Game Recap
Rainier Beach vs. Roosevelt 1-5-16
The high-flying Rainier Beach Vikings visited the Roosevelt Rough Riders on Tuesday night for a Metro League contest! Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the game!
To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
Bellevue Rings in 2016 with Win Over Vikings
By Steve Dion
| Monday- January 4th | 2016 | Girls | 4A/3A | KingCo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Inglemoor | 9 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 41 | |
| Bellevue | 23 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 67 | |
Bellevue senior Shelby Cansler
Monday night showcased a clash of KingCo powerhouses in Bellevue and Inglemoor. The Wolverines are fresh off a first place finish in the Tournament of Championships in Arizona over the holiday break. They would put their perfect record on the line against an always tough Vikings squad. Bellevue controlled the pace early by pushing the ball up the court quickly and not allowing Inglemoor to get comfortable in their defensive sets. The Wolverines picked up a double digit lead that continued to grow through contributions by Quinessa Caylao-Do who scored 14 in the contest including an efficient 11/12 from the free throw line. Additionally, Shelby Cansler notched 11 of her team-high 18 in the first half as the versatile scorer demonstrated her range and skill under the basket. Inglemoor regrouped and put together a late run in the first half to close the gap. Kennedy Nicholas finished a tough reverse layup while drawing a foul to bring the deficit within ten and bring to single digits. Difficulty from the charity stripe troubled the Viks and Bellevue capitalized by bringing the lead back to fifteen by halftime.
The Wolverines continued to grow their lead in the third quarter as the defensive effort continued to pay dividends. The Bellevue trap forced several turnovers, many by Anna Wilson who finished with 13 points. Inglemoor seniors Mackenzie Gardner and Ifeoma Emeka solidified the Inglemoor attack by showing toughness down the stretch. Emeka finished with a team-high 13 in the contest. The fourth quarter was mostly academic as the outcome of the game was essentially decided. However, the final moments of the game featured a stamp on the contest which was a behind the back pass from Anna Wilson to Ann-Marie Jacobs. The Wolverines start 2016 by continuing their long streak in the win column.
The Final Score
Bellevue 67, Inglemoor 41
Top Performers:
Bellevue
Shelby Cansler- 18 points
Inglemoor
Ifeoma Emeka- 13 points
Game Recap
Jackson vs. Shorecrest 12-30-15
The Jackson Timberwolves and Shorecrest Scots squared off for the third place game in the 2015 Bothell Holiday Classic! Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the game including post game comments from the winning coach!
To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
Saufferer’s Clutch Bucket Earns Jackson Third Place Tourney Finish
By Steve Dion
| Wednesday- December 30th | 2015 | Boys | 4A/2A | Wesco | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bothell High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Shorecrest | 12 | 19 | 12 | 24 | 67 | |
| Jackson | 26 | 9 | 11 | 22 | 68 | |
Jackson senior Sam Saufferer
The third place game in the 2015 Bothell Holiday Classic was a clash between the Shorecrest Scots and Jackson Timberwolves. The Wolves built early momentum in the contest primarilty through the sharp shooting of guard Sam Saufferer. After his first shot fell, a three-ball from beyond the tree point arc, the green light was on for the senior leader. Shorecrest found themselves facing a double digit deficit in the first frame to which Coach Brian Fischer called a timeout and brought in his big gamechanger. Sophomore center Philip Pepple made an instant impact blocking shots with ferocity and throwing down vicious slam dunks. By halftime, the Jackson lead was just four points.
When play resumed, the intensity rose as the feeling that this game would come down to the wire was increasingly evident. Jackson received a strong output by Jordan Brajcich in the third frame scoring 7 points in the quarter. Similarly, Scot guard Dagmawe Menelik continued to bury shots from downtown. Shorecrest eventually tied the game early in the fourth quarter and eventually took the lead for the first time in the contest. Trailing 66-67 with 20 seconds left on the clock, Jackson had one chance to take the lead back and win the game. Everybody in the gym knew Sam Saufferer would put the TWolves fate in his hands. He drove into the key, pump faked to draw contact, and hoisted up a tough shot. Bingo! Shorecrest had a handful of seconds remaining for a final shot, but they were denied by Jackson’s interior defense. In regards to the game winner, Coach Steve Johnson stated, “It wasn’t exactly what we drew up, but at least we had the presence of mind to have the ball with a guy who was hot to get it done.”
