Here is our page covering all classifications of the Football State Tournament Final 8. We begin with the 4A and work down to the 1B’s. We will have our own story coverage and picture galleries of games we cover while linking coverage of other media outlets. For our Broadcast schedule click on the link below.
Link to WIAA Tournament Central
Here are all the scores our stories and links to additional media coverage beginning with the Quarterfinals in all 6 classifications.
4A
Link to State Bracket
State Championship, Tacoma Dome
Saturday, Dec 3 Camas 24, Richland 14
(Tacoma Dome) The last time the Camas Papermakers have been waiting for this opportunity to avenge the heartbreaking Championship loss they suffered at the hands of Chiawana from 3 years ago. The Papermakers led late in the game by 2 scores but gave up 2 late touchdowns to lose 27-26. This was their chance to get it back and this time instead of Chiawana it was the Richland Bombers standing in their way.
The Bombers have plenty of history in their trophy case as well winning it in 1981 and 1999 with runner-up trophies in 1981 and 1996 and were ready to bring the big Gold Football home to the Tri-Cities.
Camas began the game with the ball and drove it mid-field. A pass that was batted around and hit the ground was ruled a catch and fumble giving the Papermakers the ball. After a 1st down the Bombers then shut down the Papermakers on straight plays forcing a 3rd and long, it looked like they would get to Camas QB Jack Colletto but he escaped and found Cooper McNatt for a 35-yard TD and with the extra point the Papermakers took a 7-0 lead at the 9:02 mark.
The defenses would then dominate through the rest of the 1st quarter as the teams traded possessions and turnovers all the way through midway of the 2nd quarter. Richland who had struggled getting anything going was finally on the move approaching midfield with 6:19 to go in the half when Camas took a timeout. A nice screen pass was wiped out by a holding penalty setting up a 3rd and long. Bomber QB Paxton Stevens was flushed out of the pocket and Camas’ Isaiah Abdul picked off the pass giving it back to Camas on their 41.
The Papermakers were unable to do anything and on a 4th and 1 Coach Jon Eagle decided to play field position and punted it away pinning the Bombers back on their own 18 yard line. Richland with less than 4 minutes would move the ball into Papermaker territory thanks to back to back 15-yard penalties. Ben Stanfield would then take a hand-off and bounce outside to the left and sprinted down the sideline for a 41-yard touchdown. the PAT was good and the game tied at 7-7 with 1:00 to play.
Camas would come right back thanks to a flurry of yellow flags as the Officials took over the game and the Papermakers had the ball on the Bomber 18 with 10-seconds to play. The 1st down pass was high and incomplete sending out the field goal unit. Michael Boyle came on to attempt a 34-yard kick, Richland would try to ice him with a pair of time-outs but Boyle calmly booted the ball through giving Camas a 10-7 lead at the break.
The Bombers would get the ball to start the 3rd quarter and despite giving up the late field goal the momentum from their 1st touchdown was still intact as they put together their best drive of the game. Ben Stanfield began with an 11-yard run to their own 31. QB Paxton Stevens would connect with Gaven Brasker for 29 yards and then again for 17 pushing the ball into the Camas Red Zone. Then on 1st and goal at the 3 Stanfield got the call but just prior to crossing the goal line the ball was punched out by Camas. The ball fell into the endzone and was recovered by the Bombers Parker McCary for the go-ahead score. Adam Weisenfels added the extra point and the Bombers had their 1st lead in the game 17-14.
The lead would not last more than 3 minutes as Camas did what great teams do answer the challenge with their own scoring drive. The Papermakers would take over on their own 20. On the 4th play Jack Colletto found Drake Owen for 21 yards taking the ball to midfield. Colletto then hit Cooper McNatt for 11 setting up a spectacular run by Will Schultz who picked up a great block that got him to the edge and was gone up the far sideline for the 38-yard touchdown run. This play would also earn our CCYF Play of the Game as the game changing moment in this contest.
The rest of the game would be dominated by defense. For Camas Cody Jackson was disruptive and constantly in the backfield of the Bombers while Richland’s Victor Strasser nearly shut down the Papermakers potent weapon Michael Mathews, holding him to just 18 yards on 11 carries. Both of these players, Jackson and Strasser were named our CCYF Players of the Game as both defenses kept the teams in the game and both had chances to win it in the 4th quarter.
The final touchdown would be scored by Colletto who ran in a QB keeper right up the middle for a 34-yard touchdown, the PAT was good and it extended the lead to 24-14 with 2:39 left to play. Although we did not confirm this but it appeared Richland let Colletto score in order to get their hands on the ball again. At this point in the game Richland had just 1 time out left and if Camas who had a 1st and 10 picked up just one more 1st down they would have likely been able to kneel the game out.
