Author Archives: Steven Dion

Eastside Catholic Erases 28 Point Deficit in 3A Thriller

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Friday Dec 4th 2015 3A Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Final
Eastside Catholic 7 7 14 14 6 48
Bellevue 7 28 7 0 0 42

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See game recap below
 

Eastside Catholic Erases 28 Point Deficit in 3A Thriller
By Steve Dion

This is the game Washington high school football fans wanted to see. This is the game that seemed inevitable. The most dominant high school football program in the state during the 21st century against their neighbor that has gradually built a powerhouse of their own. A fourth straight matchup for the 3A title would match Bellevue who won the first two in ’12 & ‘13 and Eastside Catholic the victor a year ago.

The Crusaders received the opening possession and were forced to punt when the drive stalled deep in their own territory. The punt was mishandled and recovered by Parker Davidson to give the Cru the ball back before they could relinquish it. Two plays later, Chris Lefau burst into the endzone to give Eastside Catholic the first points of the contest. Benaiah Ellington made up for the punt return fumble by picking off EC quarterback Harley Kirsch later in the first. This set up Ercle Terrell for his first of four unanswered touchdowns including one from 54 yards up the gut. Brandon Wellington had seen enough and returned the kickoff 97 yards to cut the Wolverines lead to 14. Despite only having 1:38 to work with in the half, the Wolverines charged down the field once again and Tyson Penn who dropped what would have been a touchdown earlier made a spectacular diving grab to put BHS within striking distance. Wolverine quarterback Justus Rogers was content with feeding the hot hand so he went to Penn once again; this time in the corner of the endzone. Bellevue stampeded into halftime with a commanding 35-14 lead. They were led by Terrell’s 129 first half rushing yards and quartet of scores as part of their 232 to 53 total yards advantage over their counterpart.

A three touchdown deficit to Bellevue is a tall task to overcome. The prospects of a comeback became less of a reality when the lead extended to four touchdowns midway through the third when Christoph Hirota punched it in for the sixth Bellevue score. The Crusaders appeared to be at their breaking point. Harley Kirsch who had thrown a rare pair of interceptions in the game returned to their potent aerial attack immediately by finding Hunter Bryant on a 28 yard toss to the back corner of the endzone. The Cru defense did their part to get the ball back to their playmakers. Kirsch would find Bryant once more before the third quarter closed. Down 14 points with one frame remaining, could Bellevue hang on?

Coach Butch Goncharoff ran the ball 56 times in this game and even as his team’s lead dwindled, he did not stray from his game plan. On a crucial fourth and three, Wellington stopped Omar Dyles from moving the chains. Six plays later, Matt Laris pulled in a four yard toss to bring EC one score away from evening up the score. The Cru could taste it. With the pressure on Bellevue to hold on, their next drive was thwarted when Steve Moran stripped Justus Rogers to which Davidson recovered once again. At this point, Eastside was on a crash course to the endzone to which Wellington was behind the wheel. The senior tailback tied the game up leaving only 1:24 on the clock. Bellevue failed to advance the ball to field goal range in the final seconds and we were headed to overtime!

Bellevue took the first crack in extra time. On second down, Rogers passed to Penn in the endzone and Victor Guevara batted the ball away in a courageous effort. On fourth down, Bellevue lined up for a 39 yard field goal. The ball was mis-hit and all EC need now was a score of any kind. A pitch to Wellington resulted in a dive to the pylon that was one yard short of the game winner. Eastside Catholic hurries to set up into formation. Kirsch takes the snap, hands off to Wellington, initially stopped at the point of attack, but a second effort allowed for just enough room to dive past the plane of the goal line. Crusaders win! The team and coaching staff rush onto the field knowing they just completed one of the premier comebacks in the history of the Gridiron Classic. The trophy stays in the plateau for another year.

Moments after the game, a glowing Coach Thiebahr said, “I’m so happy for our seniors and for our community. I’m just really happy to show what we are; the resilience that our school has and the resilience of our football program. One of these seniors “Coach T” was referring to is Brandon Wellington who scored the game winning touchdown and when asked about his four years with Thielbahr, an emotional Wellington replied, “He’s a great teacher…he has pushed me to that next level. I’m gonna miss him.” After three years as the starting Crusader quarterback in which he collected two state titles, Harley Kirsch remarked, “It’s weird to think it’s all over…I was thinking a couple days ago ‘wow, that’s our last practice’ and now I’m thinking wow, that’s it.”

