4A State Rankings
Football Week #3

WASHINGTON STATE RANKINGS WEEK #3

 

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4A LIVE 5! Football Week #3
# School League Record
1 Sumner South Puget Sound 3-0
2 Camas Greater St. Helens 3-0
3 Richland Mid-Columbia 3-0
4 Graham-Kapowsin South Puget Sound 3-0
5 Bothell KingCo 3-0


4A IN THE HUNT Football Week #3
# School League Record
6 Chiawana Mid-Columbia 3-0
7 Monroe WesCo 3-0
8 Olympia South Puget Sound 3-0
9 Skyline KingCo 2-1
10 Battle Ground Greater St. Helens 3-0


4A ON THE BUBBLE Football Week #3
# School League Record
- Lake Stevens WesCo 3-0
- Woodinville KingCo 3-0
- Eastlake KingCo 2-1
- Bellarmine Preparatory South Puget Sound 2-1
- Union Greater St. Helens 2-1

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4A State Rankings
Football Week #2

WASHINGTON STATE RANKINGS WEEK #2

 

TFS-WA-4AFootball-Rankings

4A LIVE 5! Football Week #2
# School League Record
1 Sumner South Puget Sound 2-0
2 Camas Greater St. Helens 2-0
3 Graham-Kapowsin South Puget Sound 2-0
4 Richland Mid-Columbia 2-0
5 Bothell KingCo 2-0


4A IN THE HUNT Football Week #2
# School League Record
6 Bellarmine Preparatory Sound Puget Sound 2-0
7 Skyline KingCo 1-1
8 Monroe WesCo 2-0
9 Chiawana Mid-Columbia 2-0
10 Skyview Greater St. Helens 1-1


4A ON THE BUBBLE Football Week #2
# School League Record
- Battle Ground Greater St. Helens 2-0
- Olympia South Puget Sound 2-0
- Union Greater St. Helens 2-0
- Eastlake KingCo 2-0
- Lake Stevens WesCo 2-0

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Skyline Opens New Stadium with Win Over Wolves

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Friday Sep 17th 2016 4A Boys Football
Skyline High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Eastlake 6 0 9 0 16
Skyline 7 7 3 0 17

Skyline

See game recap below
 


Skyline Opens New Stadium With Victory Over Wolves
By Steve Dion
After spending two weeks in Eastern Washington, Skyline was chomping at the bit to play at their new facility. The 2015 runner-up Spartans hosted the 2-0 Eastlake Wolves in their season home opener for a pivotal 4A KingCo clash.

Sparty took the opening drive the distance ending with a 2-yard punch-in by Isaiah Shim. Unfazed, Eastlake responded by marching down the field and quarterback Ben Howard connected with a diving Parker Lester in the back corner of the endzone.

Skyline’s attacked found its groove by feeding their tailbacks the football behind their bruising left guard Henry Bainivalu. Riley Gill broke the deadlock on an 18 yard scamper up the gut to put the Spartans back up by a score heading into halftime.

Eastlake emerged from the locker room with a will to even the score and did so when Howard found Hank Pladson for 62 yards and the game tying touchdown. A successful two-point conversion brought the score to 14 apiece.

The Spartans bounced back when Kevin McGrane knocked in a field goal from 35 yards out. At 17-14, could the Wolves bounce back again?
A clean sheet by Sparty’s defense allowed the McGrane kick to be the game-winner as Eastlake’s attempt to win was thwarted. Both teams will enter week four with identical 2-1 records.

The Final Score:
Skyline 17, Eastlake 14.

Top Performer
Skyline
Kevin McGrane- Go-ahead 35 yard field goal (35), 2/2 XP

Eastlake
Ben Howard- 2 passing TDs (18,62)

4A State Rankings
Football Week #1

WASHINGTON STATE RANKINGS WEEK #1

 

TFS-WA-4AFootball-Rankings

4A LIVE 5! Football Week #1
# School League Record
1 Sumner South Puget Sound 1-0
2 Graham-Kapowsin South Puget Sound 1-0
3 Gonzaga Preparatory Greater Spokane 0-1
4 Camas Greater St. Helens 1-0
5 Bothell KingCo 1-0


4A IN THE HUNT Football Week #1
# School League Record
6 Richland Mid-Columbia 1-0
7 Monroe WesCo 1-0
8 Chiawana Mid-Columbia 1-0
9 Skyview Greater St. Helens 1-0
10 Skyline KingCo 0-1


4A ON THE BUBBLE Football Week #1
# School League Record
- Battle Ground Greater St. Helens 0-1
- Mount Si KingCo 1-0
- Bellarmine Preparatory Sound Puget Sound 1-0
- Lake Stevens WesCo 1-0
- Kennedy Catholic North Puget Sound 1-0

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Bothell Rolls Past Grizzlies on Opening Night

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Thursday Sep 1st 2016 4A Boys Football
Pop Keeney Stadium 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Glacier Peak 7 10 6 6 29
Bothell 17 10 7 10 44

DSC_0163

See game recap below
 


Bothell Rolls Past Grizzlies on Opening Night
By Steve Dion

A drizzly night at Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell featured a 4A clash between Glacier Peak and host Bothell. This game had a college football feel in its heavy reliance on a passing attack leading to a high scoring affair that lasted well over three hours.

Glacier Peak struck first when Ayden Ziomas connected with Colton Bunt for a 65 yard score. Bothell quarterback Jacob Sirmon showed his tremendous arm strength on the following drive by launching a 58 yard bomb to Daniel Johnson off his back foot while taking a big hit from a Grizzlies linebacker at the point of release.

This set the tone for a back and forth affair leading to a 27-17 halftime score in favor of the home Cougars.

Bothell took a stranglehold on the game when Sirmon found Johnson again early in the third, this time for 75 yards. Peak scored shortly after on a Billy Lutali scamper up the gut, but the double digit deficit was too much to overcome.