Assuming they would run the ball and get stopped with a minimum 3 yard gain the clock would be stopped with about 2:40 to play. Then another run for 3 yards and the clock gets run down to a minimum of 2:15. A 3rd down 3-yard run would bring the clock to 1:50 brining up a 4th and 1. Assume they get the 1st the clock is 1:25 and the Papermakers would clinch the State Championship. So by allowing Camas to score and by the way there was not a hand laid on Colletto as he ran up the middle, the Bombers got the ball back and would likely be their best chance tie or win the game by scoring and then attempting an onside kick. If this sounds like a longshot it is but don’t ask Camas if it could happen and anyone who watched the 2013 title game knows all to well it could happen.
Certainly the Papermaker defense was aware and with help of a bad shot gun snap on 1st down for Richland’s final drive the quickly pushed the Bombers back inside their own 10-yard line and Colletto would end any doubt with an interception on a 4th and 13. from there Colletto kneeled it for their 1st ever Football State Championship.
Photo Gallery
Semi-Finals (Saturday, Nov 26)
Camas 45, Sumner 21
Game Story in the Columbian by Tim Martinez
Game Story in the News Tribune by TJ Cotterill
Richland 35, Skyview 7
Game Story in the Columbian by Paul Valencia
Game Story in the Tri-City Herald by Jeff Morrow
Quarter Finals
Sumner 16, Woodinville 13 Story in News Tribune by TJ Cotterill
Camas 28, Skyline 14 Story in the Columbian by Paul Valencia
Skyview 35, Lake Stevens 14 Story in the Columbian by Tim Martinez
Richland 49, Bothell 28 Story in the Tri City Herald by Dustin Brennan
3A
Link to State Bracket
State Championship, Tacoma Dome
Friday, Dec 2 Kamiakin 14, O’Dea 7 (OT)
(Tacoma Dome) The Kamiakin Braves had their hands full with the powerful O’Dea Irish who have 3 State Titles in their trophy case all under Head Coach Monte Kohler who is now the State’s 2nd winningest coach in State history with 312 career wins, behind Tumwater’s Sid Otton with 394. But the Irish havn’t hoisted the big trophy since 1995 and the Braves were hungry for their 1st ever Gold Football.
In the first half it was a defensive slugfest with each playing flat out, shut down football. The 1st, 1st down didn’t until less than 2-minutes in the 1st quarter and neither team eclipsed 100 total offensive yards and neither were close to putting points on the board and went to the half scoreless.
The offenses played much better in the 2nd half but scoring remained a premium. The Irish would come firing though and scored on their 2nd half opening drive. Taking the ball on their own 21 and after grinding out a couple of 1st downs Jamyn Patu busted off a 43 yard run to the Kamiakin 20. On the next play Patu finished what he started and zipped into the endzone putting up the 1st points of the game, Stephen Powell added the PAT and it was 7-0.
The 2 teams would battle back and forth picking up yardage but then turning it over or committing penalties and it looked more and more like the 7-0 lead just might hold up. In the 4th quarter the Irish were on the verge of putting the game on ice as they drove to the 8 yard line of the Braves but could not get past the 4 setting up a 21-yard Powell field goal attempt that went wide right and the Braves celebrated staying within 1 score of tying the game.
The Braves would turn the ball back over to the Irish on the next play and O’Dea would get stalled at the Kamiakin 28 and Powell would attempt a 45-yard field goal that was well short and once again the Braves stayed within 7.
With time starting to wind down with just 5:14 to play the Braves offense finally put together a drive. Starting on their own 20, the Braves QB Zach Borisch hit Jethro Questad for 30 out to the 50-yardline. After taking a 3-yard sack, Borisch came back with a laser pass to Darreon Moore who would take it the distance for 53 yards and a touchdown, Garrett Paxton hit the extra point and with 4:24 to play it was tied at 7-7.
O’Dea had a shot in regulation to claim their 4th Title and had driven the ball down to the Kamiakin 12-yard line when Kohler took his final time-out with just 3-seconds to play in the game. Kamiakin Head Coach Scott Biglin then tried to freeze Powell who had already missed 2 attempts in the 4th quarter by taking not 1, not 2 but 3 straight time-outs. Finally when Powell lined up on the right hash mark to attempt the 29-yard game winning field goal he would push it right and missed forcing the game to overtime.
The High School Kansas Tie Breaker would allow each team an opportunity to score from the 25. Kamiakin would go 1st and after 2 incomplete passes the Braves faced a 3rd and 10 and Borisch would drop back and throw it deep for a 3rd incompletion but O’Dea was called for defensive holding and the Braves would get a fresh set of downs with a 1st and 10 at the 15 but they would only need 1 more down. Borisch would dip and dodge his way on a QB keeper 15 yards into the endzone, the PAT was good and Kamiaking was up 14-7 with their 1st lead in the game.
