Loss, Takes Lead in 3A KingCo
By Steven Dion

Wednesday- December 16	2014	Boys	3A	KingCo
Bellevue High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bellevue	13	20	15	22	70
Sammamish	9	11	9	18	47

Bellevue Senior Gunther Klimes

Tuesday night’s high school hoops schedule included a clash of two teams that were without a loss in their records. The Wolverines played host to the Totems with a chance to be perched at the top of the KingCo League standings. The home team features many of its key contributors to the state tournament last season; would Sammamish challenge one of the state’s finest?

There was a high level of energy displayed in this contest as both teams were content with attacking the bucket in transition early in the shot clock. Bellevue’s zone defense established their ability to create turnovers as their length and swarming nature resulted in Sammamish headaches. However, the Wolverines were unable to convert these takeaways to points, thus keeping the Totems within striking distance. Seven Wolverines scored in the second quarter giving the home squad a 33-20 lead by halftime. The final moments of the first half were quite a spectacle as Kyle Foreman seemingly had a clear path to another Bellevue bucket. Michael Shinaul chased the Wolverine senior down and made a phenomenal block near the rim. Shinaul came crashing down into the padding behind the basket knocking it off the wall. Meanwhile, Issac Garcia raced to pick up the loose ball that was bouncing toward the Sammamish bench. He collided with an official and both tumbled to the floor into the Totem bench as the buzzer sounded. There were seemingly more players on the hardwood than standing as the first half concluded.

To give themselves a chance to climb back into the game, it was imperative the Totems outscore Bellevue in the third quarter. Shaky free throw shooting by BHS was a start, but not finishing on their own possessions prevented Sammamish for cutting down the lead. Zach Moore, Andrew Kenny, and Foreman scored four apiece in the third and while captain Vlad Yadevich netted five, the Bellevue lead grew to 19 after three quarters. The depth of the Wolverines continued to show its strength as 8 players scored in the fourth quarter as the home team picked up its fourth win by the score of 70-47. The leading scorers in the game were Gunther Klimes and Kyle Foreman of BHS and Kyle Tracy of SHS who all scored 14 points.

Top Performers:
Bellevue
Gunther Klimes & Kyle Foreman-14 points

Sammamish
Kyle Tracy-14 points

Newport Defends Home Court with Convincing Win Over Redmond

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Steven Dion

Lady Mustangs Prevail in Overtime Clash with Newport
By Steven Dion

Friday- December 12	2014	KingCo 4A
Newport High School	Final
Newport	56
Redmond	38

Newport Senior Jake Higgins

The nightcap of a full slate of basketball at Newport HS on Friday night was the boys varsity matchup of the host Knights and visiting Mustangs of Redmond High School. Newport has been a top half 4A KIngCo squad in recent years while Redmond has struggled to join the upper ranks of the conference. Would they have the horsepower to pick up the road win or would Newport pile on another win in front of the home crowd?

Redmond appeared they were ready to compete as they scored the first six points of the game two of which came from a circus shot by Kevin Carpenter. Unfortunately, the ‘Stangs couldn’t keep the momentum rolling as the Knights went on a 10-0 run in response to the early deficit. The length advantage of Newport forwards started to show its presence as Ryan Kingma and Jake Higgins among others glided to the rim for layup drills. Redmond was on the brink of submitting to a big halftime deficit, but closed the second quarter strong to only trail by 5.

The third quarter is where Newport put this game to rest. They limited the opposition to only 6 points in the frame while building a big lead. The Mustangs competed throughout the second half even as the Newport lead continued to grow. NHS head coach Steve Haizlip allowed many of his reserves to log some minutes down the stretch as his team closed out a 56-38 victory.

Top Performers:
Newport
Jake Higgins-24 points

Redmond
Kevin Carpenter-12 points

Lady Mustangs Prevail in Overtime Clash with Newport

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Steven Dion

Lady Mustangs Prevail in Overtime Clash with Newport
By Steven Dion

Friday- December 12	2014	KingCo 4A
Newport High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Final
Redmond	10	12	11	16	10	59
Newport	7	21	8	13	8	57

Redmond Junior Sierra Craig

Friday night’s slate of early season basketball featured a 4A KingCo matchup of Newport and visitors Redmond. At this point of the schedule, nobody knows where they fit in the spectrum of the leagues so exciting finishes often occur and this was a glaring example. This particular contest took extra time to be settled. Who prevailed and how?

The Lady Knights and their up-tempo play grabbed a 6 point first half lead as freshman point guard Jahdai Alcombrack and post Katelyn Jenkins netted nine apiece. The Mustangs had a difficult time finding a rhythm in the first 16 minutes, but kept the score close enough to give themselves a chance in the second half. Seniors Morgan Grindell and Sawyer Forseth led the Mustangs with a half dozen points each before the break by the score of 30-22 in favor of the home team.

