Sumner Survives SPSL Shootout with Graham-Kapowsin

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Thursday Sep 22nd 2016 4A SPSL Boys Football
Sumner High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Graham-Kapowsin 13 0 0 14 27
Sumner 0 14 7 13 34

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See game recap below
 


Sumner Survives SPSL Shootout with Graham-Kapowsin
By Steve Dion


It is rare that a league title can be won in September, but Thursday night’s SPSL showdown between #1 Sumner and #4 Graham-Kapowsin has the potential to determine just that. These two teams have separated themselves as the class of the conference which opens up the possibility that the winner could run the table to a conference championship.

GK opened strong with a scoring drive that culminated with a goal line plunge by Brandon Becker. The opening play from scrimmage by the Spartans on the ensuing drive went awry as a flea flicker by Connor Wedington resulted in the star running back absorbing a big tackle. The hit sent him to the sideline for a bit to catch his breath.

Shortly thereafter, Micah Smith gave the Eagles a 13-0 lead with a 70 yard scamper up the gut aided by the tremendous blocking of Foster Sarell and Matt Shook.

Sumner struck back in a big way when Tyson Rainwater recorded a pick-six from 43 yards out to prevent the Spartans from falling three scores behind. Before the first half concluded, Luke Ross took advantage of broken coverage and found a wide open Tre Weed to give the home team a one point lead heading in the break.

As the second half wore on, this battle was still up for grabs. A Sumner drive early in the fourth pushed the Eagles defense to bend, but not break. They held the Spartans to a field goal and a four point lead. GK proceeded to move the ball methodically down the field on a heavy dose of Micah Smith carries with the clock continuing to tick. Becker capped off the drive with another goal line push to send the Graham-Kapowsin sideline into exhilaration.

Sumner wasn’t done.

On the ensuing kickoff, Wedington took the kick 90 yards to the house in which he bounced off GK tacklers like a pinball. The return handed the lead back over to the #1 ranked team and they didn’t look back. Tre Weed picked off a desperation pass to put the game on ice. The Spartans hang on for a thrilling win between heavyweights.

Welcome to 4A, Sumner!

The Final Score:
Sumner 34, Graham-Kapowsin 27.

Top Performer

Sumner
Connor Wedington- 90 yard game winning kickoff return TD
Tre Weed-2 TD receptions (43,63), 2 interceptions

Graham-Kapowsin
Brandon Becker- 2 rushing TDs
Micah Smith-70 yard rushing TD

Football Preview:
NPSL & SPSL
Dion & Cotterill Preview
New Leagues


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League Preview presented by theFinalScore.TV

Steve Dion and TJ Cotterill breakdown the league reclassifications. Leagues have disappeared, new leagues have appeared. Narrows is gone, SPSL leagues have changed just to name a few.

We’ll break down the changes, the teams and players to look out for in 2016. This will be a crazy season in the South Sound Region – Follow us all year long on Varsity Football Live on Sports Radio 950 KJR and theFinalScore.TV.

Listen to our NPSL/SPSL Football Preview by clicking on the PLAY BUTTON below.

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Be sure to visit thenewstribune.com and follow TJ’s high school football coverage all season long!

 

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Graham-Kapowsin Shocks Skyline

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Friday Oct. 10th 2014 4A Boys Football
Spartan Stadium 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Graham-Kapowsin 0 14 3 0 17
Skyline 7 7 0 0 14

Graham-Kapowsin Shocks Skyline
By Colin Caruso

On a beautiful evening on the Issaquah plateau, the Graham-Kapowsin Eagles travelled north to face off against the home side Skyline Spartans. It was homecoming for the Spartans and their crowd was in full force expecting a win in this non-conference matchup. The Eagles and their strong fan base had different plans.

The game began in typical Skyline fashion, with a long drive of both passing and running, capped off by a 1 yard touchdown run by Rashaad Boddie. After a failed fourth and goal attempt for the Eagles on their next drive, the Eagles forced a punt from the Spartans and capitalized mid-way through the second on an Asbjornsen pass to Walkinshaw to tie the game at 7.

Skyline responded, as they typically do, with another great drive, and a touchdown pass from Blake Gregory to Derek Loville. Loville had a huge day for the Spartans; he finished the day with 162 yards receiving. But he wasn’t targeted as much in the second half despite single coverage, and this proved catastrophic for the Spartans.

Graham-Kapowsin tightened their defense immensely in the second half. The Eagles held the Spartans to negative 32 yards rushing in the second half, negative 11 from Boddie. The Eagles 6’6″ 310 pound sophomore Foster Sarell became the big play maker, clogging up the line on defense and blocking well against one of the state’s best pass rushers, Skyline’s Cameron Saffle.

This stifling defense did not allow a point in the second half, while the Eagles added just one field goal, which proved to be the game winner. Graham-Kapowsin came up with the big road win, 17-14.

Top Performers:
Graham-Kapowsin
Trevor Asbjornsen – 17-28 for 192 yards and 1TD
Shannon Edwards – 20 carries for 114 yards and 1TD

Skyline
Blake Gregory – 20-37 for 282 yards and 1TD
Derek Loville – 9 catches for 162 yards and 1TD