The Final Score:
Bothell 44, Glacier Peak 29.

Top Performer

Bothell
Jacob Sirmon-4 passing TDs (19, 30, 58, 75)

Glacier Peak
Seiver Southard-2 receiving TDs (7, 41)

Corosdale Punches Bothell’s Ticket to Tacoma


Corosdale Punches Bothell’s Ticket to Tacoma
By Steve Dion

Friday- February 26th 2016 Girls 4A Regionals
Bellevue College 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Curtis 7 5 13 12 37
Bothell 16 6 16 7 45


Bothell senior Jhasmin Shelton

The nightcap regional game on Friday at Bellevue College featured one-loss Bothell and the Curtis Vikings. With a trip to the tournament on the line, Bothell proved their consistency this season by jumping out to a comfortable first half lead through major contributions by top scorer Taya Corosdale. The senior post recorded 13 of her game-high 17 in the first two quarters to help the Cougs take a 22-12 lead into the break.

Bothell’s lead continued to grow in the third quarter with a series of a transition buckets by Keyonna Jones, Sydney Cowan, and aforementioned Corosdale. However, Curtis sparked a fourth quarter run as a final move of desperation to preserve their season. Jalaiya Frederick and CeDrice Howard recorded a big chunk of their 13 and 11 points respectively down the stretch to draw the contest within six and the momentum in their hands.

Bothell was able to weather the storm by protecting the basketball in the remaining possessions to walk away with an eight point victory. The Cougars will finish their season in Tacoma with a chance to hoist the hardwoood!

The Final Score
Bothell 45, Curtis 37.

Top Performers:

Bothell
Taya Corosdale- 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks

Curtis
Jalaiya Frederick- 13 points
Cedrice Howard- 11 points, 10 rebounds

Issaquah Avenges Regular Season Loss, Prevails Against Olympia

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Friday Nov 6th 2015 4A Boys Football
Issaquah High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Issaquah 7 21 0 0 28
Olympia 0 7 7 0 14

See game recap below
 

15-WA-Fball-Issaquah-ArticlePhoto


Issaquah Avenges Regular Season Loss, Prevails Against Olympia
By Steve Dion

We have reached the “survive and advance” point of the season where a win retains the quest to the Tacoma Dome. An intriguing “play-in” matchup on Friday night featured round two between Issaquah and Olympia. These two non-league squads played just over a month ago in the state capital in which the Bears defended their home turf and won 32-14 in Ingersoll Stadium. For this one, Olympia (7-2) reciprocated by traveling north to the Sammamish plateau to take on Issaquah (6-3) as the second place finisher in the KingCo4A was pitted against the Narrows runner-up.

Both teams got off to a slow start with short-lived possessions as the opposing defensive units caused difficulty for the offense to move the chains. Issaquah took the first step grabbing momentum through their defensive intensity especially demonstrated in Eagle linebacker Danny Flores. His energy resonated to fellow teammates when Issaquah broke the deadlock at 1:51 in the first quarter. Connor Pederson took an interception 47 yards to the house after getting key blocks en route to the pylon. Pederson also kicked the extra point showing his versatility on the field. At 7:54 in the second frame, Bryce Hughes was rewarded from a handful of chunk runs when he punched in a 3 yard score to which the home crowd yelled Huuuuuuughes! Olympia furthered their uphill battle in the first two quarters by shooting themselves in the foot with personal fouls. However, before the first half concluded the Bears commitment to the run was rewarded when Scott Gunther turned what initially was a stop at the line of scrimmage into a 42 yard touchdown run. Issaquah responded with a 29 yard pass from Cam Humphrey to Pederson moments later. The Eagles were still hungry. Hughes scampered 30 yards for a pick six twenty seconds after the ensuing kickoff pushing the lead to 28-7 at the break.

The three touchdown lead built by the home team proved to be sufficient to prevail even though they were unable to score in the final twenty-four minutes of the ball game. The Eagle defense held the Bear attack at bay enough by only allowing a lone touchdown in the second half. The non-league opponents split the season series 1-1, but Issy gets the one that counts. Olympia concludes their season 6-4. Hopefully this organically created rivalry continues in years to come!

The Final Score:
Issaquah 28, Olympia 14

Top Performer

Issaquah
Connor Pederson – 2 TDs (47 yard interception return, 29 yard reception), 3 interceptions

Skyline Stuns Eagles in Season Opener

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Friday Sept. 4 2015 4A Boys Football
Issaquah High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Final
Skyline 0 7 7 14 3 31
Issaquah 0 7 14 7 0 28

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Skyline Stuns Eagles in Season Opener
By Steve Dion

Football season is back and the first Friday night of high school gridiron action featured a classic KingCo rivalry matchup between Issaquah and Skyline. The Spartans have had the upper hand against their plateau foe for over a decade and the Eagles were primed to turn the tides in front a capacity crowd on the premises of Gary Moore Stadium.

A slow pace of play dictated the entirety of the contest as both sides incorporated a heavy dose of passing and short possessions as the ball exchanged hands frequently. After a scoreless first quarter, Blake Gregory found Logan Wanamaker on a long flare down the left side for a big gain. This set up Rashaad Body for a 9 yard scamper to give the green six. Issaquah responded with a scoring drive of their own which closed with a 9 yard tie-toe grab by Joe Nelson from Cameron Humphrey. The scoreboard read 7-7 at the break.
The home team picked up an early touchdown in the second half, a 2 yard goal line dive by Bryce Hughes. Minutes later, Sparty responded as Gregory crossed the goal line untouched on a quarterback sneak. The ping-pong match continued when Jack Dellinger hauled in a pass by Humphrey on what appeared to be a defensive misread for 72 yards and a 21-14 lead.