Redmond coach Ashley Graham clearly emphasized defensive pressure in the locker room because the ‘Stangs started climbing back into the game quickly. They had four scorers in the third quarter in comparison to Newport with one. They even gained the lead and held it well into the fourth quarter. Redmond was on the brink of closing the game out, but called a timeout after a defensive rebound. The only problem? They were out of timeouts! This led to two free throws that helped Newport push the game to overtime.

Newport committed to attacking the rim in the overtime period and earned 11 trips to the free throw line making 8 of them. However they did not make a field goal whereas Forseth and Teagyn Ohrt made key buckets down the stretch. This was the difference in the ballgame as the road Redmond squad escaped with a 59-57 victory.

Top Performers:
Redmond
Teagyn Ohrt-15 points (5/7 FT’s)

Newport
Katelyn Jenkins-15 points

Coach Interview with Neah Bay’s Tony McCaulley-State Finals Preview

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Steven Dion

2014 Varsity Football Live Playoff Interview
Neah Bay Red Devils – Head Football Coach
Tony McCaulley

The northwest tip of Washington is home to a 1B football program that seems to find its way to the Tacoma Dome every year in recent memory. Tony McCaulley and Red Devils are back in the championship game and he visits with Steven Dion to talk about how the team has maintained success and the impact Neah Bay High School football has in the community.

“Our whole town will caravan over and turn out the lights…Everybody will be at the Tacoma Dome for the game…”

To repeat as state champs, Coach McCaulley will need to rally his team to defeat Liberty Christian who defeated the Red Devils in dramatic fashion for the 2012 title. He explains how that game will serve as motivation for his upperclassmen when Saturday arrives!

To catch the complete radio interview with Neah Bay Coach Tony McCaulley, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Coach Interview with Sedro-Woolley’s Dave Ward-State Finals Preview

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Steven Dion

2014 Varsity Football Live Playoff Interview
Sedro-Woolley Cubs – Head Football Coach
Dave Ward

In his third year as head coach of the Cubs, Dave Ward has brought a middle-of-the-pack Northwest League team in 2012 to the 2A state championship game in 2014. His team will face familiar opponent Lynden who defeated the Cubs 33-30 earlier this season.

“We gave up six huge plays…That wasn’t typical of our defense…We’re going to bend and not break…”

The entire community of Sedro-Woolley will shut down according to Ward and get down to the Tacoma Dome via buses and trains to see their Cubs compete for a state title. He is confident in the leaders on his roster to take home the hardware from the 2014 Gridiron Classic!

To catch the complete radio interview with Sedro-Woolley Coach Dave Ward, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Coach Interview with Cascade Christian’s Randy Davis-State Finals Preview

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Steven Dion

2014 Varsity Football Live Playoff Interview
Cascade Christian Cougars – Head Football Coach
Randy Davis

Since 2008, Cascade Christian head coach Randy Davis has led the Cougars to the 1A state championship game five time including winning the title in 2010. The senior class remembers how their season ended in the semifinals last year and showed determination to bring the hardware home in 2014.

“They took that to heart last year…They really dedicated themselves…I had 25 to 30 guys in the weight room at 6 o’clock in the morning all winter long…”

Coach Davis understands the Colville Indians present a challenge in the Gridiron Classic, but he explains how his team is prepared to finish the season 13-0. The Cougars have a strong core group with a winning attitude capable of taking the championship trophy to the Puyallup Valley once again!

To catch the complete radio interview with Cascade Christian Coach Randy Davis, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Bothell! Bothell! Bothell! 4A Champions!

Posted on December 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Dec. 6	2014	4A	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bothell	10	0	14	0	24
Chiawana	0	0	7	7	14

Game Recap below

Bothell! Bothell! Bothell! 4A Champions!
By Colin Caruso

In a game that had the Tacoma Dome on the edge of their seats throughout, the Bothell Cougars proved they were the best team in 4A Washington State football with an amazing win over the defending champions, Chiawana Riverhawks. Knowing full well that Chiawana won the title last year by scoring 14 points in the final minute of the game, Bothell had to keep the pressure on the Riverhawks for the full 48 minutes of play.

Bothell began the game with a stifling first half. Caleb Meyer rushed for a TD on their opening drive, and the Cougar defense closed the door for the next 21 minutes of football. Cougar defensive linemen were living in the Chiawana backfield; Riverhawk quarterback Logan Ellsworth spent the first half running for his life.

When the Riverhawks finally broke deep into Bothell territory late in the second quarter, the Cougars intercepted Ellsworth in the end zone to end the first half. Bothell took a 10-0 lead into the locker room.

