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.