Issaquah grabbed a two score lead early in the final frame on another Nelson reception. The Eagles were less than ten minutes from stunning Mat Taylor’s perennial 4A juggernaut. The visitors rallied the troops and drove down the field to set up another rushing touchdown for Boddie. Needing seven to tie the game up and send the game into overtime, Wanamaker did just that on a fourth down conversion with less than a minute remaining.

With a complete shift of momentum to the visitor sideline, Buddy Bland needed to rally his team to a score and a stop. They fell short on step one as a field goal attempt did not split the uprights. It was the Spartans chance to complete the comeback and they were faced with a similar predicament. Jack Crane pounded the pigskin through with his big left leg to seal the improbable victory for Skyline.

The FinalScore – Skyline 31, Issaquah 28.

Top Performers:
Skyline
Rashaad Boddie-2 rushing TDs (9, 30)

Issaquah
Joe Nelson-2 rec TDs (9, 72)

Gonzaga Prep Wins 2 OT State Finals Thriller


Gonzaga Prep Wins 2 OT State Finals Thriller
By Colin Caruso

Saturday March 7 2015 Girls 4A State Final
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT 2OT Final
Inglemoor 4 15 14 12 4 3 52
Gonzaga Prep 15 16 12 2 4 8 57


Gonzaga Prep Bullpups

Gonzaga Prep was back in the state finals, defending their title against the Vikings of Inglemoor in 4A girls basketball. This was a classic contest of size vs. speed, with Gonzaga Prep possessing the speed, and Inglemoor living in the paint on both ends of the floor.

Inglemoor star Deja Strother got into foul trouble early, forcing her to sit for a good portion of the first quarter, a first quarter that Gonzaga Prep controlled. Inglemoor had a tough time finding the basket and trailed 15-4 after one.

Inglemoor’s offense opened up in the second quarter, distributing the ball more effectively and getting easy looks at the basket. Strother stayed out of foul trouble and was able to provide 11 points in the first half. But Gonzaga Prep was dominating the pace of play, and it was uptempo. Laura Stockton had eight points in the first half and Otiona Gildon added ten to take a 31-19 lead into the locker room.

Gonzaga Prep slowed their offense down in the third quarter, much to the chagrin of their coach. The speed change allowed Inglemoor to setup in the half court and control the paint. This allowed Inglemoor to go on a 9-2 run to start the quarter. Coach Arte of the Bullpups called a timeout to regroup, and it proved to work. His Bullpups responded and took a 10 point lead into the fourth.

Alex Hagen for the Vikings put in the first eight points of the fourth quarter to electrify the Inglemoor crowd. Down just two, the comeback was on. The run extended to 12-0, and Inglemoor took their first lead of the game. Laura Stockton stopped the bleeding with 30 seconds to go, the Bullpups first points of the quarter. That proved to be the last bucket of regulation and this game went to OT.

The Bullpups struck first in overtime with two free throws, answered by one free throw from the Vikings. With just 1:45 to play, the Bullpups held a one point lead.

The scoring subsided until 30 seconds remaining, when Strother hit a layup and was fouled. She hit the free throw, putting the Vikings up two. Stockton drove the lane on Gonzaga Prep’s next possession and found Gildon for an easy two to tie the game. Double overtime!

Gildon struck first from the line for the Bullpups, hitting one of two. Tayler Drynan followed up with a three for Gonzaga Prep to extend the lead to 4, but the Vikings came right back with a three of their own.

Another one for two trip for the Bullpups, followed by an offensive rebound gave them the ball back with one minute to play. Oona Harrington knocked down a jumper for the Bullpups to go up four, and that jumper would seal it. The Bullpups won 57-52! Congratulations Gonzaga Prep Girls!

Top Performers:
Inglemoor
Deja Strother 22 points, 8 rebounds

Gonzaga Prep
Otiona Gildon – 17 points, 11 rebounds
Laura Stockton – 13 points , 9 steals

The Pirates Amass a Huge Comeback, Top Woodinville


The Pirates Amass a Huge Comeback, Top Woodinville
By Colin Caruso

Friday February 7th 2015 Boys 4A State
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Woodinville 16 8 16 12 52
Davis 13 6 19 25 63


Davis Pirates

In this matchup of two great teams, the Woodinville Mustangs matched up against a Davis Pirate team, fortunate to ride their momentum that far into the tournament. Squeaking by Gig Harbor and fortunately not having to play Wenatchee, they found themselves in the 4A state semifinal with a legitimate shot at the finals. Their lack of size played a factor early, as Woodinville controlled the glass and paint for the majority of the first half.

Both of these teams struggled offensively in the second quarter. Davis, with senior star Max Jones in foul trouble, were able to score just six points in the frame. Fortunately, their defense stayed tough, and they held the Mustangs to eight.

Pick it up in the third quarter, Max Jones commits his fourth foul and Woodinville gets a leakout basket to go up 11, momentum 100% in favor of the Mustangs. But The Pirates pulled off six straight points to cut the lead to 5, and Woodinville cooled off from the field dramatically. Davis committed 7 fouls in 4.5 minutes, somehow putting the Mustangs in the bonus early in the third. Woodinville failed to attack the basket and continue to win the game from the line, giving Davis a chance to gain the lead going into the 4th. But an ill-advised early shot in the shot clock leads to a transition bucket for the Mustangs. The Pirates trailed by just 2 entering the fourth.

Davis continued their momentum into the fourth, scoring the first eight points in the quarter to take a six point lead. Woodinville was stride for stride with the Pirates until Micah Johnson, the Woodinville point guard, picked up two fouls in less than 30 seconds to disqualify him from the game. From there, it was all Davis. Max Jones and Nick Navarro carried the way for the Pirates, propelling them to 63-52 win.