The Final Score:
Eastside Catholic 48, Bellevue 42

Top Performer

Eastside Catholic
Brandon Wellington- 3 kick returns, 143 yards, 97 yard TD, 2 rushing TDs (11 yards, 1 yard game-winner in OT)

Bellevue
Ercle Terrell- 31 rush, 225 yards, 4 TDs (1, 3, 24, 54)

2B Trophy Stays in Okanogan as Bulldogs Repeat

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Saturday Dec 5th 2015 2B Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Okanogan 7 7 2 20 36
Napavine 7 13 7 7 34

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See game recap below
 

2B Trophy Stays in Okanogan as Bulldogs Repeat
By Steve Dion

The penultimate game of championship weekend at the Tacoma Dome showcased a repeat of the 2014 title game between the Okanogan Bulldogs and Napavine Tigers in which the Dogs were victorious by the score of 17-14. Competing for the crown a year ago was impressive for the Tigers considering the youth of their core contributing group of players, so getting back to the Woodshed in ’15 seemed like a very likely scenario. Erick Judd has done a fantastic job in guiding the defending champs through the postseason to give themselves the rare opportunity to go back-to-back. The only expectation heading into this game is that it would be exciting; the expected winner was a mystery.

Napavine won the coin toss and chose to defer to receive in the second half. Okanogan’s opening possession was interrupted by a strip by Chase Van Wyck that turned the ball over to Napavine. The Tigers marched 83 yards on a dozen plays to log the first touchdown of the game; a thirty-four yard completion to Jordan Purvis. Okanogan wasted no time to even the score when on the third play from scrimmage, they were in the endzone after Mason Guerette hauled in a 56 yard pass from Clay Ashworth. Van Wyck’s defensive effort earlier was rewarded on the offensive end when he recorded the second Napavine touchdown midway through the second quarter. Mac Fagerness got into the action too for the Tigers by catching a 34-yard touchdown of his own. Okanogan’s remaining points of the first half were the result of a 3 yard reception by Riley Prescott. The first half statistics were fairly even, but the glaring difference was the lone turnover of the game which resulted in a touchdown. At recess, Napavine led 20-14.

Coach Josh Fay certainly understood the importance of picking up a two-possession lead to open the second half and his team did exactly that. NHS moved the ball 64 yards to the one yard line and let their 6’3”, 225 pound junior quarterback Wyatt Stanley take care of the rest. Okanogan was unable to respond on the offensive end, but they got a minor lift from Napavine when they committed a safety after a botched snap that sailed through the endzone. The Tigers still held a two possession lead at 27-16, but the momentum was shifting back toward the Bulldogs.

Early into the fourth, Okanogan pulled closer when Greyson Fields punched it in from three yards out. Less than two minutes later, Guerette shook off multiple Tiger tacklers on the sideline and sprinted to the goal line to give OHS the lead. The shootout continued shortly thereafter when Fagerness miraculously hauled in a pass to the corner in double coverage then hurdled over a defender to retain the lead. The Napavine defense could not hold down the Dogs who found paydirt yet again on a Greyson Fields plunge. With 1:02 remaining on 4th and 1, Napavine needed a stop to keep their hopes of a game-winning drive alive. As the play clock was expiring, Clay Ashworth set up in the gun. He called out orders to his center then suddenly the Tiger defensive line jumped. Ashworth’s hard count was successful! This proved to be the final piece to line up in victory formation yet again. The hardware stays in Northeast Washington for another year. Expect Napavine to be in contention to contend for the title in 2016.

The Final Score:
Okanogan 36, Napavine 34

Top Performer

Okanogan
Clay Ashworth- 10/18, 173 yards, 3 TDs, INT, 20 rush, 133 yards

Napavine
Wyatt Stanley- 18/27, 282 yards, 4 TDs, INT, 14 rush, 82 yards, TD

Royal Victorious in “The Knight Bowl”

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Saturday Dec 5th 2015 1A Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Royal 14 7 0 7 28
King's 0 0 7 0 7

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See game recap below
 

Royal Victorious in “The Knight Bowl”
By Steve Dion

Game two of state title Saturday was a clash of nobility as the Royal Knights from near Yakima would face the King’s Knights based out of Shoreline. Royal bulldozed through their entire schedule as the only game within one possession was against Connell in mid-October who they decimated in the semifinal round 47-7. For King’s, the return of senior quarterback Koa Wilkins had given Jim Shapiro’s team a huge boost in the playoffs. Only one team could wear the crown, would Royal finish the season undefeated or would King’s continue their hot streak?

Royal received the opening kickoff and marched to the endzone in under three minutes culminating in a 10-yard Joseph Lang scamper. King’s was on the move to even the score, but Lang jumped in the passing lane for an interception. Royal proceeded to matriculate the ball into King’s territory and cap the drive off with Lang’s second touchdown. King’s offensive woes continued for the duration of the first half as they were limited to 138 total yards and no points to show for it. Before the break, Royal took a three possession lead when Kaden Jenks ran it in from eight yards out. King’s dug themselves a big hole with a three-touchdown deficit heading into the break, could Coach Shapiro make the necessary adjustments to spark a comeback?

King’s received the second half kickoff and did exactly what they needed to shift the momentum back in their direction. The westside Knights marched down the field and after 12 plays and 72 yards, they scored for the first time in the game. Caleb Perry burst through the King’s defense for a 3 yard touchdown. The KHS defense stepped up by blanking Royal in the third quarter. The game was still in the balance heading into the fourth.

