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11-13-15
Garfield’s Tempo Too Much for Young Panthers
By Steve Dion
| Tuesday- December 15th | 2015 | Boys | 3A | Metro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Prep High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Seattle Prep | 11 | 19 | 12 | 25 | 67 | |
| Garfield | 20 | 25 | 21 | 23 | 89 | |
Garfield junior Jaylen Nowell
Terrell Brown led the top ranked Garfield Bulldogs with 23 points in their victory over Seattle Prep on Tuesday night. Ed Haskins’ defending state champs were victorious by a comfortable 22 point margin, but Steve Kelly’s young Panthers squad showed they can compete with the state’s best in this one. The first half was very physical and thus many key players from both sides received fouls that tested the depth of both rosters. Garfield had early success when they applied the full court press, especially with Prep’s floor general Aaron Nettles on the sidelines. The front court battle of Garfield’s Alphonso Anderson and J’Raan Brooks against SP’s Collin Welp and Nic Lynch was exciting as both duos were integral scoring combos for both teams early. The forwards combined for 14 and 13 in the first two quarters respectively. At the break, Brown’s five field goals helped the Bulldogs earn a 45-30 lead.
Needing to chip away the GHS lead to give themselves a chance in the fourth quarter, Seattle Prep needed to start the second half strong. However, the opposite occurred. Garfield extended the lead to 21 points early in the third as they were able to play at a high tempo and score on the fast break. Jaylen Nowell put a stamp on the game when he threw down a pair of dunks as part of his 14. Prep’s lack of consistent shot-takers dashed their ability to keep pace with the high-flying Bulldogs. The Panthers put together a strong final quarter even though Garfield’s big lead was not in jeopardy. The home team earned 20 trips to the free throw line in which 13 were made. Coach Haskins was able to distribute minutes up and down his roster in the fourth quarter to close out the ballgame. Double digit scorers for the Bulldogs included Daejon Davis, Brown, Nowell, and Brooks. Seattle Prep’s Nettles, Welp, and Lynch scored in double figures.
The Final Score
Garfield 89, Seattle Prep 67
Top Performers:
Garfield
Terrell Brown- 23 points (5/7 FTs)
Seattle Prep
Aaron Nettles- 20 points (8/10 FTs)
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
Titans Prove Might Over Lancers
By Steve Dion
| Saturday- December 12th | 2015 | Boys | 4A/3A | SPSL/SeaMount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highline College | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Kennedy Catholic | 12 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 49 | |
| Todd Beamer | 18 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 59 | |
Todd Beamer junior Stef’fun Singleton
Patrick Kennedy recorded a double-double for Todd Beamer in their win over the Kennedy Catholic Lancers. The senior wing scored 11 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as the Titans led nearly the entire contest. Beamer opened the game on a 7-0 run the first 90 seconds to which Kennedy called a timeout to gain their composure. KCHS rallied in the second quarter to cut the TB lead to 8 points at the break by getting into the bonus early in the second quarter and knocking down freebies from the charity stripe. Amari McClemore demonstrated his athleticism when the 6’0 wing followed a missed shot with a putback slam.
The Titans held their largest lead in the fourth quarter of 19 points, but Kennedy closed on a 9-0 run to end the game with a 10 point deficit. James Jolly from the Lancers led all scorers with 15 points. The game was in the balance early in the fourth quarter, but Gio Jackson put the game on ice with a 6-0 run of his own to put Beamer over the top. SPSL prevailed in this invitational format contest against a representative from the SeaMount League.
The Final Score
Todd Beamer 59, Kennedy Catholic 49
Top Performers:
Todd Beamer
Gio Jackson- 16 points
Patrick Kennedy- 11 points, 10 rebounds
Kennedy Catholic
James Jolly- 15 points, 6 rebounds
Lake Washington Cruises Past Sammamish
By Steve Dion
| Friday- December 11th | 2015 | Boys | 3A | KingCo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sammamish High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Sammamish | 9 | 8 | 18 | 21 | 56 | |
| Lake Washington | 19 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 83 | |
Lake Washington Sophomore Abi Kameric
The nightcap of Friday night hoops at Sammamish High School featured the host Totems and the Lake Washington Kangaroos. The Kangs jumped out to an early lead primarily due to Sahil Basra’s three buckets from downtown. If not for a Justin Jordan hustle play to throw up a fadeaway from a miss at the first-quarter buzzer, the Totems would have lacked any sense of momentum moving forward. LWHS continued to roll in the second frame when Abi Kameric matched Basra by knocking down a trio of triples of his own. Additionally, the Kangs rebounded well and did not allow for multiple chances for the Totems. At the break Lake Washington led 42-17.