Top Performers:
Woodinville
Tony Miller – 20 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks

Davis
Nick Navarro – 20 points 6 rebounds

Skyline Swoops Big Win in Eagle Nest


Skyline Shocks Issaquah in KingCo Rival Clash
By Steven Dion

Friday- January 9 2015 Girls 4A KingCo
Issaquah High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Skyline 16 16 10 21 63
Issaquah 9 12 9 15 45


Skyline Junior Cassidy Daugherty

Game one of a varsity doubleheader on Friday night at Issaquah High School featured the host Eagles and the Skyline Lady Spartans. Both teams are jockeying for position in the 4A standings as league play heats up. The victor would take a big step in keeping pace with the KingCo leaders so the table was set for an exciting matchup of plateau rivals.

The home squad was able to score eight unanswered points to start the contest and gain early momentum. Coach Fithian was able to rally the troops and respond in a big way. Junior Cassidy Daugherty highlighted a Spartan run by knocking down a pair of triples. At the 2:30 mark in the first frame, Eagle coach Nicole Reid called a timeout to stop the Skyline attack. However, the green and white were on a 16-1 run by the end of the quarter. A strong defensive effort by SHS was led by Jade Loville and Maddie Adamson to help add onto their lead. Issaquah forward Ellen MacNary scored five second-quarter points to keep her team within striking distance. Despite her attempt at sparking a rally, Issy faced a double-digit deficit at the break trailing 32-21.

When play resumed, Skyline continued aggressive play by attacking the bucket and earning trips to the free throw line. Their 21/27 (78%) shooting from the charity stripe was a difference maker in the game as Issaquah was unable to get on extended scoring runs. The game was lengthened from the many starts and stops. Lady Spartan captain Taylor McKerlich scored 9 points in the second half en route to her 11 total points and Daugherty led all scorers with 20. Eagle freshman Mariah Van Halm had some nice takes to the cup as she led her team in scoring with 11 points. She helped IHS cut the deficit to single digits in the fourth, but the clock favored Skyline at this point and they were able to run away with the victory as the game came to a conclusion.

The Final Score: Skyline 63 Issaquah 45

Top Performers:
Skyline
Cassidy Daugherty-20 points (9/10 FTs)

Issaquah
Mariah Van Halm-11 points (5/7 FTs)

Skyline Shocks Issaquah in KingCo Rival Clash


Skyline Shocks Issaquah in KingCo Rival Clash
By Steven Dion

Friday- January 9 2015 Boys 4A KingCo
Issaquah High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Skyline 18 15 19 24 76
Issaquah 12 20 25 16 73


Skyline Junior Connor Crisp

Jason Griffith’s Issaquah Eagles have picked up the ’14-’15 season where they left off last year when they made a deep run in the 4A state tournament. The plateau platoon appears to be a prime contender to raise the hardware in December with a player of the year caliber player and a super sophomore. However, as the new year turns, league play begins and each night on the floor is a challenge. The Skyline Spartans would visit the Eagles’ nest to take a crack at their league rival ahead in the standings. Bill McIntrye had the green and white ready to roll this Friday night.

Immediately following the opening tip, Ty Gibson buried a triple from the corner. However, the Spartans responded by matching the early scoring and in doing so, outmatching the home team in the level of intensity on both ends of the floor. A key play early in the contest was a block by Braden Ahlemeyer that sent the energetic Spartan student section into a frenzy. This swat led to a Spartan score on the other end that prompted an Issy timeout to regroup. This proved to be a smart coaching decision because the Eagles started to trim the deficit down and eventually take the lead. When Issaquah took a 27-24 lead at 3:37 in the second quarter, the resolve of Skyline was tested. They passed. At halftime, the Spartans regained the lead at 33-32.

When play resumed, more of the same back-and-forth trend continued as there were countless momentum swings and lead changes. Eagle sophomore Trevon Ary-Turner knocked down back-to-back triples to give the purple and white a 45-39 lead midway through the third. But once again, Skyline kept the game within reach. Down the stretch, Sparty realized they played too well to let this opportunity slip. Ahlemeyer knocked down two buckets in the post in the waning minutes. Additionally, Skyline captain Robert Biegaj pulled down a long rebound that led to a layup with twenty seconds left. Leading by four, the Spartans did not allow the Eagles to send this game into overtime and the major upset was complete.

The Final Score: Skyline 76 Issaquah 73

Top Performers:
Skyline
Robert Biegaj-26 points

Issaquah
Ty Gibson-26 points

Inglemoor Prevails in Nailbiter Over Blanchet


Inglemoor Prevails in Nailbiter Over Blanchet
By Steven Dion

Monday- January 5 2015 Girls 4A/3A Non-League
Inglemoor High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Inglemoor 13 16 14 9 52
Bishop Blanchet 17 6 14 13 50


Inglemoor Senior Jordana Price

Monday night at Inglemoor High School provided a sneak peek of the kind of basketball seen at the Tacoma Dome in March as the host Vikings battled against the 2013 3A runner up Bishop Blanchet. Unfortunately, these top girls squads in the state will not have a chance to meet in the Hardwood Classic.

Blanchet was able to grab an early lead as three Braves players knocked down 3 pointers in the first quarter. It appeared that this was an integral part of Coach Willison’s game plan due to the Vikings size advantage in the paint. Deja Stother accounted for 6 of the Vikings 13 first quarter points on high ball screens allowing her to attack the rim. However, Strother picked up her second foul late in the first forcing coach John Augustavo to place the senior center on the bench. Jordana Price was able to pick up the slack by burying a pair from downtown for 6 of her 14 big points in the game. The Braves offense stalled in the second frame and in doing so allowed Inglemoor to take the lead. Jadyn Bush fought through some pain from a collision under the hoop in the first quarter which limited her to 4 first half points, but the sophomore leader had a big second half in store as BB trailed by six at the break.