The second half started with another great defensive stop for the Cougars, forcing a punt and scoring on that ensuing possession. It would be Ross Bowers only touchdown pass of the day, this to Dayzell Wilson to take a commanding 17-7 lead.

But the Riverhawks would not go down easy, responding with a Austin Urlacher touchdown run to cut the lead to 10 late in the third.

Bothell responded in the most magnificent way. They drove 63 yards in just over 3 minutes, and scored on the best play of the year. Ross Bowers, on a third and goal saw pay dirt on a scramble. He rushed to the left and leaped for the end zone, ball extended. He flipped over a Riverhawk defender, flew about 5 feet in the air, and secured the landing on both feet for a Cougar score. The Bothell sideline exploded. It was one of the most courageous efforts from a quarterback, who knew he wanted to lead his team to victory.

Even with this demoralizing score, the Riverhawks found a way to respond. Cortez Ruiz caught a 37 yard strike just 3 minutes later to again trim the lead to 10 points. But Bothell would not stop fighting on defense. Their next possession resulted in a punt, and the Cougars again stifled the Riverhawk attack. After forcing a turnover on downs, the Cougars close the game in the victory formation, winning their first ever state championship.

The FinalScore – Bothell 24, Chiawana 14.

Top Performers:
Bothell
Ross Bowers – 17-19 for 216 yards and 1TD, rushing TD
Caleb Meyer – 12 carries for 105 yards and 1TD

Chiawana
Austin Urlacher – 21 carries for 101 yards and 1TD

Neah Bay Defeats Liberty Christian for Third 1B Title in Four Years

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Randall Novak

Saturday	Dec. 6	2014	1B	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Neah Bay	8	14	22	12	56
Liberty Christian	6	12	14	6	38

Game Recap below

Neah Bay Defeats Liberty Christian for Third 1B Title in Four Years
By Steven Dion

The penultimate matchup of the 2014 state championships featured a round of 8-man football from the smallest classification as 2012 winners in Liberty Christian from Richland would take on the defending champs: the Neah Bay Red Devils. Tony McCaulley has led NBHS to the championship game every year since 2011 in which the only loss was against these LC Patriots.

In the week leading up to the game, Coach McCaulley said upperclassmen had extra motivation in this game to even up the score against the Pats whose victory was on the final play of the game back in ’12. Each team had an undefeated record heading into this game, whose mark would remain perfect?

Neah Bay’s senior tailback scored three rushing touchdowns in the first half to give them 22 points in the first 22 minutes. Liberty Christian’s John Lesser was effective running the football in the first half as well as the junior scored two touchdowns in addition to 86 yards on the ground.

A backbreaking play in this contest was John Reamer returned the ball over 90 yards after the Neah Bay defense ripped the ball out of the carrier’s hands. This play was essentially a fourteen point swing because the Patriots were on the verge of scoring.

As the game wore on into the latter part of the second half, Neah Bay began to pull away and eventually secure a 56-38 win to claim their third championship in 4 years. The score between these two teams in title games is one apiece now. Will the two meet up again in the near future to settle the score?

The FinalScore – Neah Bay 56, Liberty Christian 38.

Cascade Christian Claims 1A Title in Overtime Shootout with Colville

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Randall Novak

Saturday	Dec. 6	2014	1A	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	1 OT	Final
Cascade Christian	7	6	0	7	7	27
Colville	8	0	6	6	6	26

Game Recap below

Cascade Christian Claims 1A Title in Overtime Shootout with Colville
By Steven Dion

Day two of the 2014 Gridiron Classic started with the 1A title game which was a classic East vs West showdown of Cascade Christian from Puyallup and the Colville Indians. Each team entered the contest with a blemish-free 12-0 record. This game marked Colville’s first appearance in the championship game whereas Randy Davis had led his team to 4 of the previous 6. The senior class had knocked on the door of a state title for years and according to Coach Davis, the upperclassmen demonstrated a high level of commitment to vie for the hardware one final time. Colville’s dream season was 48 minutes away from the perfect ending, but could they complete the job?

The Cougars started the game as they have many times before by leading a long touchdown drive that eats up nearly an entire quarter of game clock. The 16 play, 81 yard march was capped off by a 5 yard run by Riley Ramos. Colville responded by leading a scoring drive of their own which ended on a Colton Vining run. The pendulum would swing back and forth several more times. The Cougs regained the lead midway through the second frame when Ramos found the endzone again. This score was made possible by a Russell Wilson-like escape by Jaelin Goldsmith who was in the middle of a collapsing pocket but kept the play alive and found an opening receiver for a big gain. At the break, Cascade Christian held a 13-8 lead.