Sammamish was able to outmatch their first half total in the third quarter alone by logging eighteen points in the quarter, but LW kept the pedal down and continued to extend their lead. There was a sequence in transition for the Kangs where a lead pass in transition to Sam Linsky was dished behind the back for an open bucket. Sammamish closed strong by putting together a series of possessions where they came up with two quick steals following an initial bucket by Nate Aebi for three field goals in a very short period of time. However, the Kangs led wire to wire and cruised to a double digit victory on the road.
The Final Score
Lake Washington 83, Sammamish 56
Top Performers:
Lake Washington
Sahil Basra- 26 points
Sammamish
Justin Jordan- 13 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
Nicole Pennypacker – Volunteer
Danielle Smith-Jackson – Volunteer
Amber Henriksen-Crabb – Volunteer
| Saturday | Dec 5th | 2015 | 4A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Dome | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Gonzaga Prep | 10 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 34 | |
| Skyline | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 16 | |
Gonzaga Prep Captures 4A Crown in Convincing Fashion
By Steve Dion
In a classic battle of east against west, the Gonzaga Prep Bullpups traveled 300 miles over the mountains to take on the Skyline Spartans from the Sammamish Plateau. Sparty was fresh off a shootout at the Tacoma Dome a week ago against Lake Stevens which tested them from the opening kickoff to the final whistle. They busted through the gauntlet that was the bottom half of the 4A bracket taking down Gig Harbor, Camas, and the Vikings. The Bullpups used their staunch defense and efficient offensive attack to navigate to the title game including a grinder in the Tri Cities during semifinal week against the Richland Bombers. A packed Woodshed was set to close out a fantastic Gridiron Classic.
The first few minutes featured a pair of turnovers when an early Bullpup drive ended with a fumble into the Spartan endzone; a big momentum swing that erased what was nearly a quick 7-0 lead. However, the second play from scrimmage following the fumble was picked off by the Pups giving them the ball back in good field position. Later in the first, GPrep struck when Coach McKenna’s trickery caught the Spartans off guard, a double reverse to Devin Culp who glide to the goal line. On the ensuing kickoff, Conor McKenna knocked the ball loose from the Skyline kick returner to give his team the ball back in great scoring position. They walked away with three points off the foot of Jared Kutsch. Skyline’s enemic offense continued throughout the first half as they were limited to 102 total yards; the Bullpups had 358 in the same time frame. Before the teams entered halftime, Culp busted loose for a 59 yard rumble to the endzone. Also, the big running back/defensive end combo Evan Weaver capped off a late Bullpup drive to punch it in from a yard out. Many knew Gonzaga Prep had a tough defense, but limiting Skyline to three points in the first two quarters drove that point home on the biggest stage.
Trailing by three touchdowns entering the second half, Mat Taylor needed to rally the troops and craft a gameplan to score quickly before a comeback was out of reach. After failing to move the ball into Bullpup territory on their first drive, SHS caught a break by forcing a fumble after they punted. Unfortunately, they turned it right back over on the next play. The ball must have been covered in butter because Skyline forced another turnover two plays later. In 45 second and five plays, there were 3 fumbles! The Spartans took advantage of their gift by setting up Jake Pendergrast for a quick slant route for a touchdown. The Spartans were very much alive!
In a series that put a stamp on the contest, Gonzaga Prep drove down the field on a 15 play, 80 yard drive that culminated in a Weaver touchdown to put the Pups up 31-9. Skyline would find paydirt only one more time in the game; a fantastic one-handed grab by Danny Sinatro (see highlight video above). However, this was not enough to overcome the massive lead the Bullpups built early on. When the dust settled, GPHS outrushed their counterpart by 500 yards! Additionally, they dominated the time of possession game by controlling the ball over twice as long as Skyline. A stellar defensive effort by Gonzaga Prep neutralized Skyline’s running attack to only 22 yards. In his postgame comments, Coach McKenna said, “We faced adversity all year long, so when we had to travel over here against a great Skyline team, our kids came out firing.” The 4A crown will head east for until the first week of December in 2016!