The pace of the game picked up early in the third quarter as both team were getting offensive production up and down the roster. Braves guard Taylor Chambers dished out some great passes to driving teammates and notched some points in the process. Strother picked up some assists in the form of full court heaves to Kennedy Nicholas and Amanda Luckett. Ella DiPietro helped Blanchet cut the lead to one point with 4 minutes remaining. Then, Bush converted on an and-one to give the Braves the lead. However, Jordana Price came up clutch with a three-ball with 38 seconds remaining. This would prove to be the winning score as Inglemoor held onto the slim lead they regained. An exciting finish between the best the state of Washington has to offer!

The Final Score: Inglemoor 52 Bishop Blanchet 50

Top Performers:
Inglemoor
Deja Strother-17 points/Jordana Price-14 points (4 3-pt FGs)

Bishop Blanchet
Jadyn Bush-15 points (5/6 FTs)

Newport Defends Home Court with Convincing Win Over Redmond


Lady Mustangs Prevail in Overtime Clash with Newport
By Steven Dion

Friday- December 12 2014 KingCo 4A
Newport High School Final
Newport 56
Redmond 38


Newport Senior Jake Higgins

The nightcap of a full slate of basketball at Newport HS on Friday night was the boys varsity matchup of the host Knights and visiting Mustangs of Redmond High School. Newport has been a top half 4A KIngCo squad in recent years while Redmond has struggled to join the upper ranks of the conference. Would they have the horsepower to pick up the road win or would Newport pile on another win in front of the home crowd?

Redmond appeared they were ready to compete as they scored the first six points of the game two of which came from a circus shot by Kevin Carpenter. Unfortunately, the ‘Stangs couldn’t keep the momentum rolling as the Knights went on a 10-0 run in response to the early deficit. The length advantage of Newport forwards started to show its presence as Ryan Kingma and Jake Higgins among others glided to the rim for layup drills. Redmond was on the brink of submitting to a big halftime deficit, but closed the second quarter strong to only trail by 5.

The third quarter is where Newport put this game to rest. They limited the opposition to only 6 points in the frame while building a big lead. The Mustangs competed throughout the second half even as the Newport lead continued to grow. NHS head coach Steve Haizlip allowed many of his reserves to log some minutes down the stretch as his team closed out a 56-38 victory.

Top Performers:
Newport
Jake Higgins-24 points

Redmond
Kevin Carpenter-12 points

 

Lady Mustangs Prevail in Overtime Clash with Newport


Lady Mustangs Prevail in Overtime Clash with Newport
By Steven Dion

Friday- December 12 2014 KingCo 4A
Newport High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Final
Redmond 10 12 11 16 10 59
Newport 7 21 8 13 8 57


Redmond Junior Sierra Craig

Friday night’s slate of early season basketball featured a 4A KingCo matchup of Newport and visitors Redmond. At this point of the schedule, nobody knows where they fit in the spectrum of the leagues so exciting finishes often occur and this was a glaring example. This particular contest took extra time to be settled. Who prevailed and how?

The Lady Knights and their up-tempo play grabbed a 6 point first half lead as freshman point guard Jahdai Alcombrack and post Katelyn Jenkins netted nine apiece. The Mustangs had a difficult time finding a rhythm in the first 16 minutes, but kept the score close enough to give themselves a chance in the second half. Seniors Morgan Grindell and Sawyer Forseth led the Mustangs with a half dozen points each before the break by the score of 30-22 in favor of the home team.

Redmond coach Ashley Graham clearly emphasized defensive pressure in the locker room because the ‘Stangs started climbing back into the game quickly. They had four scorers in the third quarter in comparison to Newport with one. They even gained the lead and held it well into the fourth quarter. Redmond was on the brink of closing the game out, but called a timeout after a defensive rebound. The only problem? They were out of timeouts! This led to two free throws that helped Newport push the game to overtime.

Newport committed to attacking the rim in the overtime period and earned 11 trips to the free throw line making 8 of them. However they did not make a field goal whereas Forseth and Teagyn Ohrt made key buckets down the stretch. This was the difference in the ballgame as the road Redmond squad escaped with a 59-57 victory.

Top Performers:
Redmond
Teagyn Ohrt-15 points (5/7 FT’s)

Newport
Katelyn Jenkins-15 points

 

Bothell! Bothell! Bothell! 4A Champions!

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Saturday Dec. 6 2014 4A Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Bothell 10 0 14 0 24
Chiawana 0 0 7 7 14

Game Recap below

14-WA-FBall-Bothell-Playoffs-12.7-2-Article

Bothell! Bothell! Bothell! 4A Champions!
By Colin Caruso

In a game that had the Tacoma Dome on the edge of their seats throughout, the Bothell Cougars proved they were the best team in 4A Washington State football with an amazing win over the defending champions, Chiawana Riverhawks. Knowing full well that Chiawana won the title last year by scoring 14 points in the final minute of the game, Bothell had to keep the pressure on the Riverhawks for the full 48 minutes of play.

Bothell began the game with a stifling first half. Caleb Meyer rushed for a TD on their opening drive, and the Cougar defense closed the door for the next 21 minutes of football. Cougar defensive linemen were living in the Chiawana backfield; Riverhawk quarterback Logan Ellsworth spent the first half running for his life.

When the Riverhawks finally broke deep into Bothell territory late in the second quarter, the Cougars intercepted Ellsworth in the end zone to end the first half. Bothell took a 10-0 lead into the locker room.

The second half started with another great defensive stop for the Cougars, forcing a punt and scoring on that ensuing possession. It would be Ross Bowers only touchdown pass of the day, this to Dayzell Wilson to take a commanding 17-7 lead.

But the Riverhawks would not go down easy, responding with a Austin Urlacher touchdown run to cut the lead to 10 late in the third.