Colville would receive the ball to start the second half and wasted no time getting back to business. Less than three minutes into the third, the Indians were back on top as Vining recorded his second of four touchdowns of the day. The Cougars started to look sluggish and lost some of the edge they carried in the first half. Colville was able to stop CCHS on a fourth down attempt in the Indians’ red zone but were stopped. Moments later, Ben Knight connected with Journy Young for 50 yards to set up Vining’s third TD. Colville held a 7 point lead with 11 minutes remaining. That changed quickly when Goldsmith tied it back up on a 59 yard keeper to the house. In the final minutes, Cascade Christian was moving the ball well to potentially set up the winning score, but Tyler Ward intercepted Goldsmith. We headed to overtime!

The Cougars received the ball first and proceeded to move the ball 25 yards in 6 plays ending with a Robert Terhune run from one yard out. It took Colville seven plays to punch the ball in by who else but Colton Vining. Instead of kicking the extra point and forcing a second overtime, Coach Cornwell decided to put the fate of the title into one play. The decision came up half a yard short as the Cascade Christian defense stuffed the run and in doing so, won the game. An exciting game from start to finish with tremendous fan support for both teams.

The FinalScore – Cascade Christian 27, Colville 26.

Top Performers:
Cascade Christian
Robert Terhune- 21 rush, 133 yds, 1 TD, 4 rec, 44 yds

Colville
Colton Vining- 23 rush, 136 yds, 4 TD

Sedro-Woolley Dominates 2A State Title Game

Posted on December 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Dec. 6	2014	2A	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Sedro-Woolley	7	7	14	14	42
Okanogan	0	6	7	0	13

Game Recap below

Sedro-Woolley Dominates 2A State Title Game
By Colin Caruso

The Sedro-Woolley Cubs suffered one loss this season on October 24th to the defending state champion Lynden Lions. They met that same Lynden Lions club in the state finals at the Tacoma Dome, and the result was much different.

A second half to remember for the Cubs, who outscored Lynden 28-7 on their way to a 42-13 route over a team that had won four of the last six 2A state titles.

After Lynden scored at the end of the third quarter to close the lead to 28-13, the Cubs sidelined quieted down, knowing that their best season ever was within striking distance. The Lions then forced a turnover on Sedro-Woolley’s next drive, causing more fear in the hearts of the massive Cubs crowd. But Carter Crosby saved the day, literally. He intercepted Sterling Somers, Somers’ third interception thrown, and returned it 21 yards for a Cubs touchdown.

The score propelled the lead to 35-13 early in the fourth, and the entire town of Sedro-Woolley could feel the victory. They would add another score on a Quinn Carpenter run, his second of the game, to amount the blowout win.

The story of the game, however, was the Cubs defense. Allowing just 264 total yards and intercepting Lynden quarterbacks five times, propelled Sedro-Woolley to lifting the state championship trophy.

The FinalScore – Sedro-Woolley 42, Lynden 13.

Top Performers:
Sedro-Woolley
Quinn Carpenter – 17 carries for 88 yards and 2TD
Carter Crosby – 11 carries for 68 yards and 1TD, Interception TD

Lynden
Scooter Hastings – 7 catches for 78 yards, TD pass

Okanogan’s First Half Enough For State Title Victory Over Napavine

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Randall Novak

Friday	Dec. 5	2014	2B Finals	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Napavine	0	0	7	7	14
Okanogan	10	7	0	0	17

Game Recap below

Okanogan’s First Half Enough For State Title Victory Over Napavine
By Steven Dion

The 2014 edition of the Gridiron Classic featured the 2B championship game between Napavine and Okanogan. Northeast Washington’s representative in the Bulldogs shut out defending champions Lind-Ritzville Sprague in the semis 34-0 to earn their title game berth. The Tigers won a close contest over Toledo to get to the big dance. Luck is often an undervalued factor in sports, but the victor of this game can surely credit a few unusual bounces of the pigskin and a bend-don’t-break second half en route to a state championship.

Opening drives for both teams did not yield points as the defensive units for both squads showed early aggression. The Bulldogs were facing a third and long, so Benny Cate threw toward Jimmy Townsend on the right hashmarks. However, there were two Tigers in coverage with one in position to intercept. The ball glanced off the defender’s hands to Townsend who grabbed the still airborne football for a fluky 61 yard score. Before the first frame ended, Arnulfo Tacked on a 27 yard field goal to give Okanogan an early double-digit lead. Despite the deficit, Napavine’s roster has talent which would make a comeback a likely scenario.

Before the first half concluded, Okanogan tested their fortunes on another play that could have gone wrong. Cate threw a dart downfield and his receiver was scampering to the endzone, but before he got there, the ball popped loose. Payton Staggs was able to pounce on the football which was laying in the endzone for any taker. At the half, Eastern Washington was leading its Western counterpart 17-0.