The Final Score:
Gonzaga Prep 34, Skyline 16
Top Performer
Gonzaga Prep
Evan Weaver- 24 rush, 133 yards, 2 TDs
Devin Culp- 4 rush, 79 yards, 2 TDs
Skyline
Jake Pendergast- 9 rec, 98 yards, TD
Annette Bautista-Feliberti – Volunteer
| 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 | |
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)
| 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 | |
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
| 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 | |
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
| 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 | |
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
| 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 | |
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
SCORING SUMMARY – 2015 2A Finals – Tacoma Dome
1st Quarter
04:07 PROSSER (MUSTANGS 8 – THUNDERBIRDS 0)
Kolby Swift 1 yd pass from Tanner Bolt (JR Coleman pass from Logan Hamlin)
2nd Quarter
04:53 PROSSER (MUSTANGS 15 – THUNDERBIRDS 0)
Kason Blair 30 yd pass from Tanner Bolt (Ricardo Herrera kick)
03:28 TUMWATER (MUSTANGS 15 – THUNDERBIRDS 8)
Easton Trakel 42 yd pass from Noah Andrews (Cade Otton pass from Spencer Dowers)
00:19 PROSSER (MUSTANGS 22 – THUNDERBIRDS 8)
Noah Flores 10 yd pass from Tanner Bolt (Ricardo Herrera kick)
4th Quarter
06:54 TUMWATER (MUSTANGS 22 – THUNDERBIRDS 15)
Jarid Barrett 3 yd run (Nathan Seaman kick)
PROSSER TUMWATER FIRST DOWNS................... 21 12 RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 41-99 35-179 PASSING YDS (NET)............. 280 109 Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 36-21-1 21-7-4 TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 77-379 56-288 Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0 Punt Returns-Yards............ 0-0 0-0 Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 2-36 3-20 Interception Returns-Yards.... 4-30 1-33 Punts (Number-Avg)............ 4-38.0 4-43.2 Fumbles-Lost.................. 1-1 1-1 Penalties-Yards............... 6-30 6-80 Possession Time............... 27:45 20:12 Third-Down Conversions........ 6 of 14 1 of 12 Fourth-Down Conversions....... 0 of 3 3 of 5 Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 2-2 1-3
SCORING SUMMARY – 2015 4A Finals – Tacoma Dome
1st Quarter
03:19 GONZAGA (BULLPUPS 7 – SPARTANS 0)
Devin Culp 16 yd run (Jared Kutsch kick)
01:20 GONZAGA (BULLPUPS 10 – SPARTANS 0)
Jared Kutsch 27 yd field goal
2nd Quarter
10:35 GONZAGA (BULLPUPS 17 – SPARTANS 0)
Devin Culp 59 yd run (Jared Kutsch kick)
01:14 GONZAGA (BULLPUPS 24 – SPARTANS 0)
Evan Weaver 1 yd run (Jared Kutsch kick)
00:19 SKYLINE (BULLPUPS 24 – SPARTANS 3)
Jack Crane 33 yd field goal
3rd Quarter
08:29 SKYLINE (BULLPUPS 24 – SPARTANS 9)
Jake Pendergast 4 yd pass from Blake Gregory (Jack Crane kick blockd)
03:10 GONZAGA (BULLPUPS 31 – SPARTANS 9)
Evan Weaver 4 yd run (Jared Kutsch kick)
4th Quarter
08:05 GONZAGA (BULLPUPS 34 – SPARTANS 9)
Jared Kutsch 25 yd field goal
06:00 SKYLINE (BULLPUPS 34 – SPARTANS 16)
Danny Sinatro 2 yd pass from Blake Gregory (Jack Crane kick)
GONZAGA SKYLINE FIRST DOWNS................... 29 15 RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 83-521 18-22 PASSING YDS (NET)............. 43 316 Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 4-1-0 38-26-2 TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 87-564 56-338 Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0 Punt Returns-Yards............ 1--1 0-0 Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 0-0 5-117 Interception Returns-Yards.... 2-0 0-0 Punts (Number-Avg)............ 0-0.0 4-47.0 Fumbles-Lost.................. 5-3 4-3 Penalties-Yards............... 5-37 9-95 Possession Time............... 32:35 15:25 Third-Down Conversions........ 10 of 15 2 of 9 Fourth-Down Conversions....... 0 of 3 1 of 2 Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 5-7 3-5 Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 4-20 0-0
SCORING SUMMARY – 2015 2B Finals – Tacoma Dome
