Sedro-Woolley Marches to State Final

Game Recap below

Sedro-Woolley Marches to State Final
By Colin Caruso

When taking on a Tumwater Thunderbird squad with Sid Otten at the helm, the winning-est coach in Washington state history, you know you need to bring your ‘A’ game in order to contend. Strangely enough in this game, it was the team with the fewer mistakes that was able to prevail. An unbelievable 7 turnovers in the first half, seemingly no one wanted the football, led to a 14-7 lead for the Sedro-Woolley Cubs going into the half.

Finally the teams settled down, took care of the football, and we saw some of the finest high school football of the season in the second half. Sid Otten called a fake punt early in the third quarter that led to a Ian Saner touchdown run on the next play, his second of three on the day, to tie the game up at 14. But the Cubs answered quckly. A 4 play march, topped off by a Quinn Carpenter 35 yard run, put the Cubs back on top, 21-14.

Ian Saner wouldn’t let it stay at that score, and punched in another touchdown late in the third to tie the game back up at 21. After a series of punts, Mason Elms, a quarterback/wide receiver/running back/wing back for the Cubs stormed down the far sideline for a 24 yard score. About the score, Elms mentioned, “I wasn’t planning on scoring.” But he did, and he put his team ahead midway through the fourth quarter.

Tumwater would answer with a Griffin Shea score, but the kick missed left, and Tumwater found themselves trailing 28-17 with under 3 minutes to play.

The T-birds forced a 3 and out and drove down to the Cubs 22 yard line. There they set up for a 39 yard field goal. The Cubs line broke through the Thunderbird line on the attempt, and Elijah Hill’s kick was blocked with less than 20 seconds remaining. The Cubs recovered, kneeled out the clock, and advanced to the state finals.

A GREAT game back and forth between two deserving teams. Congratulations to Sedro-Woolley for advancing to the Gridiron Classic.

The FinalScore – Sedro-Woolley 28, Tumwater 27.

Top Performers:
Tumwater
Ian Saner – 18 carries for 91 yards and 3 TD

Sedro-Woolley
Carter Crosby – 82 rush yards and 1 TD
Mason Elms – 80 rush yards and 1 TD