O’Dea would get their chance but the 1st play was a disaster for Patu who was caught behind the line of scrimmage and tried to make something out of nothing and zig-zagged backwards taking a 19-yard loss bringing up 2nd and 29. On 2nd down the Irish would dial up the hook and ladder and Patu would a large chunk of that yardage back making it 3rd and 8. Emonte Scott then hit Jason Wong for 7 and it brought up a 4th and 1 at the 16 yard-line. On 4th and 1 O’Dea had to convert the 1st down and went back to what got them to the big game and handed it off to Mark Tafia but the Braves defense was ready and stuffed him for no gain ending the game and the Braves claimed their 1st State Championship.
Our Tommy Lowe of the Greene Realty Group Players of the Game went to the entire Kamiakin defense for their stellar work holding the potent Irish to the 1 TD and for O’Dea Jamyn Patu won it rushing for 99 yards and the 1 TD. Our ProActive Physical Therapy Play of the Game went to Kamiakin’s QB Zach Borisch with the game winning TD run in overtime.
Photo Gallery
Semi-Finals (Saturday, Nov 26)
Kamiakin 30, Eastside Catholic 27
Game Story in the Tri City Herald by Dustin Brennan
Game Story in the Seattle Times
O’Dea 35, Meadowdale 9
Game Story in the Everett Herald by Douglas Flanagan
Game Story in the Seattle Times
Quarter Finals
Kamiakin 37, Bonney Lake 10 Story in News Tribune by Ben Zimmerman
Eastside Catholic 57, Lakes 24 Story in News Tribune by TJ Cotterill
Meadowdale 34, Peninsula 29 Story in News Tribune by Aaron Lommers
O’Dea 28, Lincoln 20 Story in News Tribune by Lauren Smith
2A
Link to State Bracket
State Championship, Tacoma Dome
Saturday, Dec 3 ArchBishop Murphy 56, Liberty (Issaquah) 14
(Tacoma Dome) The ArchBishop Murphy Wildcats had a lot of pent up frustration and let it all out in the Championship game. The Wildcats had 5 of their games during the regular season forfeited by teams who did not want to play the imposing squad which created a nationwide story. As they entered the play-offs they were then assigned the 3 seed out of District 1-2 due to their weak schedule as this district went to an RPI system to seed their play-off teams into the State Tournament. The top seed out of the District was Liberty and the 2nd seed was Lynden who ABM beat 52-14 in the semi-finals.
The Wildcats wasted little time in putting up the 1st 6 on the 2nd play from scrimmage QB Connor Johnson would hit Ray Pimental out of the backfield on a sweet little bloop toss and Pimental sprinted 60-yards into the endzone for the touchdown. Ryan Henderson added the 1st of 8 PAT kicks to make it 7-0.
After recovering a fumble the Cats began their next drive on the Liberty 45 and would go on a 10-play drive capped off with Collin Montez punching in the touchdown to go up 14-0. They got the ball back again on a 3 and out for the Patriots and on the 2nd play Johnson would hit a streaking Anfernee Gurley in stride and he would go the distance 51 yards and it was 21-0 with 2:08 to go in the 1st.
ABM would put up 2 more TD’s before halftime, a 9-yard run from Montez and a 1 play drive where Johnson threw a dart to Kyler Gordon who pulled away on a 64-yard catch and run touchdown to go up 35-0.
Liberty would get on the board before the half ended scoring with just 4-seconds left to play in the half. The 12-play drive that began on their own 20 culminated with Reilly Larson taking the ball from QB Austin Regis on a sweep and cut up just inside his right tackle to squirt into the endzone from 2 yards out for the tally. Holden Kooiker added the PAT and the score at the half was 35-7 ABM in control.
The Wildcats would score on their 1st 2 drives of the 3rd quarter first on another beautiful bomb from Johnson to Gordon for a 50-yard strike and then Johnson would throw his 5th touchdown of the game finding Gurley for a 69-yard connection to lead 49-7 which would also begin a running clock in the 3rd quarter. Kyler Gordon would score again for the Wildcats when he scooped up a fumble and raced 60 yards for the final ABM score extending their lead to 56-7.
Liberty would add a late touchdown when Regis hit Isaiah Owens for a 34-yard completion down to the 10 and then Regis found a wide open Alex Olague to make it 56-14 and that is where the game would finish giving the Cats their 1st State Championship since they began playing at the 1A level back in 2001 and 2002.