The Final Score
Jackson 68, Shorecrest 67.
Top Performers:
Jackson
Sam Saufferer- 30 points
Shorecrest
Philip Pepple- 22 points
Game Recap
Enumclaw vs. Seattle Academy 12-28-15
Enumclaw and Seattle Academy met up for a Sterling Shootout contest that went to triple overtime! Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the game.
To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
Enumclaw Survives in Triple Overtime Tilt with Seattle Academy
By Steve Dion
| Monday- December 28th | 2015 | Boys | 3A/1A | SPSL/Emerald City | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT | 2OT | 3OT | Final | |
| Seattle Academy | 9 | 13 | 18 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 75 | |
| Enumclaw | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 76 | |
Enumclaw senior Scotty Garvin
A Monday matinee in the 2015 Sterling Shootout paired the Enumclaw Hornets and Seattle Academy Cardinals in the consolation bracket. The matchup of the Hornets size advantage from two perspectives; height and roster size against the shifty Cardinals guards was a fun battle to watch. The combination of EHS forwards Justus Rainwater, Scotty Garvin, and Josh Erickson made a significant impact early as the trio was active on the glass. Seattle Academy’s sluggish start was compounded with intentional and technical fouls which added to the Hornet lead at the charity stripe. The Cards used this to fuel a rally to close the gap before halftime in which the margin was cut to three on a triple by Ian McManus.
Marcus Austin started to fire from downtown and the sophomore guard heated up to the tune of five buckets from behind the arc in the third and fourth quarter combined. Enumclaw countered with the emergence of Kaden Anderson late in the ballgame. The sophomore combo guard recorded eight fourth quarter points as part of a team-high 24. The yo-yo game down the stretch wound up deadlocked at 51-51 with 1:23 remaining in the fourth. Neither team scored for the remainder of regulation and we headed to overtime. Marcus Austin struck again in extra time with an early bucket and one as the top Cardinal scorer gave SA early momentum. Anderson responded on the other end by racking up several points in the key. We headed to a second OT. Seattle Academy appeared to have the win in hand leading by three with mere seconds remaining. However, a made free throw by Kaden Anderson followed by a miss, rebound by Rainwater, and putback tied the score and pushed the game to a third OT! The back and forth affair continued until Scotty Garvin gave Enumclaw a final clutch bucket to take the lead in the final ticks of the game clock. Seattle Academy’s potential game-winner rimmed out and the Hornets picked up a valiant win in a highly entertaining contest.
The Final Score
Enumclaw 76, Seattle Academy 75 (3 OT)
Top Performers:
Enumclaw
Kaden Anderson- 24 points
Justus Rainwater- 22 points
Josh Erickson- 22 points
Seattle Academy
Marcus Austin- 24 points
Ian McManus- 22 points
Game Recap
West Seattle vs. Thomas Jefferson 12-23-15
West Seattle and Thomas Jefferson met for a non-league game on Wednesday night before Christmas Eve. Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the game.
To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
Peninsula – Boys Head Coach
Jake Jackson
Steve Dion had a chance to catch up with head coach of the Peninsula Seahawks Jake Jackson whose team has vaulted to one of the top teams in the state after recording six combined wins in the three seasons leading up to his arrival in 2012. He discusses the evolution of his senior class including JaQuori McLaughlin, Jimmy Ritchie, Josh Keough, and Austin & Garrett Kingman both on and off the court.
Coach Jackson also talks about the Seahawks Basketball Academy which he launched in 2013 that currently involves over 150 boys and girls between 3rd and 8th grade with the simple mission to “build a passion for basketball in the harbor”. Additionally, he explains what DWWD stands for which can be found on the backs of his team jerseys; a philosophy he learned during his time with the Arizona Wildcats staff.
He closes by describing the ways his student-athletes are making a positive impact in the community including the involvement with their annual kids camp at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and assistance at the Tacoma Rescue Mission. Jackson emphasizes “teaching them to have a serving mentality; giving back and serving others” as part of his coaching duty at Peninsula High School.