As the clock was starting to wind down in the final frame, King’s was on the move and in position to bring the game to one possession. Joseph Lang put an exclamation point on his already huge game by intercepting a pass and taking it 58 yards to the house. Kaden Jenks picked off a pass shortly thereafter and the Royal sideline began to celebrate. Wiley Allred led his team to a perfect 14-0 season. Congratulations to the Royal Knights on their first championship since 2005!

The Final Score:
Royal 28, King’s 7
Top Performer

Royal
Joseph Lang- 14 rush, 64 yards, 2 TDs, 58 yard interception for TD

King’s
Caleb Perry- 15 rush, 117 yards, TD

Almira-Coulee-Hartline Claims 1B Title in Tightrope Act Finish

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Friday Dec 4th 2015 1B Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Almira-Coulee-Hartline 14 24 0 8 46
Lummi 8 20 14 0 42

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See game recap below
 

Almira-Coulee-Hartline Claims 1A Title in Tightrope Act Finish
By Steve Dion

The 2015 Gridiron Classic opened with the always exciting eight-man championship from the 1B classification with Almira-Coulee-Hartline from the Northeast League and perennial contender Lummi Nation from the Northwest. The ACH Warriors would be making their first trip to the title game since 2011 while the Blackhawks were finally able to beat Neah Bay in the semifinals who ousted them in each of the last four seasons.

As many 1B games typically transpire, the scoring started early and often. Almira-Coulee-Hartline marched down the field in the opening seven plays and capped off the drive with a 19 yard run by Dallas Issak to the endzone. Lummi returned the favor when Hank Hoskins punched it in from three yards out on the next drive. This exchange marked the beginning of a back-and-forth shootout that would last throughout the entirety of the first half. Lummi’s Free Borsey helped the Blackhawks return the contest to a one possession deficit in the final minutes of the second quarter by returning a kickoff 53 yards for a touchdown. The Warriors countered with a series of plays that resulted in a touchdown with only four seconds remaining. The scoreboard read 38-28 at the break in favor of the visitors east of the Cascades.

This is when the game got ugly. Scoring dried up like the scablands near the Grand Coulee Dam. Lummi seemed to have the edge coming out of their makeshift “locker room” at the TDome. The pace of play screeched to a halt when the action resumed as injuries stoppages and penalties dashed a sense of continuity Hoskins and Borsey each scored another touchdown to give Lummi a 42-38 lead heading into the final frame. The inability for any team to develop any sustained drives kept the score locked for the majority of the final twelve minutes. As both teams refused to punch on fourth down, the pigskin changed hands often. With 1:35 left, Charles Hunt gave the Warriors a 46-42 advantage. Lummi had one last gasp.

Starting quarterback Jonathan Casimir was replaced by Hoskins at quarterback due to injury and with thirty seconds left, he aired it out. Caught by Free Borsey who glided to the endzone! But wait, a flag on the play! Offensive holding nullified the score and on fourth and long, Payton Nielsen made the game-ending tackle to turn the ball over to the Warriors who set up for one final play, victory formation. Congratulations to Almira-Coulee-Hartline on their 1B championship!

The Final Score:
Almira-Coulee-Hartline 46, Lummi 42

Top Performer

Almira-Coulee-Hartline
Dallas Issak- 17/18, 261 yards, 3 TDs, 28 rush, 185 yards, 2 TDs

Lummi
Hank Hoskins- 15 rush, 79 yards, 3 TDs, 5 rec, 65 yards, TD

Prosser Prevails in 2A, Ingvalson Adds to Mustang Legacy

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Saturday Dec 5th 2015 2A Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Prosser 8 14 0 0 22
Tumwater 0 8 0 7 15

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See game recap below
 

Prosser Prevails in 2A, Ingvalson Adds to Mustang Legacy
By Steve Dion

Saturday morning at the Dome kicked off with the 2A final between perennial powerhouse Tumwater and Prosser who has a rich football history, but had not reached this stage of the postseason for the better part of a decade. Both teams featured a strong fan sections along both sidelines. Prosser took down the 2014 champs in the semis, would they claim the 2015 crown? Or would Sid Otton add another championship to his legendary coaching resume?

Prosser’s explosive passing game was demonstrated in the first half as Tanner Bolt distributed the ball to his corps of wideouts to the tune of 213 yards on 21 attempts. Three of these throws resulted in touchdowns to Kolby Swift, Kason Blair, and Noah Flores. Going into the game, it was uncertain whether or not Tumwater scat-back Easton Trakel would be available for the game as he was absent in the semis. Trakel did play and in his postgame remarks, Prosser head coach Corey Ingvalson stated, “we knew he would play. He’s too good of a player not to.” Indeed, Trakel was the lone scorer for the T-Birds in the first half when he took a Noah Andrews pass 42 yards to the house. Tumwater would trail by 14 heading into the break, but were faced with a similar situation against Montesano last Saturday when they overcame a two touchdown deficit in the second half.