If Napavine were to mount a comeback in the second half, Brady Woodrum would have to continue to receive plenty of touches. Five of his 77 total rushing yards amounted to the Tigers getting on the scoreboard with over eighteen minutes of play remaining. This fired up Napavine and the momentum was shifting. Shortly after the touchdown drive, the Tigers had an opportunity to kick a field goal to cut the lead. No good. The NHS defense held and allowed for another field goal attempt. Missed. Time was running out, but Napavine still had a pulse. Wyatt Stanley connected with Mac Fagerness from 27 yard with 3 minutes remaining for a touchdown. Using timeouts wisely, the Tigers had the ball with a minute left to tie or take the lead. Okanogan was able to force a fumble on the quarterback as he about to throw the ball downfield to a receiver. Despite being shut out in the second half, Okanogan is the 2B champion by the score of 17-14.

The FinalScore – Okanogan 17, Napavine 14.

Top Performers:
Okanogan
Jimmy Townsend- 61 yard TD rec, forced fumble, INT

Napavine
Brady Woodrum- 77 rush yds, TD, 79 pass yds

The Mighty have Fallen; Eastside Catholic Ends Bellevue’s Reign

Posted on December 6, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Dec. 5th	2014	3A	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bellevue	7	6	0	0	13
Eastside Catholic	0	14	7	14	35

Game Recap below

The Mighty have Fallen; Eastside Catholic Ends Bellevue’s Reign
By Steven Dion

Since 2001, Butch Goncharoff has led Bellevue to 11 of 13 state championships including the previous six consecutive titles. Defeating the Wolverines has taken truly special teams in their era of dominance. Eastside Catholic coach Jeremy Thielbahr had his sights set on becoming the next challenger to the 3A crown and had his fair share of growing pains in the process including back-to-back defeats by Bellevue in the 2012 and 2013 championship games.

The Crusaders and Wolverines steamrolled through their seasons to find themselves playing December football once again. The first two title games these teams played were blowouts in the favor of Bellevue. Everyone at the Tacoma Dome witnessed another lopsided result, but this had a different tune.

Per usual, the Wolverines scored a touchdown on their opening drive, a 5 yard Sam Richmond touchdown run. Playing from behind is never a good way to start against a team approaching its 68th consecutive victory. The Crusaders managed to strike back with a 9 yard touchdown scamper by Brandon Wellington who would score twice more in the contest. Less than a minute later, Isaiah Gilchrist ran a reverse 56 yards to the house to regain the lead. The Wolverines botched the extra point which appeared to give EC a dose of confidence after conceding a big scoring play. The half would close with several read option runs by Crusader quarterback Harley Kirsch which moved the chains and set up a 6 yard strike to Hunter Bryant to give the underdogs a halftime lead.

Bellevue’s commitment to the run was an unsuccessful endeavor in the second half as the Eastside defensive line grew stronger and more aggressive. Justus Rogers had three pass attempts in the game, none of which were completed. Midway through the third, Kirsch found Devon Arbis-Jackson on a short pass which he carried several defenders with him to the goal line for the score. Leading 21-13, the possibility of an upset was becoming a reality. The Wolverines ineptitude on offense was alarming as they ran only 25 offensive plays to EC’s 83 and did not convert a single third or fourth down. The total yard figures were 158 to 414 in favor of the Crusaders.

Early in the fourth quarter Brandon Wellington put Eastside up by two scores on a 1 yard dive play. On the ensuing kickoff, EC recovered the football. Eleven plays later, Wellington was in the end zone again to ice the game. There was 4:18 left on the clock at this point, but leading 35-13, Eastside’s sideline was starting to realize what they had accomplished. Bellevue’s offense was stalled one final time and ECHS was able to run down the clock at their discretion.

When the scoreboard read 0:00, waves of joy, shock, and disappointment were felt throughout the Tacoma Dome as Eastside Catholic defeated Bellevue in convincing fashion. Coach Goncharoff said the better team won the game and he was concerned going into the game about being undersized at the line. Winning coach Jeremy Thielbahr said they had to create an entirely new offensive scheme which Bellevue hadn’t seen them do before. The 3A crown is taking a short trip east to the Issaquah plateau for a year, and maybe more.

Top Performers:
Eastside Catholic
Harley Kirsch-20/22, 188 passing yards and 2TD, 94 rushing yards
Brandon Wellington-33 rushes, 110 yards, 3 touchdowns

Sedro-Woolley Faces off Against Lynden for 2A State Final

Posted on December 5, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Sedro-Woolley Faces off Against Lynden for 2A State Final
By Steven Dion

The 2A final appears to have the best chance of becoming an instant classic. The interesting storylines heading into this game are seemingly endless. Lynden has won the last 3 titles including six of the previous 8 whereas Sedro-Woolley is in rare territory playing December football. Both teams hail from the highly competitive Northwest League that produce hotly contested games in the regular season. They squared off at Lynden on October 24th and the home team escaped with a 33-30 victory. I caught up with Dave Ward this week and he said Lynden’s ability to create a half-dozen big plays was a key factor in the first go-around and will be a point of emphasis on Saturday. Based on the quarterfinal and semifinal games, expect an enormous sea of blue in support of S-W and likewise for the Lions.