To catch the complete interview with Coach Jackson, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
Game Recap
Peninsula vs. Wilson 12-19-15
Peninsula and Wilson squared off for an exciting matchup over the weekend in the Showare Shootout in Kent. Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the game.
To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
Bellevue’s Dominant Third Quarter Conquers Kentwood
By Steve Dion
| Saturday- December 19th | 2015 | Boys | 4A/3A | SPSL/KingCo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showare Center | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Kentwood | 17 | 17 | 4 | 17 | 55 | |
| Bellevue | 19 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 70 | |
Bellevue senior Mikey Henn
The matching 23 point totals for Sharif Khan and Mikey Henn helped propel Bellevue to a double-digit win over Kentwood in the Showare Shootout. Early in the contest, Conqueror guard Darius Lubom helped Kentwood jump out in front. However, Bellevue countered with an extended run during the second quarter which helped the Wolverines take a narrow 3 point lead into halftime.
The Wolverines continued to score at their average rate in the third quarter, but Kentwood hit a wall. The Conks only recorded 4 points in the third quarter. As the game winded down, it was evident Kentwood was pressing a bit and the Wolverines kept their composure. Despite double figure scoring by Koby Huerta, Rayvaughan Bolton, and Lubom for Kentwood, the dynamic duo of Khan and Henn guided BHS to a win. Additionally, Bellevue sophomore Andrew Kenny nearly recorded a double double with 9 points and 10 rebounds and Cole Cirillo dished out 7 assists.
The Final Score
Bellevue 70, Kentwood 55
Top Performers:
Bellevue
Mikey Henn- 23 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
Sharif Khan- 23 points, 3 steals
Kentwood
Darius Lubom- 14 points, 3 steals
West Seattle Charges Past Kentridge
By Steve Dion
| Saturday- December 19th | 2015 | Girls | 4A/3A | SPSL/Metro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showare Center | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Kentridge | 12 | 11 | 2 | 12 | 37 | |
| West Seattle | 12 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 56 | |
West Seattle senior Lydia Giomi
Game five of the 2015 Showare Shootout featured the West Seattle Wildcats and Chargers from nearby Kentridge. The first half was a back-and-forth affair as the lead changed on four separate occasions. KHS was slightly more efficient scoring in the first two quarter based on field goal percentag, but West Seattle took a one point lead into the locker room. Which team would make the necessary plays down the stretch to pick up a quality non-league win?
West Seattle rolled out a 21-0 run most of which took place in the third frame as steals on the defensive end led to several buckets in transition. The Wildcats recorded 27 points off turovers, nearly half of their entire offensive output. Trailing by a dozen with 1:20 remaining in the third quarter, Kentridge needed to regroup. However, the Wildcats kept the pedal down and limited the Chargers to two points in the third frame. Grace Sarver led all scorers with 15 points and her teammate Lydia Giomi adding 14 of her own for WSHS. Morgan Gary led the Chargers with 13 points, but the huge Wildcat third quarter was enough to stave off a late comeback and allowed West Seattle to cruise to a comfortable victory.
The Final Score
West Seattle 56, Kentridge 37
Top Performers:
West Seattle
Lydia Giomi- 14 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals
Kentridge
Morgan Gary- 13 points, 3 rebounds
Listen to the Mid-Columbia League Hoops Preview by clicking on play button below
Hoops Preview: Mid-Columbia League- Mike McDonnal from KONA Radio
12-16-15
Listen to the Northwest League Hoops Preview by clicking on play button below
Hoops Preview: Northwest League- Jeff Rex from KAPS Radio
12-16-15
Listen to the 4A GSHL Hoops Preview by clicking on play button below
Hoops Preview: 4A GSHL- Paul Valencia from The Columbian
12-16-15
Listen to the 2A GSHL Hoops Preview by clicking on play button below
Hoops Preview: 2A GSHL- Vern Foster from 105.5 KUKN
12-16-15
Listen to the Evergreen League Hoops Preview by clicking on play button below
Hoops Preview: Evergreen League- Daniel Hargrove from Fox 1490 KWOK
12-16-15
Listen to the Narrows/SPSL Hoops Preview by clicking on play button below
Hoops Preview: Narrows/SPSL- TJ Cotterill from The News Tribune
12-16-15
Listen to the Wesco Hoops Preview with Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network by clicking on play button below
Hoops Preview: 4A/3A Wesco- Steve Willits from Sound Live Sports Network
11-13-15
Vashon Island Sails Past Bears
By Steve Dion
| Saturday- December 12th | 2015 | Boys | 4A/1A | SPSL/Nisqually | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highline College | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Tahoma | 6 | 14 | 2 | 21 | 43 | |
| Vashon Island | 17 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 48 | |
Vashon Island senior Sam Yates
At high noon in the Highline College Gym on Saturday, Vashon Island and Tahoma tipped off for game three of the Sports Authority Shootout. The Pirates jumped out to a commanding lead early by starting the game on a 17-0 run. The Bears could not get any shots to fall and their woes were compounded when their 6’9 post Clayton Stultz recorded his second foul in the first 90 seconds of the game. Once Tahoma finally found the scoreboard, they strung together a 12-0 run to find themselves back within striking distance. After two quarters of play, the Vashon Island led by a half-dozen.