Tumwater’s first attempt to cut down the Mustang led was thwarted when Michael Kernan picked off Noah Andrews on a shot to the endzone. Both defenses kept the ball within the twenties effectively with only two and three trips to the red zone in the game for Prosser and Tumwater respectively. The clock began to become a factor that was working against a Tumwater comeback especially with Prosser in control of the ball and only seven minutes remaining. Trayten Rodriguez changed the complexion of the game when he intercepted Bolt and brought the ball back to the Prosser 24. Moments later, Tolo Hafoka punched it in to bring the score to 22-15. Prosser needed a handful of first downs to seal the win. The TBird defense shut the door. After turning the ball over on downs, Tumwater had their chance. The Mustangs held their ground and stopped the TBirds on fourth down and seemingly the ability to line up for kneels. Prosser chose to line up in the gun and they “shot” themselves in the foot, a botched snap recovered by Tumwater. The T-Birds were on the move.

The deciding moment of the game was a Spencer Dowers scramble up the middle in which the ball popped loose. Riley Lusk picked it up only to be blindsided by a TBird tackler causing another fumble. Lusk immediately found his composure and jumped on the loose ball. This time, Coach Ingvalson opted to line up in victory formation. He has now won a state title as a Prosser student, assistant coach, and now first year head coach of the Mustangs. Following the trophy ceremony, he talked about his fantastic senior class and explained his respect for “their commitement to eachother. Their commitment to the program to get it done.”

The Final Score:
Prosser 22, Tumwater 15

Top Performer

Prosser
Tanner Bolt- 21/35, 280 yards, 3 TDs

Tumwater
Easton Trakel- 2 rec, 47 yards, TD

2015 State Championship Preview: 4A/3A

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2015 State Championship Preview: 4A/3A
4A & 3A
Dick Fain & Steve Dion

With the 2015 Gridiron Classic at the Tacoma Dome coming up this weekend, Dick Fain from Varsity Football Live on Sports Radio 950 KJR and Steve Dion break down the 4A and 3A title games to project what they expect to see at the Woodshed this weekend!

To catch the complete State Tournament Preview with Dick Fain & Steve Dion,
simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Napavine Advances to 2B Final, Looking to Avenge 2014 Outcome

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Saturday Nov 28th 2015 2B Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Napavine 0 15 7 7 29
Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 7 0 0 6 13

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See game recap below
 

Napavine Advances to 2B Final, Looking to Avenge 2014 Outcome
By Steve Dion

Sometimes, a slice or two of humble pie is necessary component to winning a state title. For Coach Josh Fay’s Napavine football team, the Tigers will have the chance to change the result of ’14 when they fell to Okanogan 17-14 in the championship game. Additionally, they would need to even the score against Pe Ell-Willapa Valley who beat Napavine in the regular season 28-27. Would the Tigers earn their opportunity to avenge what happened a year ago or would the Titans punch their ticket to the final?

The Tigers were successful in moving the ball and racking up yardage early in the first half with balanced attack, but did not convert their drives into points. It wasn’t until the second quarter when the Tigers finally found the scoreboard. Quarterback Wyatt Stanley contributed to both scores with one run and one pass to a diving Chase Van Wyck. These touchdowns occurred after the opening score by Pe-Ell Willapa Valley; a 5 yard touchdown run by Kaelin Jurek. The Tigers recorded 133 total offensive yards in the first half; 99 of which were through the air. Conversely, the Titans were limited to 62 yards all of which were on the ground. Would the defensive clamps break in the second half?

The Tigers extended their lead to start the third quarter on a methodical ten-play drive that led to a diving Mac Fagerness reception near the ten yard line where he proceeded to slither through several defenders. Trailing by 15, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley needed a response and they crafted one when Jurek busted through the Tiger goal line formation to cut the deficit. Coach Fluke opted to attempt a two-point conversion to make it a seven point game. The Napavine goal line held strong as Jurek could not repeat what he did a play ago and the Tigers maintained a two-score lead. This uphill battle eventually sunk Pe Ell’s chances to make a comeback and a late pick-six by Cole Van Wyck sealed the deal for the Tigers.

The 2B championship game will be a repeat of last season. After the game, Wyatt Stanley explained “everyone in the community is rallying behind us. It’s fun.” He also added, “We have to stay focused, have a good week of practice, and finish it.” Expect a different outlook by Napavine this time around.

The Final Score:
Napavine 29, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 13

Top Performer

Napavine
Wyatt Stanley- 7/22, 119 yards, 2 TDs, 18 rush, 52 yards, TD

Pe Ell-Willapa Valley
Kaelin Jurek- 13 rush, 56 yards, 2 TDs

Skyline Survives in Shootout with Lake Stevens

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Saturday Nov 28th 2015 4A Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Skyline 6 18 6 7 37
Lake Stevens 14 7 13 0 34

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See game recap below
 

Skyline Survives in Shootout with Lake Stevens
By Steve Dion

The nightcap of semifinal Saturday at the Tacoma Dome would pair Skyline and Lake Stevens with a ticket to the 4A championship game next week on the line. Heading into the contest, both teams were aware that Gonzaga Prep earned their berth to the title game earlier that afternoon. Which team would set their date with the Bullpups for next Saturday?

