Game Recap below

Federal Way Avenges Season Opener, Advances to Round of 8
By Steven Dion

Nine weeks ago, football season kicked off with one of the marquee games on the docket a clash of Union and perennial power Federal Way. Fast forward to this frigid fourteenth of November and a rematch was set with an advancement of the 4A playoffs on the line. Union took the first round on a second half comeback. This game had some significant differences which played into the Eagles’ favor. Their strong linebacker group led by Jared Pulu, Andrzej Hughes-Murray, and Charlie Taumoepeau were back from injury whereas Titans starter quarterback Nolan Henry would sit out due to concussion. Would these personnel shake-ups prove significant enough for revenge or would Union take down the Eagles again?

The rushing attacks for both teams are highly productive, but quite different in terms of distribution. Federal Way elects to hand the ball off to their electric playmaker Chico McClatcher with high frequency whereas the Titans host a handful of ball carriers in Caleb Browning, Alex Berfanger, and Jack Bauer. The majority of the first half featured heavy dosages of running with few pass attempts from the pair of junior quarterbacks. FWHS put the first points on the board when Hughes-Murray barreled up the middle for a 15-yard TD including a hurdled defender near the goal line. Late in the second quarter, the Eagles were set to punt the ball, but an errant snap winded up giving Union the ball deep in FW territory. This led to the tying score, a 22 yard quick pass from Jordan Lawson to Keithen Shepard. The scoreboard read 7-7 at the break.

Early in the second half, the Eagles capitalized on another extended drive when Sam Han drove a low line drive from 32 yards through the uprights giving his team a 10-7 lead. Union bested that scoring drive by methodically marching down the field with a balanced pass to rush mix ending on a 2-yard dive to the goal line by Alex Berfanger. The Titans held a four point lead going into the final quarter. Chico McClatcher had a relatively quiet game to this point with no touchdowns and lacking a game-changing play. Credit goes out to UHS Head Coach Gary McGarvie drawing up a bend-don’t-break defensive scheme which prevented big plays. With less than three minutes left, the floodgates opened. McClatcher finally found a bit of daylight past the front line of Union defenders and broke free for a 17-yard touchdown to take the lead. After squandering the extra point, Union had one last chance to get within field goal range to win. On the first play from scrimmage, Ben Koler picked off Lawson to turn the ball back over. Chico proceeded to ice the game with a 42 yard touchdown to close out a 13-0 run in the fourth for the home team. Federal Way will take on the winner of Newport/Lake Stevens, Union’s season is over. FinalScore 23-14.

Top Performers:
Federal Way
Chico McClatcher – 264 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs (17,42)

Union
Keithen Shepard – 4 receptions, 58 yards, TD (22)