Bothell responded in the most magnificent way. They drove 63 yards in just over 3 minutes, and scored on the best play of the year. Ross Bowers, on a third and goal saw pay dirt on a scramble. He rushed to the left and leaped for the end zone, ball extended. He flipped over a Riverhawk defender, flew about 5 feet in the air, and secured the landing on both feet for a Cougar score. The Bothell sideline exploded. It was one of the most courageous efforts from a quarterback, who knew he wanted to lead his team to victory.

Even with this demoralizing score, the Riverhawks found a way to respond. Cortez Ruiz caught a 37 yard strike just 3 minutes later to again trim the lead to 10 points. But Bothell would not stop fighting on defense. Their next possession resulted in a punt, and the Cougars again stifled the Riverhawk attack. After forcing a turnover on downs, the Cougars close the game in the victory formation, winning their first ever state championship.

The FinalScore – Bothell 24, Chiawana 14.

Top Performers:
Bothell
Ross Bowers – 17-19 for 216 yards and 1TD, rushing TD
Caleb Meyer – 12 carries for 105 yards and 1TD

Chiawana
Austin Urlacher – 21 carries for 101 yards and 1TD

4A State Finals Preview, Bothell vs. Chiawana

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4A State Finals Preview, Bothell vs. Chiawana
By Colin Caruso

Talk about the matchup of the year in this one. The Bothell Cougars, widely regarded as the top team in 4A all season long, facing off against the defending champions, the Chiawana Riverhawks. I had the unbelievable privilege to watch the Riverhawks in the state final last year, in the best comeback in Washington state football history. Down 13 points with 1 minute to play, the Riverhawks pulled off a miracle victory over the Camas Papermakers. I have never felt so much remorse for a losing team, a team that played perfectly all season and 47 minutes in the championship game, but couldn’t close the door on a team driven by a tenacious defensive line and a quarterback with a will to win.

But this is a new season, and a new team for the Riverhawks. And their competition is tested and ready for battle. The Cougars have looked unbeatable all year. Bothell quarterback Ross Conners is looking like one of the top QBs in the state, but the loss of star running back Sam McPherson may prove costly. Chiawana had the best defensive line in 4A last year, and returned three of those starters last season.

Look for another spectacular game and finish in this one. Chiawana has just one loss this season, to the Papermakers of Camas. Bothell is undefeated and deservedly so, they have outscored their opponents 597-133 on the year. Who will lift the trophy in Tacoma? Come join the action on Saturday night, December 6th, at 7:30pm.

Bothell Explosive in Second Half to Reach 4A Final

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Saturday Nov. 29 2014 4A Boys Football
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Bothell 13 7 10 7 37
Newport-Bellevue 0 13 6 0 19

Game Recap below

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Bothell Explosive in Second Half to Reach 4A Final
By Steven Dion

Tom Bainter is one win away from a perfect season and capturing his first state title. His Cougs were matched with KingCo foe Newport in the 4A semifinal at the Tacoma Dome. The Knights quietly made an impressive playoff run to reach the semis with wins over Lake Stevens and Federal Way. A big question surrounding Bothell’s ability to claim the championship is their ability to fill the shoes of star tailback Sam McPherson. The Blue Train did not appear to lose much steam in the opening rounds of the postseason, but would Newport and their complex run-game and stout line pull an upset?

The Knights commitment to the run was evident early, but they coughed the ball up twice early in the contest leading to Bothell points including a 37 yard return by Jordan Baker. After conducting a blowout against Bellarmine last week, it seemed the Cougars were poised to do the same Saturday night. However, Newport put together a strong second quarter starting with a 14 play, 71 yard drive capped off with a Nick Keithley dive from the 1 yard line. After the ensuing kickoff, NHS recovered the football on a bobbled snap resulting in a Thomas Day touchdown two plays later. The lead was restored by the blue and white when Ross Bowers connected with Jackson Keimig shortly before halftime. Bothell led 20-13 with 24 minutes to play.

Newport conducted a signature long drive to open the second half which was capped off with a Thomas Day highlight-reel run from 26 yards out. The Knights ran the ball on 54 of 57 plays from scrimmage. While this led to success for most of the game, it eventually led to Bothell’s ability to clamp down. Led by hard-hitting Tyler Wharf and his 8.5 tackles, Bothell’s defensive front gave their offense ample time of possession to put the game away. Dayzell Wilson hauled in a jump ball despite tight coverage and a wide open strike for 41 yards in a span of four minutes to ice the game. The Cougars will play the defending champions Chiawana next week for the 4A title.

The FinalScore – Bothell 37, Newport 19.

Top Performers:
Bothell
Ross Bowers- 12/15, 172 yards, 3 TDs
Dayzell Wilson- 5 rec, 76 yards, 2 TDs

Newport
Thomas Day- 13 rush, 71 yards, 2 TDs

Same Matchup, Different Result Between Bothell, Bellarmine

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Saturday Nov. 22 2014 4A Boys Football
Mount Tahoma High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Bothell 13 21 3 0 37
Bellarmine Prep 0 0 0 14 14

Game Recap below

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Same Matchup, Different Result Between Bothell, Bellarmine
By Steven Dion

364 days ago, Bellarmine Prep advanced to the state semifinals over Bothell in overtime. The Cougs had a shot at redemption Saturday as the perennial 4A powers squared off on Saturday at Mount Tahoma High School. Three weeks ago, Bainter’s Cougs appeared to be on a fast-track to the Tacoma Dome whereas Prep was unlikely to make the playoffs after suffering a 49-0 loss to Gig Harbor at home. Since then, Bothell’s star running back Sam McPherson is out for the season with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Tom Larsen’s Lions have rattled off back to back road wins against #7 Kentwood and #1 Camas. Although undefeated, it is difficult to consider Bothell a clear favorite at this point. Bellarmine grabbed the victory last year as their defense had a monster game amassing four interceptions, a forced fumble, and a sack. Then junior Matt Philichi knocked a 37 yard field goal in OT to secure the win. Bothell wideout Dayzell Wilson had a reception touchdown in this contest. Round 1 was 20-17 in favor of Bellarmine. Did Bothell avenge last season’s loss?