The back and forth affair began early when Viking quarterback Jacob Eason connected with Riley Krenz for a fifteen yard score. Without skipping a beat, Sparty gave their rebuttal in the form of an 81 yard Danny Sinatro catch and run. The first of many botched extra points for both teams occurred on this Skyline touchdown. The floodgates opened at this point as the high-scoring shootout was underway. The quarterback clash between Blake Gregory and Jacob Eason took center stage. Gregory was allotted half as many pass attempts with a dozen as Eason threw twenty-four times, but trailed in passing yards slightly at 244 to 252 and matched in touchdowns with one apiece. The running attacks were nearly identical in the first half with Rashaad Boddie and Andrew Grimes recording 10 and 12 runs for 34 and 38 yards respectively. Two plays that stood out in the first two quarters was an Eason pass in which he rolled out toward the sideline, bought time, and at the very last moment before taking a big hit zipped the ball to a receiver on the other side of the field for a big gain. Also, Boddie hauled in a fingertip catch along the sideline which set up his touchdown that garnered many “oohs” and “ahhs” from the crowd. Everyone in attendance was in store for an exciting finish.

Lake Stevens opened the second half with a seven-play eighty yard drive in less than three minutes culminating in a Asi Tupua run from two yards out. The extra point was blocked and instead of a four point lead for the Viks, they only led by a field goal at 27-24. Skyline gained the lead on a Bradley Kim reception from Gregory which required fantastic improvisation and vision, but Grimes captured a 34-30 edge shortly thereafter which held into the final quarter.

Midway through the fourth frame, Gregory struck once again on his brilliant game under center as he found Kim to give Sparty a 37-34 advantage. With less than three minutes remaining, it was gut check time for Lake Stevens. The purple and black were marching down the field when on a Skyline blitz, Eason was forced out of the pocket. Harry Reed and Joseph Chauvin bottled up the big quarterback and the ball fell to the turf. Skyline’s Alex Diegel jumped on the football and the official indicated the ball was heading the other way. The Viking defense was able to stave off enough offense in the ensuing drive to give themselves one last shot with less than a minute remaining. Three unsuccessful deep throws put the game on one last play. Eason drops back, fires to the right corner of the endzone. Intercepted by Noah Park! The Skyline sideline flooded onto the field thrilled to be victorious in a memorable game that places them forty-eight minutes from a state championship.

When asked where this game ranks among games Coach Taylor has been involved with, he simply replied, “It’s right up there!” In regards to his quarterback Blake Gregory, Mat said “hopefully this game will get on video for more college coaches to see” as his signal-caller has proven great ability and decision-making throughout his Spartan career. Skyline will play Gonzaga Prep for the 4A title next Saturday.

The Final Score:
Skyline 37, Lake Stevens 34

Top Performer

Skyline
Blake Gregory- 22/28, 436 yards, 3 TDs, 13 rush, 54 yards, TD
Bradley Kim- 2 receptions, 47 yards, 2 TDs

Lake Stevens
Jacob Eason- 32/42, 390 yards, 2 TDs
Andrew Grimes- 24 rush, 157 yards, TD
Riley Krenz- 12 rec, 173 yards, TD

King’s Edges Montesano, Earns Chance to Claim 1A Crown

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Saturday Nov 28th 2015 1A Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
King's 0 21 7 0 28
Montesano 0 7 11 7 25

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See game recap below
 

King’s Edges Montesano, Earns Chance to Claim 1A Crown
By Steve Dion

Being battle tested during the regular season pays dividends at this stage of the season. Coach Jim Shapiro’s tough schedule including games against Lynden and Archbishop Murphy have prepared the Knights for the state’s best in 1A. Montesano, who has knocked King’s out of the playoffs was the willing challenger for a ticket to the championship game.

King’s dominated this game across the board statistically including 395 to 160 total yards, 22 to 10 first downs, and 29:24 to 18:36 time of possession for King’s and Montesano respectively. However, the scoreboard did not reflect this fact. Back to back Knight touchdowns in the second quarter by Edmund Sundquist and Andrew Cline were quickly countered with a 97 yard kickoff return by Kylar Prante. Koa Wilkins extended the lead back to two touchdowns before the half on a goal line dive with mere seconds remaining.

Montesano’s attempt to climb back into the contest started with a Connor Lovell field goal early in the third. It was followed with a pick six by Keegan Darst minutes later which appeared to begin the momentum shift that could propel the Bulldogs to a win. However, Koa Wilkins led the troops down the field and converted another 1 yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown. Trailing ten points with five minutes to go, Monte was in desperation mode. They were able to cut the lead to a field goal with ninety seconds left when Logan Truax pulled in a Jake Herzog pass. A good-looking onside kick that simply wasn’t recovered by the defense was the final straw that allowed King’s to line up in victory formation.