THS started the second half the way they began the game by going on an extended cold streak. The Pirates outscored their opponents 11-2 in the third quarter. VI senior Alex Symbol-Godfrey led all scorers with 18 points in addition to his 10 boards. Sam Yates also scored in double figures with 15. Heading into the fourth quarter trailing 15 the Bears needed a big run to climb back into the game. They responded by outscoring the Pirates 21-11 in the final frame when Connor Thomas and Kimball Cottam heated up. The pair combined for 20 points total, many of which were scored in the final minutes of the game. Despite the game slowing down in the latter moments, VI had a big enough edge to prevent the Bears from climbing the mountain.
The Final Score
Vashon Island 48, Tahoma 43
Top Performers:
Vashon Island
Alex Symbol-Godfrey- 18 points, 10 rebounds
Tahoma
Connor Thomas- 12 points
Lady Kangs Roll Over Totems
By Steve Dion
| Friday- December 11th | 2015 | Girls | 3A | KingCo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sammamish High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Sammamish | 3 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 37 | |
| Lake Washington | 17 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 49 | |
Lake Washington Lady Kangs
Lake Washington earned a league victory on Friday night after gaining a double digit lead in the first quarter. The Kangs frontcourt combination of Hanna Brender & Georgia Romine-Black helped LW jump out to a 34-17 lead after the first half. Totem coach Mike Schick made second adjustments that allowed Sammamish to cut down the Kang lead as the game progressed, but the contributions of Aleyah Bennett and Alliyah Shinaul were not quite enough to bring the home team within striking distance of their KingCo opponent.
The difference maker in this game was Lake Washington’s ability to dial up from long distance early and grab offensive rebounds for second chance put-backs to create enough separation by halftime that a late Sammamish run would not jeopardize their lead. Credit the Totems for winning the second-half scoring margin, but they will need balance for four quarters as league play heats up.
The Final Score
Lake Washington 49, Sammamish 37
Roosevelt Soars Over Hawks in Home Opener
By Steve Dion
| Wednesday- December 9th | 2015 | Boys | 3A | Metro/Wesco | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Mountlake Terrace | 11 | 5 | 23 | 16 | 55 | |
| Roosevelt | 15 | 9 | 11 | 22 | 57 | |
The Rough Riders tipped off their 2015-2016 season with two road games against West Seattle and Bainbridge in which they earned a split. Wednesday night marked their home opener against Mountlake Terrace who was holding a 3-0 record heading into the contest. Metro against Wesco: which team would earn an early quality non-conference win?
The first half presented a back-and-forth affair with the lead changing frequently. Mountlake Terrace used their size advantage to clean up on the offensive glass leading to putbacks. As the second quarter progressed, the Hawks hit a cold streak and were limited to only five points in the quarter. Their attempts from three point range were not falling and they had difficulty finishing at the cup. Meanwhile, Johnny Lang sparked a Roosevelt run to start the second frame. The 6’5 senior recorded eight points in the quarter as part of his game high 30 points. The Riders held a 21-12 with 4:21 remaining in the first half and Terrace called a timeout. This felt like a pivotal point of the contest heading into the break to prevent a double digit deficit. The Hawks were able to tread water heading into halftime trailing by eight. They had work to do in the final two quarters.