1st Quarter
04:09 NAPAVINE (Tigers 7 – Bulldogs 0)
Jordan Purvis 34 yd pass from Wyatt Stanley (Austin Filley kick)
02:52 OKANOGAN (Bulldogs 7 – Tigers 7)
Mason Guerette 56 yd pass from Clay Ashworth (Arnulfo Mercado kick)
2nd Quarter
07:28 NAPAVINE (Tigers 14 – Bulldogs 7)
Chase Van wyck 5 yd pass from Wyatt Stanley (Austin Filley kick)
03:20 OKANOGAN (Bulldogs 14 – Tigers 14)
Riley Prescott 3 yd pass from Clay Ashworth (Arnulfo Mercado kick)
00:39 NAPAVINE (Tigers 20 – Bulldogs 14)
Mac Fagerness 34 yd pass from Wyatt Stanley (Austin Filley kick failed)
3rd Quarter
07:30 NAPAVINE (Tigers 27 – Bulldogs 14)
Wyatt Stanley 1 yd run (Austin Filley kick)
02:15 OKANOGAN (Tigers 27 – Bulldogs 16)
TEAM safety,
4th Quarter
10:26 OKANOGAN (Tigers 27 – Bulldogs 22)
Greyson Fields 3 yd run (Clay Ashworth rush failed)
08:34 OKANOGAN (Bulldogs 30 – Tigers 27)
Mason Guerette 46 yd pass from Clay Ashworth (Mason Guerette pass from Clay Ashworth)
06:16 NAPAVINE (Tigers 34 – Bulldogs 30)
Mac Fagerness 31 yd pass from Wyatt Stanley (Austin Filley kick)
02:54 OKANOGAN (Bulldogs 36 – Tigers 34)
Greyson Fields 1 yd run (Arnulfo Mercado kick blockd)
OKANOGAN NAPAVINE FIRST DOWNS................... 20 19 RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 46-250 32-85 PASSING YDS (NET)............. 173 282 Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 18-10-1 27-18-1 TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 64-423 59-367 Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0 Punt Returns-Yards............ 2-16 1-1 Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 6-53 3-50 Interception Returns-Yards.... 1-0 1-24 Punts (Number-Avg)............ 1-40.0 2-35.5 Fumbles-Lost.................. 3-1 0-0 Penalties-Yards............... 6-65 5-34 Possession Time............... 24:19 23:37 Third-Down Conversions........ 6 of 12 6 of 12 Fourth-Down Conversions....... 1 of 2 3 of 4 Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 3-4 2-2 Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 1-1 0-0
SCORING SUMMARY – 2015 1A Finals – Tacoma Dome
1st Quarter
09:12 ROYAL (ROYAL 7 – KING’S 0)
Joseph Lang 10 yd run (Jose Ponce kick)
02:11 ROYAL (ROYAL 14 – KING’S 0)
Joseph Lang 2 yd run (Jose Ponce kick)
2nd Quarter
08:18 ROYAL (ROYAL 21 – KING’S 0)
Kaden Jenks 8 yd run (Jose Ponce kick)
3rd Quarter
06:05 KING’S (ROYAL 21 – KINGS 7)
Caleb Perry 3 yd run (Jack Van Dyke kick)
4th Quarter
04:50 ROYAL (ROYAL 28 – KINGS 7)
Joseph Lang 58 yd interception return (Jose Ponce kick)
ROYAL KINGS FIRST DOWNS................... 17 17 RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 23-70 44-226 PASSING YDS (NET)............. 242 78 Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 25-17-0 19-8-3 TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 48-312 63-304 Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0 Punt Returns-Yards............ 0-0 0-0 Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 1-9 3-38 Interception Returns-Yards.... 3-71 0-0 Punts (Number-Avg)............ 3-45.3 2-39.0 Fumbles-Lost.................. 0-0 2-1 Penalties-Yards............... 4-29 7-59 Possession Time............... 21:29 26:31 Third-Down Conversions........ 3 of 7 7 of 14 Fourth-Down Conversions....... 0 of 1 1 of 4 Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 3-5 1-2 Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 0-0 3-18
SCORING SUMMARY – 2015 3A Finals – Tacoma Dome
1st Quarter
08:25 – EASTSIDE (Crusaders 7 – 0)
Chris Lefau 1 yd run (Juan Sacchi kick)
04:55 BELLEVUE (Wolverines 7 – 7)
Ercle Terrell 24 yd run (Thomas Monaghan kick)
2nd Quarter
10:37 BELLEVUE (Wolverines 14 – 7)
Ercle Terrell 1 yd run (Thomas Monaghan kick)
05:09 BELLEVUE (Wolverines 21 – 7)
Ercle Terrell 54 yd run (Thomas Monaghan kick)
01:53 BELLEVUE (Wolverines 28 – 7)
Ercle Terrell 3 yd run (Thomas Monaghan kick)
01:38 EASTSIDE (Wolverines 28 – 14)
Brandon Welling 97 yd kickoff return (Juan Sacchi kick)
00:15 BELLEVUE (Wolverines 35 – 14)