The Final Score:
King’s 28, Montesano 25

Top Performer

King’s
Andrew Cline- 16 rush, 138 yards, TD

Montesano
Kylar Prante- 9 rush, 47 yards, 97-yard kickoff return TD

Tumwater Pitches Second Half Shutout, Will Play for 2A Title

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Saturday Nov 28th 2015 2A Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Tumwater 0 7 10 7 24
Archbishop Murphy 0 21 0 0 21

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See game recap below
 

Tumwater Pitches Second Half Shutout, Will Play for 2A Title
By Steve Dion

The Tacoma Dome has become a second home for Sid Otton and his T-Birds football team which he sends to deep playoff runs virtually every year. Archbishop Murphy is no stranger to late November football either as the Wildcats were the 2A runner-up in 2010 and 2011. With both teams boasting 12-0 records, who would win the penultimate game of the season?

A defensive struggle summarized the first frame as both teams failed to put any points on the board. Archbishop Murphy struck first when Bailey Singh-Ha hauled in a 32 yard pass from Connor Johnson. Exactly three minutes later, Wildcat tailback Anfernee Gurley notched a rushing touchdown. Tumwater’s Noah Andrews made his first big play of the game by taking the ball 43 yards to the house to cut down the lead. AMHS went into halftime feeling good due to Connor Johnson’s quarterback sneak for touchdown at the second quarter buzzer.

The Thunderbirds put the clamps on defense down in the second half by preventing the Wildcats from adding to their point total. But they had work to do. Cade Otton answered the call on a 21 yard touchdown early in the third. The game really began to hit the skids at this point as both teams refused to pull away. In the final minutes, Tumwater was down by four. It was gut-check time; touchdown or bust. After a THS timeout, Spencer Dowers executed the play discussed in the huddle perfectly; a quick toss to reliable Andrews who shed a few tackles and dove for the corner pylon. Touchdown! An elated Tumwater sideline breathed a big sigh of relief when the scoreboard read triple zeros after Aiden Slater brought down AM’s quarterback on the final desperation play.

After the game, Coach Otton admitted this was up there with one of the best games he has coached. Noah Andrews said with “three minutes left and we’re down, we’re not really having a lot of hope. It’s just never giving up.” On the winning touchdown, he noticed the defender lost his balance and “I saw him dive at my feet, so I just put my hand down, and dove in.” A play this junior leader will likely not forget anytime soon!

The Final Score:
Tumwater 24, Archbishop Murphy 21

Top Performer

Tumwater
Noah Andrews 25 rush, 102 yards, TD, 2 rec, 43 yards, TD (game-winner)

Archbishop Murphy
Anfernee Gurley 8 rush, 58 yards, TD, 5 rec, 140 yards

Crusaders Jump Out to Big Lead Early, Headed to State Final Again

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Friday Nov 27th 2015 3A Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Eastside Catholic 34 8 7 0 49
Lakes 7 7 0 7 21

See game recap below
 

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Crusaders Jump Out to Big Lead Early, Headed to State Final Again
By Steve Dion

Eastside Catholic entered Friday with an opportunity to earn its fourth straight 3A championship game berth. To do so, they would have to contend with a surging Lakes team that collected wins over O’Dea, Kamiakin, and Kennewick to make their way to the nearby Tacoma Dome.

Crusader senior Brandon Wellington made his impact felt early in this one as he took the opening kickoff 84 yards to the house. The Lancers were clearly caught off balance in the first quarter as ECHS proceeded to score three more unanswered touchdowns in the first eight minutes of the contest including a pair by Devon Arbis-Jackson and a 81 yard reception from Harley Kirsch to Hunter Bryant. Lakes finally put their foot down and strung together a drive that was capped off with a Christopher Hun score from Jaiave Magalei. Wellington responded on another kickoff return for touchdown, this time from 82 yards.

Lakes regained momentum during the second quarter by cutting the deficit to 34-14 on a Andrew Bostic touchdown. The Lancers then recovered a fumble in Crusader territory and were on the doorstep of making it a two possession game. Ryan Taylor had other plans. The Eastside Catholic sophomore hauled in an interception that set up Wellington’s third score that zapped the Lancer mojo.

The second half did not have a competitive element as the Cru did enough in the first half to cruise to a 49-21 victory. After the game, Wellington stated he hopes to face Wolverines for the fourth straight year, but not “if Bellevue isn’t the best team out there…because if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”

The Final Score:
Eastside Catholic 49, Lakes 21

Top Performer

Eastside Catholic
Brandon Wellington: 2 kickoff return TDs (82, 84), 1 receiving TD (12)
Harley Kirsch: 12/14 243 yards 4 TDs

Lakes
Andrew Bostic 22 rush, 190 yds
Jaiave Magalei 20/30 3 TDs 159yds 12 rush 75 yds

Wolverines Double Up Blanchet in Semis, Championship Game Bound Again

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Friday Nov 27th 2015 3A Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Bellevue 21 14 14 7 56
Bishop Blanchet 14 7 7 0 28

See game recap below
 

Wolverines Double Up Blanchet in Semis, Championship Game Bound Again
By Steve Dion

Bellevue has become synonymous with championship football in Washington and their appearance at the Tacoma Dome during semifinal week is par for the course. Bishop Blanchet would look to continue their dream season under Coach Kyle Moore on the heels of a 73-28 blowout over Juanita last week.