Coach Sood was able to rally the troops and put together a massive third quarter. Eight of the nine active players contributed to their 23 points during that stretch. At the same time, RHS appeared timid and made mental mistakes that turned the ball over. Lang knocked down a pair of three pointers to keep the Riders offensive pulse going during the Terrace run. The game was on a crash-course to an exciting finish.
The Hawks trailed by four with thirty seconds remaining in hurry-up mode. Brock Davis drove to the cup on the baseline for a bucket and was off the mark. Fortunately, Derek Anyimah had great post position and was able to come up with the rebound and putback. Roosevelt was fouled on the other end and Nate Suedel missed both free throws giving the Hawks a glimmer of hope. Terrace drove down the court and Davis fired up a three to take the lead. The miss caromed out of bounds with less than a second remaining. Roosevelt simply needed to inbound the ball to run out the clock. The entry pass was intercepted by Joey Gardner who hoisted up desperation three. Good if it goes…off the front of the rim. Ballgame. The Roosevelt bench breathed a huge sigh of relief as they narrowly avoided a late collapse. In the end, the Riders earn a check mark under the win column.
The Final Score
Roosevelt 57, Mountlake Terrace 55
Top Performers:
Roosevelt
Johnny Lang- 30 points (4/5 FTs)
Mountlake Terrace
Brock Davis- 12 points
| 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 | |
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
Listen to Varsity Football Live’s Radio Segment by clicking on play button below
Ian Cope from Fox 1490 KWOK- State Quarterfinals: 1A through 1B Recap & Preview
11-20-15
Listen to Varsity Football Live’s Radio Segment by clicking on play button below
State Quarterfinals: Big Game of the Night & 3A Preview
11-20-15
Listen to Varsity Football Live’s Radio Segment by clicking on play button below
11/20: TJ Cotterill from The News Tribune- State Quarterfinals: 4A/3A SPSL Preview
11-20-15
theFinalScore.TV
3A State Football Rankings
By Steve Dion
The regular season has concluded and postseason matchups are set for the first weekend of November. Here are the rankings for the 3A classification.
1) Eastside Catholic: 8-0
Scary to think the Cru likely hasn’t played their best football yet.
2) Bellevue: 7-1
Chomping at the bit to etch their name back on the 3A trophy.
3) Sumner: 9-0
As if one 1,000 yard rusher wasn’t enough (Wedington), Riley is knocking on the door to be the second Spartan to a grand.
4) Glacier Peak: 8-1
Grizzlies held Bellevue and Arlington well below their scoring averages, a real indicator of this team’s strength.
5) Bishop Blanchet: 8-1
Only blemish on the season a loss at Eastside Catholic. Coach Moore has a talented Braves squad that has seen it all in 2015.
6) Mt.Spokane: 8-1
A final four team last season looking to get back to the latter rounds of the 3A bracket.
7) Arlington: 7-2
The sneaky Eagles fared well against a tough schedule with the lone loss against Bellevue.
8) Lincoln: 9-0
Matsumoto picked up where Kitna left off. They proved their strength against tough teams in the playoffs last year. Can the Abes do it again?
9) Kamiakin: 7-2
Didn’t take a week off all season long as the Braves lit up scoreboard against lesser teams and gave quality opponents all they could handle on the road.
10) O’Dea: 7-2
A debacle at Blanchet was the only setback this season. The Irish won’t be a fun November draw for anyone.
On the Bubble
Ferndale
Oak Harbor
Lakes
Auburn-Mountainview
Juanita
| Friday | Oct 30th | 2015 | 3A Metro | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leon H. Brigham Field at Memorial Stadium | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Eastside Catholic | 12 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 40 | |
| Ballard | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
Crusaders Capture Metro Title, Primed for Postseason Run
By Steve Dion
The final week of the regular season coincidentally pitted the top two Metro League teams in Eastside Catholic and Ballard for the city championship. For Jeremy Thielbahr and his high-flying Crusaders, this is just step one for a program designed to make another state title run. For Joey Thomas and Ballard, this game served as an opportunity to show how far the Beavers have progressed in a short period of time. Ballard has won as many games in 2015 as they did in the previous two seasons combined. The deck was stacked against the Beavs to go toe to toe with Eastside Catholic, how would they approach the challenge?