Tyson Penn 4 yd pass from Justus Rogers (Thomas Monaghan kick)
3rd Quarter
06:10 BELLEVUE(Wolverines 42 – 14)
Christoph Hirot 12 yd run (Thomas Monaghan kick)
05:06 EASTSIDE (Wolverines 42 – 21)
Hunter Bryant 28 yd pass from Harley Kirsch (Juan Sacchi kick)
00:46 EASTSIDE (Wolverines 42 – 28)
Hunter Bryant 5 yd pass from Harley Kirsch (Juan Sacchi kick)
4th Quarter
05:49 EASTSIDE (Wolverines 42 – 35)
Matt Laris 4 yd pass from Harley Kirsch (Juan Sacchi kick)
01:24 EASTSIDE (Wolverines 42 – 42)
Brandon Welling 11 yd run (Juan Sacchi kick)
1st OT
12:00 EASTSIDE (Crusaders 48 – 42)
Brandon Welling 1 yd run, 3-25
EASTSIDE BELLEVUE FIRST DOWNS................... 15 17 RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 21--5 58-346 PASSING YDS (NET)............. 249 44 Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 32-21-2 5-2-0 TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 53-244 63-390 Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0 Punt Returns-Yards............ 2-28 2-8 Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 6-146 2-29 Interception Returns-Yards.... 0-0 2-0 Punts (Number-Avg)............ 4-40.0 4-50.5 Fumbles-Lost.................. 1-1 3-2 Penalties-Yards............... 6-37 14-101 Possession Time............... 19:26 28:34 Third-Down Conversions........ 4 of 9 4 of 11 Fourth-Down Conversions....... 0 of 1 0 of 1 Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 5-5 4-4 Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 1-7 5-25
SCORING SUMMARY – 2015 1B Finals – Tacoma Dome
1st Quarter
08:59 ALMIRA-COULEE HARTLINE (WARRIORS 8-0)
Dallas Issak 19 yd run (Charles Hunt pass from Dallas Issak)
04:37 LUMMI (BLACKHAWKS 8-8)
Hank Hoskins 3 yd run (Hank Hoskins rush)
01:41 ALMIRA-COULEE HARTLINE (WARRIORS 14-8)
Charles Hunt 30 yd pass from Dallas Issak (Dallas Issak pass failed)
2nd Quarter
11:31 LUMMI (BLACKHAWKS 14-14)
Hank Hoskins 3 yd run (Jonathan Casimi pass failed)
08:38 ALMIRA-COULEE HARTLINE (WARRIORS 22-14)
Payton Nielsen 23 yd pass from Dallas Issak (Dallas Issak rush)
05:49 LUMMI (BLACKHAWKS 22-22)
Hank Hoskins 12 yd pass from Jonathan Casimi (Hank Hoskins rush)
03:49 ALMIRA-COULEE HARTLINE (WARRIORS 30-22)
Dallas Issak 1 yd run (Dallas Issak rush)
03:37 LUMMI (WARRIORS 30-28)
Free Borsey 53 yd kickoff return (Jonathan Casimi pass failed)
00:04 ALMIRA-COULEE HARTLINE (WARRIORS 38-28)
Payton Nielsen 2 yd pass from Dallas Issak (Charles Hunt pass from Dallas Issak)
3rd Quarter
05:15 LUMMI (WARRIORS 38-36)
Hank Hoskins 2 yd run (Elder Roberts pass from Trazil Lane)
00:13 LUMMI (BLACKHAWKS 42-38)
Free Borsey 11 yd pass from Jonathan Casimi (Trazil Lane rush failed)
4th Quarter
01:35 ALMIRA-COULEE HARTLINE (WARRIORS 46-42)
Charles Hunt 3 yd run (Dallas Issak rush)
ALMIRA-COULEE HARTLINE LUMMI FIRST DOWNS................... 28 20 RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 36-175 33-150 PASSING YDS (NET)............. 261 264 Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 18-17-0 20-17-0 TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 54-436 53-414 Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0 Punt Returns-Yards............ 0-0 0-0 Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 7-39 7-180 Interception Returns-Yards.... 0-0 0-0 Punts (Number-Avg)............ 0-0.0 0-0.0 Fumbles-Lost.................. 3-2 5-2 Penalties-Yards............... 6-40 14-132 Possession Time............... 24:04 23:56 Third-Down Conversions........ 4 of 6 3 of 7 Fourth-Down Conversions....... 0 of 2 1 of 3 Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 6-6 5-8 Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 1-1 1-9
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.
| 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 | |
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
| 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 | |
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
| 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 | |
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