The Braves demonstrated how green they were literally and figuratively as the first snap of the game was fumbled and recovered for a Wolverine touchdown. Bellevue struck again two minutes late as Isaiah Ifanse punched it in from two yards out to cap off a four-play, seventy-two yard drive and give BHS an early double digit lead. Needing a big play to spark Blanchet, the ever-reliable O’Shea Trujillo made a big play; a 39 yard fumble recovery for touchdown cutting the lead to a single score. This started a back-and-forth game trading touchdowns as the scoreboard read 35-21 in favor of the Wolverines heading into halftime.

Butch Goncharoff certainly reinforced the need to start halves strong because his team found the goal line early in the third on an Ercle Terrell run who finished with three total touchdowns. Once again, Bishop Blanchet answered the call on a trick play which involved a pass from Trujillo to a wide-open Christian Peter. The Braves finally recovered an onside kick afterwards, but failed to turn the momentum into points. This proved to be a backbreaker for Blanchet because Bellevue put the nail in the coffin to secure a 56-28 win. For the fourth consecutive year, the Bellevue Wolverines will face the Eastside Catholic Crusaders for the 3A state title.

The Final Score:
Bellevue 56, Bishop Blanchet 28

Top Performer

Bellevue
Justus Rogers 9/13, 171 yards, TD, 9 rush, 104 yards
Ercle Terrell 12 rush, 68 yards, 3 TDs

Bishop Blanchet
Clinton Allen Jr. 9 rush, 94 yards, 2 TDs

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Trujillo Magnificent as Braves March to Tacoma for Semis

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Saturday Nov 21st 2015 3A Boys Football
Memorial Stadium 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Bishop Blanchet 20 20 14 19 73
Juanita 7 14 7 0 28

See game recap below
 

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Trujillo Magnificent as Braves March to Tacoma for Semis
By Steve Dion

A chilly Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium at the base of the Space Needle was the setting of the much anticipated 3A quarterfinal game between Bishop Blanchet and Juanita. The Rebels trounced Columbia River in the first round down in Vancouver while the Braves prevailed in a nail-biter against the Sumner Spartans who were red hot all season long. The winner of the clash between KingCo and Metro on this cold November night would earn a date with the victor of Bellevue & Glacier Peak in the comfy confines of the Tacoma Dome next weekend.

Blanchet began their onslaught early as their first play from scrimmage was a 56 yard touchdown run by dynamic tailback O’Shea Trujillo. The 6’0, 200 pound senior really seems focused on ending his Braves career on a high note. However, Juanita had a number of playmakers to contend with as Blanchet quarterback Alex Freeman connected with Christian Peterson and Clinton Allen Jr. before the Rebels could find the scoreboard. JHS halfback Salvon Ahmed punched the ball past the Blanchet defense to open their scoring, but facing a double digit deficit early, was it too little too late?

The signature moment in the contest occurred early in the second quarter when Antone Parente blocked a Juanita punt deep in Rebel territory. After swatting the ball, Parente picked up the rock and trotted into the endzone. The green-laden sideline erupted.

When play resumed, the fate of the contest became clear quickly as Coach Moore’s Braves kept their foot down to secure the win.

By the time the scoreboard hit triple zeros (or in the case of the scoreboard at Memorial Stadium 0:80), the Braves recorded one short of a dozen touchdowns. The Rebels were limited to four touchdowns in total including a second for Ahmed, a 12 yarder for Dylan Moctezuma, and a Makiah Gilmer 8-yard grab on fourth down from Tavin Montgomery. Next week, the Braves will fight for a state championship appearance. They will certainly enter the game brimming with confidence!

The Final Score:
Bishop Blanchet 73, Juanita 28

Top Performer

Bishop Blanchet
O’Shea Trujillo- 4 rushing TDs (20, 49, 56, 65)
Clinton Allen Jr.- 3 receiving TDs (12, 35, 79)

Juanita
Salvon Ahmed- 2 rushing TDs

Cru Rolls Past Bonney Lake, Advances to Semis

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Friday Nov 20th 2015 3A Boys Football
Memorial Stadium 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Eastside Catholic 14 14 13 6 47
Bonney Lake 7 0 0 0 7

See game recap below
 

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Cru Rolls Past Bonney Lake, Advances to Semis
By Steve Dion

Jeremy Thielbahr’s defending 3A champion Crusaders has looked the part of a team poised to defend their crown all season long. Eastside Catholic entered Friday three wins away from a repeat, but to advance to the semifinal round had a date with Bonney Lake. The 7-4 Panthers were fresh off a head-turning win against Lincoln last week and hungry for more. Coach Jason Silbaugh would get a crack at the state’s best with his team peaking in November.