Like many opening drives for Eastside Catholic, the result was a touchdown. However, this was a drive that ate up nearly six minutes and pushed the Cru offense to convert on long yardage third and fourth downs. A long pass from Harley Kirsch to Hunter Bryant set up Brandon Wellington for a 3 yard score. The response drive by BHS was stalled at midfield forcing a punt which was not struck well. The short field for ECHS simply allowed them to score their second touchdown faster as Devon Arbis-Jackson hauled in a reception near midfield on a crossing route and took it 65 yards to the house. Ballard was walking on a tight rope at this point. The Beavs were moving up the field with chunks of yardage eaten up by Davine Tullis and Antoine Patton. Unfortunately, the possession took a turn when the ball was coughed up and taken 60 yards the other way by Malik Putney leading to a Tyler Folkes touchdown. The rout was on. By halftime the scoreboard read 40-0.
Joey Thomas deserves a great deal of credit for rallying his team at halftime facing an insurmountable deficit. Ballard would win the second half by preventing the Crusaders from adding to their point total albeit against the depth chart of Eastside Catholic. This game would not be a shutout as Jack Dineen punched a field goal through the uprights in the fourth quarter. With the win, Eastside Catholic demonstrates they have gas in the tank which will propel them in November and likely December. For Ballard, they will also be a postseason team with the experience of facing the state’s finest.
The Final Score:
Eastside Catholic 40, Ballard 3
| Friday | Oct 16th | 2015 | 4A SPSL | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Field | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Eastside Catholic | 14 | 21 | 13 | 6 | 54 | |
| Bishop Blanchet | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
Kentwood Maintains Divisional Dominance
By Steve Dion
The Conks have been a force to be reckoned with for several years and have established themselves once again as a top dog in the 4A classification. However, the other Kent schools that share French Field appear to be gradually closing the gap. Kent-Meridian stepped up to the plate with an opportunity to grab a crucial win against the division-leading Conquerors. The pregame events concluded with a firework show and proved to be a symbol for the style of game out of the chutes.
Within the first four minutes, there were three interceptions. This frenetic start for both offenses led to limited production early on. KW struck first as senior tailback Isaiah Williams moved the chains several times and was rewarded with the game’s first points. He deceived the KM defense by acting as a blocker on as quarterback Brian Campbell shifted to the left. Williams broke toward the left and Campbell found him uncovered and a short 5 yards from the endzone for six points. Kent-Meridian received a boost by Shamar Malik-Woollery as the running back/defensive back combo made an impact on both sides of the field. He took an interception back into deep Kentwood territory, but the Royals failed to capitalize. These would be the only points of the first half as the Royals failed to challenge the Conks red zone defense.
Kentwood’s Connor Benson took the opening kickoff of the second half 80 yards which eventually set up Campbell for a 3 yard quarterback sneak touchdown. Davonte Sanchez led the Conqueror defense with a toughness that limited KMHS offensive success. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter when Kent-Meridian punched it in to avoid the shutout, but the fate of the game was sealed. The Conks secured a comfortable 28-7 victory and continue to dominate the SPSL Northeast division in 2015.
The Final Score:
Kentwood 28, Kent-Meridian 7
2015 Varsity Football Live Interview
Tumwater Thunderbirds – Junior
Cade Otton
Grandson of longtime Tumwater head coach Sid Otton and current junior for the T-Birds Cade Otton talks to Dick Fain about his high school football experience thus far. He also discusses his involvement with Shirts Across America and the positive takeaways he had from his time with the organization that is focused on helping those affected by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
To catch the complete radio interview with Tumwater Junior Cade Otton, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
2015 Varsity Football Live Coach Interview
Tumwater Thunderbirds – Head Football Coach
Sid Otton
The winningest head coach in Washington high school football history Sid Otton joins Dick Fain for a few minutes to talk about his 2015 team and the successful Tumwater program over the years. He also chats about his Grandson Cade whom currently plays for the T-Birds and makes him proud on and off the field. This is a must-listen interview with a local legend.
To catch the complete radio interview with Tumwater Coach Sid Otton, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
