Cascade Christian Prevails in Clash of Nisqually Against Seamount

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Steven Dion

Friday	Sept. 25	2015	1A/2A	Boys	Football
Renton High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Cascade Christian	0	21	7	7	35
Lindbergh	7	7	0	7	21

Cascade Christian Prevails in Clash of Nisqually Against Seamount
By Steve Dion

Week 4 of the high school gridiron season included an intriguing non-league game between the defending 1A champions Cascade Christian and rising Seamount squad Lindbergh. The setting was Renton Memorial Stadium featuring the airport in the backdrop where undefeated LHS played host.

The game broke out with a slow start as each team struggled to move the ball fluidly. The first big play of the game was an interception by Eagle cornerback Steve Celis. The home team would eventually capitalize on the momentum of the pick when Anthony Walker took a sweep 58 yards to the house. It wasn’t until the second quarter when the visiting Cougars woke up. Senior tailback/defensive back combo Zach Bartolome rumbled up the gut for a 20 yard touchdown run to tie it up. Later, he forced a fumble and turned it into a 48-yard score and the lead ten seconds later. Needing a response to swing the momentum in their favor, Lindbergh capped off a long drive with a 6 yard scamper to the goal line by DeMarco Sauls. Before the half, Evan Patrick grabbed the lead at 21-14 when he took a 3 yard run to the end zone.

When the teams took the field for the second half, the rain started to fall onto the turf and the pace quieted down. Cascade Christian used extended possession to wind down the clock and continue to build their lead. Madden Tobeck put the Cougs up two possessions on a 1 yard goal line push. The inability of Lindbergh to establish an aerial attack allowed the CCHS defense to load up in the box and pressure Samuel Nehren. Lindbergh made a late charge with a fourth quarter score, but eventually allowed Cascade Christian to put a stamp on the contest with their fifth touchdown of the game. Both teams will carry a 3-1 record heading into next week.

The Final Score: Cascade Christian 35 Lindbergh 21

Bellevue Gets Back to Winning with Islander Shutout

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Steven Dion

Friday	Sept. 18	2015	3A	Boys	Football
Mercer Island High School	Final
Bellevue	56
Mercer Island	0

Bellevue Gets Back to Winning with Islander Shutout
By Steve Dion

It’s rare that Bellevue heads into any game with a two game losing streak. Friday night was one of those exceptions as the Wolverines were looking to get back into the win column as the 2014 state championship game and ’15 season opener with Bishop Gorman from Nevada were primed to be put in the rear view mirror. The challenger to this proposition would be rival Mercer Island who found themselves tied 21 apiece when they played at Bellevue last year before eventually losing.

The game started in familiar Wolverine fashion as a quick forced 3 and out on defense was followed by a 55 yard receiving touchdown by Tyson Penn on their first play from scrimmage. This was followed by another forced punt and 35 yard dart thrown by Justus Rodgers to Isaiah Gilchrist up the middle on 4th and six to put BHS up by 14 early. The onslaught had begun. The inability for the Islanders to gain an upper hand on the field position battle left them susceptible to allowing more scoring by the hungry Wolverines. After touchdown runs by Ercle Terrell and Christoph Hirota, Bellevue led 28-0 at the half.

More of the same continued in the final two frames as Justus Rogers scored on a QB keeper adding to the lead and further sealing the fate of the contest. The Islanders fought hard and the Mercer Island faithful showed up loud and proud, but they were unable to find the scoreboard.

The Final Score: Bellevue 56 Mercer Island 0.

Skyline Stuns Eagles in Season Opener

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Steven Dion

Friday	Sept. 4	2015	4A	Boys	Football
Issaquah High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Final
Skyline	0	7	7	14	3	31
Issaquah	0	7	14	7	0	28

Skyline Stuns Eagles in Season Opener
By Steve Dion

Football season is back and the first Friday night of high school gridiron action featured a classic KingCo rivalry matchup between Issaquah and Skyline. The Spartans have had the upper hand against their plateau foe for over a decade and the Eagles were primed to turn the tides in front a capacity crowd on the premises of Gary Moore Stadium.

A slow pace of play dictated the entirety of the contest as both sides incorporated a heavy dose of passing and short possessions as the ball exchanged hands frequently. After a scoreless first quarter, Blake Gregory found Logan Wanamaker on a long flare down the left side for a big gain. This set up Rashaad Body for a 9 yard scamper to give the green six. Issaquah responded with a scoring drive of their own which closed with a 9 yard tie-toe grab by Joe Nelson from Cameron Humphrey. The scoreboard read 7-7 at the break.
The home team picked up an early touchdown in the second half, a 2 yard goal line dive by Bryce Hughes. Minutes later, Sparty responded as Gregory crossed the goal line untouched on a quarterback sneak. The ping-pong match continued when Jack Dellinger hauled in a pass by Humphrey on what appeared to be a defensive misread for 72 yards and a 21-14 lead.

Issaquah grabbed a two score lead early in the final frame on another Nelson reception. The Eagles were less than ten minutes from stunning Mat Taylor’s perennial 4A juggernaut. The visitors rallied the troops and drove down the field to set up another rushing touchdown for Boddie. Needing seven to tie the game up and send the game into overtime, Wanamaker did just that on a fourth down conversion with less than a minute remaining.

With a complete shift of momentum to the visitor sideline, Buddy Bland needed to rally his team to a score and a stop. They fell short on step one as a field goal attempt did not split the uprights. It was the Spartans chance to complete the comeback and they were faced with a similar predicament. Jack Crane pounded the pigskin through with his big left leg to seal the improbable victory for Skyline.

The FinalScore – Skyline 31, Issaquah 28.

Top Performers:
Skyline
Rashaad Boddie-2 rushing TDs (9, 30)

Issaquah
Joe Nelson-2 rec TDs (9, 72)