The opening kickoff was taken 86 yards to the endzone by Eastside’s Brandon Wellington, but an illegal block in the back penalty negated the big play and gave the Panthers an early sigh of relief. The methodical Cru offense eventually punched the opening drive into the endzone on a 33 yard reception by Matt Laris on 4th and 14. The point after sailed wide right and the scoreboard read 6-0 early. Bonney Lake did what few teams do which is return the favor. A run-heavy drive was capped off with a 23 yard touchdown by Ethen Koepke on a screen pass by Dane Wagner in which several EC defenders were staved off en route to the goal line. The Panthers grabbed gained the lead. The Crusaders regained their composure and another drive highlighted by several Laris catches resulted in a 2-yard quarterback sneak by Harley Kirsch. Bonney Lake did not respond this time or any other drive for the remainder of the contest. A fumble at midfield in the second quarter was capitalized on by Eastside Catholic on a Tyler Folkes rushing touchdown and a dagger in the final moments of the first half; a 23 yard receiving touchdown by the always dangerous Devon Arbis-Jackson.

A 28-7 deficit against the Crusaders is a tall task to overcome and the Panthers were not able to climb back into this one. The implementation of a wildcat offense by Bonney Lake to start the 3rd quarter was effective in moving the chains early, but the direct snaps to Jason Day did not equate to points. The relentless ECHS offense recorded another pair of touchdowns in the third frame to put the game out of reach. The 47-7 final score was not fully indicative of the battle Bonney Lake waged in this contest. The Panther defense’s inability to hold the Cru on 3rd and 4th down was the difference maker in this one. Eastside Catholic advances to face the winner of Kennewick and Lakes. Bonney Lake’s 2015 campaign comes to an end.

The Final Score:
Eastside Catholic 47, Bonney Lake 7

Top Performers

Eastside Catholic
Harley Kirsch – 2 passing TDs (23, 33) 1 rushing TD (2)
Devon Arbis Jackson – 2 rec TDs (23, 36)
Tyler Folkes – 2 rush TDs (2, 39)

Bonney Lake
Ethen Koepke – 27 yard rec TD

State Quarterfinals:
Big Game of the Night & 3A Preview

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Game Recap as broadcast on Sports Radio 950 KJR

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State Quarterfinals: Big Game of the Night & 3A Preview

State Quarterfinals: Big Game of the Night & 3A Preview
11-20-15

State Quarterfinals:
4A/3A SPSL Preview

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Game Recap as broadcast on Sports Radio 950 KJR

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TJ Cotterill from The News Tribune- State Quarterfinals: 4A/3A SPSL Preview

11/20: TJ Cotterill from The News Tribune- State Quarterfinals: 4A/3A SPSL Preview
11-20-15

Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network: Port Townsend vs. King’s

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Game Recap as broadcast on Sports Radio 950 KJR

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Varsity Football Live Recap by Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network
Game Recap 11/13: Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network

Game Recap 11/13: Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network
11-13-15

Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network: Juanita vs. Oak Harbor

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Game Recap as broadcast on Sports Radio 950 KJR

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Varsity Football Live Recap by Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network
Game Recap 11/6: Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network

Game Recap 11/6: Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network
11-6-15

Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network: Mariner vs. Snohomish

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Varsity Football Live Recap by Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network
Game Recap 10/30: Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network

Game Recap 10/30: Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network
9-18-15

VFL’s Big Game of the Week:
Kennedy Catholic vs. Bellevue

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Game Recap as broadcast on Sports Radio 950 KJR

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Varsity Football Live’s Big Game of the Week
Kennedy Catholic vs. Bellevue

Big Game of the Week: Kennedy Catholic vs. Bellevue
9-18-15

VFL’s Big Game of the Week:
Eastside Catholic vs. Ballard

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Game Recap as broadcast on Sports Radio 950 KJR

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Varsity Football Live’s Big Game of the Week
Eastside Catholic vs. Ballard

Big Game of the Week: Eastside Catholic vs. Ballard
10-30-15

VFL’s Big Game of the Week:
Archbishop Murphy vs. King’s

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Varsity Football Live’s Big Game of the Week
Archbishop Murphy vs. King’s

Big Game of the Week: Archbishop Murphy vs. King’s
10-23-15

VFL’s Big Game of the Week:
Kent-Meridian vs. Kentwood

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Varsity Football Live’s Big Game of the Week
Kent-Meridian vs. Kentwood

Big Game of the Week: Kent-Meridian vs. Kentwood
10-16-15

VFL’s Big Game of the Week:
Bishop Blanchet vs. Eastside Catholic

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Varsity Football Live’s Big Game of the Week
Bishop Blanchet vs. Eastside Catholic

Big Game of the Week: Bishop Blanchet vs. Eastside Catholic
10-9-15

VFL’s Big Game of the Week:
O’Dea vs. Bishop Blanchet

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Varsity Football Live’s Big Game of the Week
O’Dea vs. Bishop Blanchet

Big Game of the Week: O’Dea vs. Bishop Blanchet
10-2-15

VFL’s Big Game of the Week:
Cascade Christian vs. Lindbergh

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Varsity Football Live’s Big Game of the Week
Cascade Christian vs. Lindbergh

Big Game of the Week: Cascade Christian vs. Lindbergh
9-25-15