The playmakers that are bound to make a splash in this contest include Sterling Somers (QB) and his favorite targets Jordan Wittenberg and Scooter Hastings who stands 6’7”. The Lynden defense has been slightly more porous than in recent years allowing opponents to push them including a rare loss against Ferndale in mid-December. The Cubs boast a dynamic offensive weapon in Mason Elms who appears to play every position on the field. If he and fellow tailback Carter Crosby can tally over 80 yards on the ground and find the end zone, the Cubs have a good shot.

The strength of Sedro-Woolley is their linebacking corps. The speed and tenacity of Chad Wilburg, Jacob Farrell, and Jay Burger has the ability to hold talented offenses like Lynden, but will they put it together on Saturday to take down the champ? The action takes place on Saturday at 1pm at the Tacoma Dome.

1A State Finals Preview, Colville vs. Cascade Christian

Posted on December 5, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

1A State Finals Preview, Colville vs. Cascade Christian
By Steven Dion

Saturday will mark the fifth time since 2008 that Cascade Christian has played for a 1A state title with the Cougs from the Puyallup Valley claiming the hardware in ’10. The senior class for CCHS is loaded and appears to have the pieces to overturn the close-calls in recent years. Colville will present a hefty challenge though as the Indians have had an impressive run in ’14 en route to their first state championship appearance. There was a 4 game stretch midway through the season where Randy Cornwell’s team outscored opponents 191-7! Colton Vining’s ability to run the ball against a Cougar defense unit which packs a punch in addition to its speed with the likes of Mason Tobeck and Riley Ramos will be an interesting matchup.

The ability of Colville to stop the rushing attack of Zach Bartolome and Robert Terhune who tallied 310 yards on the ground last week will also dictate the outcome of this contact. I talked to CCHS head coach Randy Davis this week and he mentioned how his team used last year’s overtime loss in the semis as motivation to get in the weight room to take care of unfinished business in 2014. Quarterback Jaelin Goldsmith is playing his best football when it matters most and has his sights set on repeating a similar performance as last week when he threw for 235 yards and 4 touchdowns. So far, the extra work has paid dividends, but he also said in his few game tapes of Colville understands the challenge ahead of his team Saturday morning. A long road trip across the state and a chance to grab the first state title in school history is certainly enough motivation for a hungry Colville squad.

2B State Finals Preview, Napavine vs. Okanogan

Posted on December 5, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

2B State Finals Preview, Napavine vs. Okanogan
By Steven Dion

The Gridiron Classic kicks off with an intriguing 2B matchup with Okanogan and Napavine. The Bulldogs from the northeast corner of Washington made a statement in the semifinals by pitching a shutout against the 2-time defending champions in Lind-Ritzville-Sprague by the score of 34-0. Okanogan had a fluky loss to Brewster midway through the season, but beat the Bears by four touchdowns the second time the two met up. Napavine dominated Toledo in many key statistical categories last week in the semis, but advanced with a slim six point margin. The Tigers accumulated 346 total yards in the contest and nearly doubled the Indians in plays and first downs.

One thing that Josh Fay may emphasize to his team is not allowing Okanogan to sneak back into the contest late if NHS holds a lead. The combo of Taylor Hicks to Grant McEwen was very effective last Saturday which may lead to more that 11 pass attempts for the Tigers signal-caller in the 2B championship. The last time either of these teams appeared in the championship game was 2008 when Napavine claimed the title. If Okanogan can channel the dominance they demonstrated last weekend, they will be one tough customer. Bringing the hardware home would certainly make the 12 hour round trip for Steve Chamberlain and his Bulldogs well worth it.

1B State Finals Preview, Neah Bay vs. Liberty-Christian

Posted on December 5, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

1B State Finals Preview, Neah Bay vs. Liberty-Christian
By Steven Dion

A clash of the 2012 and 2013 state champs. Neah Bay is the defending champion and winner of 2 in the last 3 seasons. Liberty-Christian defeated Neah Bay to capture the title in 2012 on the final play of the contest. I spoke with the head coach of the Red Devils Tony McCaulley this week and that game was certainly discussed this week to fire up his team, especially upperclassmen that played in the game. McCaulley’s team was tested by Lummi to reach the finals as they were limited to 213 total yards and lost 3 fumbles in a 26-20 win. The Red Devil defense also show signs of vulnerability as Lummi’s three trips to the red zone all resulted in scores. 40 of NBHS’s 45 plays were rushes, so Cole Svec and Reggie Buttram’s ability to move the football with their legs will be important.