Coach Bainter clearly did not adjust his commitment to the running game without his workhorse McPherson as he fed his runners early and with great frequency. Caleb Meyer found an opening which led to a 24 yard touchdown to get early momentum. The enormous Bothell crowd roared as the “Blue Train” grabbed an early lead. Steven Weedin added a pair of field goals in the first frame from 30 and 35 yards. The choice to attack the north endzone played a big role for punts and place-kicking for Bothell in the first half with howling winds from the south. Leading 13-0, the Cougs continued the scoring spree when Ross Bowers connected with Dayzell Wilson from 61 yards. The domination continued as two more Bellarmine turnovers resulted in touchdowns to put Bothell up 34-0 at the break.

Even with a clear victory locked up for Bothell, Bellarmine continued to battle and found the scoreboard in the second half. Ahmad Lewis was rewarded for his strong running with a 6 yard touchdown. In the waning moments of the contest, Jared Richardson found Wilcoxen in the back of the endzone on a 29 yard strike to end the one-sided game on a good note for the Lions. Bothell advances to face the winner of Federal Way and Newport. The FinalScore 37-14.

Top Performers:
Bothell
Caleb Meyer-2 rushing touchdowns (5, 24)

Bellarmine Prep vs. Bothell Preview

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Bellarmine Prep vs. Bothell Preview
By Steven Dion

364 days ago, Bellarmine Prep advanced to the state semifinals over Bothell in overtime. The Cougs will have shot at redemption Saturday as the perennial 4A powers square off on Saturday at Mount Tahoma High School. Three weeks ago, Bainter’s Cougs appeared to be on a fast-track to the Tacoma Dome whereas Prep was unlikely to make the playoffs after suffering a 49-0 loss to Gig Harbor at home. Since then, Bothell’s star running back Sam McPherson is out for the season with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Tom Larsen’s Lions have rattled off back to back road wins against #7 Kentwood and #1 Camas.

Although undefeated, it is difficult to consider Bothell a clear favorite in this match-up. Bellarmine grabbed the victory last year as their defense had a monster game amassing four interceptions, a forced fumble, and a sack. Then junior Matt Philichi knocked a 37 yard field goal in OT to secure the win. Bothell wideout Dayzell Wilson had a reception touchdown in this contest. Round 1 was 20-17 in favor of Bellarmine. Can Bothell avenge last season’s loss? Here is a breakdown of the matchup:

QB’s
Ross Bowers (BOTHELL) v. Will Robertson (BELLARMINE PREP)-Advantage BOTHELL
The Cal commit Bowers is one of the best under center in the state

RB’s
Jamal Ervin + Nathan Golterman-Doyle (BELLARMINE PREP) v. Damani St. John Watkins (BOTHELL)-Advantage BELLARMINE PREP
The strong in-between-tackles Ervin and shifty Golterman-Doyle duo outmatches Coug run game without McPherson

WR’s/DB’s
Sean Hahrahan+ Dayzell Wilson (BOTHELL) v. Matt Ogard (BELLARMINE PREP)-Advantage BOTHELL
Cougs sure-handed wideouts Hahrahan and Wilson also impact players on defense.

LB’s
Damani St. John-Watkins+ Shawn Munro (BOTHELL) v. Noah Failauga+ Jamal Ervin (BELLARMINE PREP)-Advantage BOTHELL
Bothell defense hasn’t wavered all season with big anchors in the middle

ST’s
Matthew Philichi (BELLARMINE PREP) v. Chad Zaback (BOTHELL)
One of the best place-kickers in the state, Philichi hit the game-winner last year.

Newport Stuns Viks in Comeback Fashion

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Saturday Nov. 15th 2014 4A Boys Football
Lake Stevens High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Newport-Bellevue 15 13 8 7 43
Lake Stevens 20 13 7 0 40

Game Recap below

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Newport Stuns Viks in Comeback Fashion
By Steven Dion

Momentum is an intangible, yet powerful force in football that plays a major role in the outcome of the game. When one team grabs a lead and puts together several big plays, doubt creeps into the minds of the opposition. Newport was able to keep cool (in freezing conditions) in several moments of the game even when Lake Stevens appeared to be in good shape to pick up the win. After the opening kickoff of the game, it was clear that everyone in attendance was in for a show.

Brandon Otis wasted no time putting the Viks on the board as the junior took the opening kickoff 90 yards to the house for six quick points. Minutes later, LSHS added seven more on a 19 yard run by Andrew Grimes. Trailing by 14 with only 4 minutes elapsed, the Newport sideline was reeling. However, the Knights took a deep breath and proceeded to run in a 45 yard score in the hands of the quarterback Jordan Sanberg. They converted on the two-point conversion and sprouted new life. The high scoring first quarter would close out with touchdowns for each squad by Paul Wells and Hunter Eckstrom for NHS and LSHS respectively.

The Vikings grabbed hold of the game by capitalizing on back to back scoring drives on another Grimes rushing score and passing touchdown from Jacob Eason to Riley Krenz after Newport fumbling. Could the Knights overcome another double digit deficit trailing 33-15? The red and white rallied again by closing out the second half with another long quarterback keeper by Sanberg and a 12 yard dash to the plyon by Wells at the buzzer. Lake Stevens led by a slim margin at the half 33-28.

