The Scotties take the 1A State Crown to Freeman
By Colin Caruso

The Washington state 1A football state final saw two teams both vying for their first ever state championship. The Freeman Scotties had made one trip to the championship game back in 2004, and this was the Mount Baker Mountaineers first ever trip to the finals.

Freeman started the game about as well as you can, with Marcus Goldbach returning the opening kickoff 85 yards for a score. Mount Baker responded with an eight minute touchdown drive of their own, capped by a 1 yard run from Liam Short. Their PAT was missed, and Freeman took a 7-6 lead into the second quarter.

Both teams put together scoring drives early in the second quarter, with Mount Baker blocking the point after from Freeman’s second score to keep the game tied at 13.

The Scotties were at it again after Mount Baker’s score. A five play 84 yard drive finished by a 2 yard run from Max Laib, his second on the day, gave Freeman a 19-13 lead that they rode into halftime after another missed PAT.

Mount Baker received the second half kickoff and was forced to punt the ball back to the Scotties. Freeman made great use of their possession again, compiling a 10 play 91 yard drive ending in another Marcus Goldbach touchdown, taking the lead 25-13. Mount Baker drove into the red zone on their next possession, but Freeman held strong on a fourth down and took the ball back on downs.

Goldbach struck again early in the fourth, this time from four yards out, gathering his third touchdown of the day. His score put the game effectively out of reach, with the Scotties ahead 31-13. Neither team was able to break free from the other’s defense, and the Scotties captured their first state title with a 31-13 win over Mount Baker!

Top Performers:
Mount Baker
Liam Short – 17 carries for 104 yards and 1TD
Izaiha Schwinde – 18 carries for 80 yards and 1TD

Freeman
Marcus Goldbach – 23 carries for 170 yards and 2TD, 85 yard kickoff return for TD
Max Laib – 20 carries for 72 yards and 2TD