Liberty Christian defeated Republic by the score of 46-20 en route to a state final berth. The score doesn’t fully indicate how dominant the Patriots were in this contest. Mike Olson’s team had a four touchdown lead before the Tigers even got on the board. John Lesser was responsible for 6 touchdowns, three by air and three by ground. Both teams have championship experience so it would not be a surprise to see a tight game decided in the fourth quarter. Looking forward to this game at 4 pm on Saturday night.

4A State Finals Preview, Bothell vs. Chiawana

Posted on December 5, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

4A State Finals Preview, Bothell vs. Chiawana
By Colin Caruso

Talk about the matchup of the year in this one. The Bothell Cougars, widely regarded as the top team in 4A all season long, facing off against the defending champions, the Chiawana Riverhawks. I had the unbelievable privilege to watch the Riverhawks in the state final last year, in the best comeback in Washington state football history. Down 13 points with 1 minute to play, the Riverhawks pulled off a miracle victory over the Camas Papermakers. I have never felt so much remorse for a losing team, a team that played perfectly all season and 47 minutes in the championship game, but couldn’t close the door on a team driven by a tenacious defensive line and a quarterback with a will to win.

But this is a new season, and a new team for the Riverhawks. And their competition is tested and ready for battle. The Cougars have looked unbeatable all year. Bothell quarterback Ross Conners is looking like one of the top QBs in the state, but the loss of star running back Sam McPherson may prove costly. Chiawana had the best defensive line in 4A last year, and returned three of those starters last season.

Look for another spectacular game and finish in this one. Chiawana has just one loss this season, to the Papermakers of Camas. Bothell is undefeated and deservedly so, they have outscored their opponents 597-133 on the year. Who will lift the trophy in Tacoma? Come join the action on Saturday night, December 6th, at 7:30pm.

3A State Finals Preview, Bellevue vs. Eastside Catholic Round 3

Posted on December 5, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

3A State Finals Preview, Bellevue vs. Eastside Catholic Round 3
By Colin Caruso

The Bellevue Wolverines have won 67 straight games, a streak that goes back to 2010 when Mat Taylor’s Skyline Spartans topped them in a regular season contest. They routinely schedule games against the top teams out of state, this year against Serra (CA), and routinely pull off convincing victories. They are dominate, fast, big and strong. The Wolverines are in search of their 7th consecutive state title, and standing in their way is the Eastside Catholic Crusaders.

Eastside showed their grit last year in advancing past the O’Dea Fighting Irish to the state finals, to meet the Wolverines in a 425 clash. The game wasn’t much of a contest, coinciding with the Wolverines season, and ended in a 52-20 route. This year will prove to be much closer than that. One of the states finest running backs, Brandon Wellington, is now a junior and is playing the best football of his life. Junior quarterback Harley Kirsch is also a year older, more mature, and is prepared for a matchup against one of the finest teams in the nation.

The big question at hand, are the Wolverines vulnerable? They showed hints of vulnerability last week against Marysville-Pilchuck. Can the Cru’ end the streak? I don’t think it’s in the cards just yet, but hey, it has to happen sometime, right?

Sedro-Woolley Marches to State Final

Posted on December 1, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Nov. 29	2014	2A	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Tumwater	0	7	14	6	27
Sedro-Woolley	7	7	7	7	28

Game Recap below

Sedro-Woolley Marches to State Final
By Colin Caruso

When taking on a Tumwater Thunderbird squad with Sid Otten at the helm, the winning-est coach in Washington state history, you know you need to bring your ‘A’ game in order to contend. Strangely enough in this game, it was the team with the fewer mistakes that was able to prevail. An unbelievable 7 turnovers in the first half, seemingly no one wanted the football, led to a 14-7 lead for the Sedro-Woolley Cubs going into the half.

Finally the teams settled down, took care of the football, and we saw some of the finest high school football of the season in the second half. Sid Otten called a fake punt early in the third quarter that led to a Ian Saner touchdown run on the next play, his second of three on the day, to tie the game up at 14. But the Cubs answered quckly. A 4 play march, topped off by a Quinn Carpenter 35 yard run, put the Cubs back on top, 21-14.

Ian Saner wouldn’t let it stay at that score, and punched in another touchdown late in the third to tie the game back up at 21. After a series of punts, Mason Elms, a quarterback/wide receiver/running back/wing back for the Cubs stormed down the far sideline for a 24 yard score. About the score, Elms mentioned, “I wasn’t planning on scoring.” But he did, and he put his team ahead midway through the fourth quarter.