The running game was the name of the game for both sides with a slight edge in execution to Newport as their ability to mask the ball carrier and ability to create space with their offensive line from guys like Calvin Throckmorton kept the Viks on their heels. The Knights surprisingly picked up the lead early in the third as Nick Keithley ran 4 yards up the gut for a score. However, Grimes notched his third touchdown shortly thereafter with a 4 yarder of his own. Trailing 40-36 heading into the final quarter, could the Knights erase the deficit one last time?

Paul Wells answered the call again as an 18 yard run gave Newport a 43-40 lead. Jordan Sanberg would pick off Eason putting NHS in the driver’s seat to run down the clock. However, Lake Stevens recovered a fumble deep in Newport territory and were on the move. As the Viks were about to take the lead, a gang of Newport tacklers stripped the ball and needed a few first downs to kill the clock. They succeeded and came away with a shocking 43-30 win despite appearing dead in the water on several occasions. The Knights face Federal Way next week. FinalScore 43-40 Newport.

Top Performers:
Newport
Paul Wells – 3 rushing touchdowns (12, 18, 44)

Lake Stevens
Andrew Grimes – 3 rushing touchdowns (4, 19, 20)

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4A State Football Rankings Week 9

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4A State Football Rankings Week 9
By Steven Dion

There has been a little movement this week with teams in the Top 10. Federal Way jumped a couple of spots to number 6.  Here is our breakdown of the top teams in the 4A Classification.

1) Camas 9-0, 6-0 League
Coach Eagle has his eyes set on unfinished business from 2013. The Papermakers season will likely wrap up in the woodshed again, but can they raise the hardware?


2) Bothell 9-0, 6-0 League
These Cougars has some serious firepower posting a 422-79 combined scoring tally in the regular season. The blue and white have the pieces to contend.


3) Chiawana 8-1, 7-0 League
Don’t sleep on the reigning champs. This team posted another solid season with the lone loss a non-league clash with fire-breathing Papermakers.


4) Gig Harbor 8-1, 6-0 League
The Tides are playing like tsunamis right now as Coach Chantler’s gradual building of a program has a Narrows 4A title in the bank and a great deal of momentum heading into the playoffs.


5) Union 8-1, 5-1 League
A team that has shown the ability to rise up in nail biters can bode well in November when most games are settled in the waning minutes. The mighty, mighty Titans are not a team to take lightly.


6) Federal Way 7-2, 5-0 League
The Eagles have been dominant since opening the season with a pair of losses. With a healthy linebacker unit and game-breaker Chico McClatcher, the sky is the limit.


7) Kentwood 8-1, 4-0 League
A staunch defense is the cornerstone of Conks football and the regular season did not disappoint as only 78 points have been surrendered in 9 games thus far.


8) Lake Stevens 8-1, 6-0 League
Clawing out a victory over Kamiak may be just what the doctor ordered as the Viks prepare for the postseason. The more reps young Eason gets, the more dangerous Lake Stevens becomes.


9) Gonzaga Prep 8-1, 6-1 League
The parity in the Greater Spokane league has given the Bullpups a well-balanced schedule in which there has not been any push-over weeks. A league championship may not be enough for Prep.


10) Graham-Kapowsin 8-1, 5-1 League
The second of two SPSL Eagles in the top ten rankings finished second to Emerald Ridge in the league standings, but are a top ten talent in the state. Foster Sarell can wreak havoc moving forward.

On the Bubble:
Wenatchee 8-1, 6-0 League
Emerald Ridge 7-2, 6-0 League
Kamiak 7-2, 6-1 League

 

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4A State Football Rankings Week 7

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theFinalScore.TV
4A State Football Rankings Week 7
By Steven Dion

Our team has scoured the entire state of Washington to see who might raise the trophy over their heads in December. As league play comes to an end and the playoffs quickly approach, here is our breakdown of the top teams in the 4A Classification.

1) Camas 7-0, 4-0 League
The 2013 state runner-up a season ago has wins over 3 of the top 10 in 4A (Camas, Federal Way, Union) earning the Papermakers the top spot.


2) Bothell 7-0, 5-0 League
Last week’s 56-0 dismantling of Skyline on the plateau was impressive. Bainter’s Cougs are firing on all cylinders as the playoffs approach.


3) Chiawana 6-1, 5-0 League
The defending state champs took down a tough Walla Walla team on the road last Friday. Falling to a hungry Camas squad by two points in week one is the only blemish on the schedule.


4) Union 6-1, 3-1 League
The Titans earned a road win against top-10 Federal Way in the season opener. Their only loss? Last Friday against Camas by the score of 37-20.


5) Gig Harbor 6-1, 4-0 League
Beating Olympia 45-14 is a clear indicator the Tides are steadily climbing up the 4A ranks. As the season unfolds, the win over Peninsula looks more impressive. Eastlake is the only loss on the record.


6) Gonzaga Prep 6-1, 4-1 League
The Bullpups shut-out Bellarmine Prep 17-0 early in the season and also have a nice win over Mt. Spokane. The lone blemish this season is a fluky loss against league opponent Shadle Park.


7) Kentwood 6-1, 3-0 League
The Conks are only allowing one touchdown per game this season. Yep, 7 points! The 35-14 win over Emerald Ridge was nice but a recent loss vs. Federal Way may be the only true test thus far.


8) Lake Stevens 6-1, 5-0 League
Since falling to Marysville-Pilchuck in week two, the Vikings have rolled out some blowout wins. Jacob Eason and the Viks square off against a tough Kamiak team on Friday.


9) Graham-Kapowsin 6-1, 3-1 League
Taking down the Spartans at Skyline HS on September 10th in front of a packed house shows the Eagles have grit to close out games. Losing to Emerald Ridge by a field goal is GK’s one trip-up this season.


10) Federal Way 5-2, 4-0 League
Meagher’s Eagles were slow out of the gates as they squandered a lead to #4 Union in week one and were blown out in week two by #1 Camas. Since then? 5-0 including a win over #6 Kentwood on the road.