Tumwater would answer with a Griffin Shea score, but the kick missed left, and Tumwater found themselves trailing 28-17 with under 3 minutes to play.

The T-birds forced a 3 and out and drove down to the Cubs 22 yard line. There they set up for a 39 yard field goal. The Cubs line broke through the Thunderbird line on the attempt, and Elijah Hill’s kick was blocked with less than 20 seconds remaining. The Cubs recovered, kneeled out the clock, and advanced to the state finals.

A GREAT game back and forth between two deserving teams. Congratulations to Sedro-Woolley for advancing to the Gridiron Classic.

The FinalScore – Sedro-Woolley 28, Tumwater 27.

Top Performers:
Tumwater
Ian Saner – 18 carries for 91 yards and 3 TD

Sedro-Woolley
Carter Crosby – 82 rush yards and 1 TD
Mason Elms – 80 rush yards and 1 TD

Bothell Explosive in Second Half to Reach 4A Final

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Randall Novak

Saturday	Nov. 29	2014	4A	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bothell	13	7	10	7	37
Newport-Bellevue	0	13	6	0	19

Game Recap below

Bothell Explosive in Second Half to Reach 4A Final
By Steven Dion

Tom Bainter is one win away from a perfect season and capturing his first state title. His Cougs were matched with KingCo foe Newport in the 4A semifinal at the Tacoma Dome. The Knights quietly made an impressive playoff run to reach the semis with wins over Lake Stevens and Federal Way. A big question surrounding Bothell’s ability to claim the championship is their ability to fill the shoes of star tailback Sam McPherson. The Blue Train did not appear to lose much steam in the opening rounds of the postseason, but would Newport and their complex run-game and stout line pull an upset?

The Knights commitment to the run was evident early, but they coughed the ball up twice early in the contest leading to Bothell points including a 37 yard return by Jordan Baker. After conducting a blowout against Bellarmine last week, it seemed the Cougars were poised to do the same Saturday night. However, Newport put together a strong second quarter starting with a 14 play, 71 yard drive capped off with a Nick Keithley dive from the 1 yard line. After the ensuing kickoff, NHS recovered the football on a bobbled snap resulting in a Thomas Day touchdown two plays later. The lead was restored by the blue and white when Ross Bowers connected with Jackson Keimig shortly before halftime. Bothell led 20-13 with 24 minutes to play.

Newport conducted a signature long drive to open the second half which was capped off with a Thomas Day highlight-reel run from 26 yards out. The Knights ran the ball on 54 of 57 plays from scrimmage. While this led to success for most of the game, it eventually led to Bothell’s ability to clamp down. Led by hard-hitting Tyler Wharf and his 8.5 tackles, Bothell’s defensive front gave their offense ample time of possession to put the game away. Dayzell Wilson hauled in a jump ball despite tight coverage and a wide open strike for 41 yards in a span of four minutes to ice the game. The Cougars will play the defending champions Chiawana next week for the 4A title.

The FinalScore – Bothell 37, Newport 19.

Top Performers:
Bothell
Ross Bowers- 12/15, 172 yards, 3 TDs
Dayzell Wilson- 5 rec, 76 yards, 2 TDs

Newport
Thomas Day- 13 rush, 71 yards, 2 TDs

Neah Bay Grinds a State Semifinal Win over Lummi

Posted on December 1, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Nov. 29	2014	1B	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Neah Bay	0	20	0	6	26
Lummi	6	6	8	0	20

Game Recap below

Neah Bay Grinds a State Semifinal Win over Lummi
By Colin Caruso

In their third matchup this season, in 8-8 football (a ton of fun, I encourage you to catch a game) the Neah Bay Red Devils faced off against the Lummi Blackhawks for a trip to the state finals. Neah Bay won both previous matchups by a 12 point margin in both games, but Lummi was looking to knock off the defending champs.

Lummi started the scoring in the first quarter with an Austin Brockie 1 yard run. But it was Neah Bay’s second quarter that really changed the course of this game. Three scores for the Red Devils, one with Cole Svec’s arm and one with his legs, along with a fumble recovery gave the Red Devils an 8 point lead heading into the second half.

Lummi answered in the third with a needed Hank Hoskins 2 yard run, he was great for the Blackhawks all day and had two scores in the game. But Neah Bay wore the Blackhawks out. Hoskins went down with a cramp and was gassed going into the fourth quarter. Neah Bay capitalized on a Cameron Buzzell 28 yard catch, proving to be the final score of the game.

The Red Devils advanced to the state finals for the fourth season in a row!

The FinalScore – Neah Bay 26, Lummi 20.

Top Performers:
Neah Bay
Cole Svec – 18 carries for 90 yards and 1 TD, 68 yard passing TD

Lummi
Hank Hoskins – 12 carries for 55 yards and 2 TD