Our Tommy Lowe of the Greene Realty Group Players of the Game went to ABM’s Connor Johnson and to Liberty’s Reilly Larson. Our ProActive Physical Therapy Play of the Game goes to Ray Pimental’s 60-yard touchdown that kick-started the scoring onslaught.
Photo Gallery
Semi-Finals (Saturday, Nov 26)
ArchBishop Murphy 52, Lynden 14
Game Story in the Everett Herald by Cameron Van Til
Game Story in the Bellingham Herald by David Rosbach
Liberty 35, Ellensburg 26
Game Story in the Seattle Times
Game Story in the Ellensburg Daily Record by Ryan Kuhn
Game Story in the Yakima Herald by Scott Spruill
Quarter Finals
Lynden 34, West Valley (Spokane) 21 Story in Bellingham Herald by Josh Horton
ArchBishop Murphy 48, Tumwater 10 Game Story in the Olympian/News Tribune by Lauren Smith
Liberty 21, River Ridge 14 Story in the Olympian by Lauren Smith
Ellensburg 21, Sedro Woolley 10 Story in Skagit Valley Herald by Vince Richardson
1A
Link to State Bracket
State Championship, Tacoma Dome
Saturday, Dec 3 Royal 25, Connell 10
(Tacoma Dome) The Royal Knights were on a 27-game winning streak entering this game and looking to notch their 2nd straight undefeated season and 2nd straight State Title. The Knights, no doubt not realizing this, were up against another opponent other than the Connell Eagles but the recent curse of the home field sideline in the Tacoma Dome. Coming into this game the previous 8 straight Championship contests in the Tacoma Dome the winner’s were in their visitors uniform, including the Knights last year.
The home team curse looked like it might continue when Connell marched down the field on the opening possession going 70 yards finished off by a 31-yard touchdown pass from Brian Hawkins to Steven Kroontje. Luis Ramos added the PAT and it was 7-0.
This would be short-lived as Kaden Jenks the highly touted Royal QB found Juan Niebla for a 62-yard touchdown pass on the 3rd play of the drive. Alonzo Hernandez booted the extra point and it was even at 7-7. This had the feeling of a track meet as Connell would come right back on their 2nd possession. The 10-play drive would stall on 9-yard line and Ramos would knock through a 25-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 10-7 lead.
The Knights answered on their 2nd possession with a field goal of their own when their drive also stalled just inside the 10 and Niebla kicked a 25-yarder to make it 10-10. So on the 1st 4 possessions both teams racked up some big offensive numbers and combined for 20 points. That all came to a screeching halt as both defenses made adjustments and shut down the offenses and the game would go to the break at 10-10. Both teams certainly were leaving it on the field but maybe not as much as Janks who also left his breakfast on the field as time ticked down to 0. He was hit with a stomach bug but came out in the 2nd half ready to keep the Knights winning streak intact.
On Royal’s 2nd possession of the 3rd quarter Jenks would find his favorite target Corbin Christensen on a 22-yard strike to go up 17-0 and then would sneak a score in from the 1 just before the end of the 3rd. Christensen then would pass the 2-point conversion to CJ Quintaro on a fake kick to push the score to 25-10.
Connell would have 3 more tries to get back in the game but those drives ended with a punt and the last 2 turned over on downs. The Eagles were hit with 68 yards in penalties were isn’t excessive but the penalties were mostly the 5-yard variety and seemed to hit at the most inopportune times. Virtually after each big play they made they would get backed up with an illegal shift or false start.
Royal would take the ball over with 5:38 and never give it back. After 6 1st downs Jenks was happy to take a knee and run out the clock giving them the 1A State Championship and repeating as 1A Title holders. Our Tommy Lowe of Greene Realty Players of the Game went to both QB’s, Kaden Jenks for Royal and Brian Hawkens for Connell. Our ProActive Physical Therapy Play of the Game went to the 62-yard pass play from Jenks to Juan Niebla.
Photo Gallery
Semi-Finals (Saturday, Nov 26)
Connell 24, La Center 7
Game Story in the Columbian by Micah Rice
Royal 56, Deer Park 0
Game Story in NW Preps Now by Josh Horton
Quarter Finals
Connell 56, Meridian 21 Story in Bellingham Herald by David Rasbach
LaCenter 25, Mount Baker 13 Story in the Columbian by Rene Ferran
Royal 42, La Salle 12
Deer Park 24, Zillah 6 Story on NW Preps Now by Greg Lee
2B
Link to State Bracket
State Championship, Tacoma Dome
Friday, Dec 2 Napavine 34, Liberty (Spangle) 16
(Tacoma Dome) The Eastside curse ended in this game of big plays and big hits. Last year 5 of the 6 State Champions came from east of the mountains with only the 3A going to Eastside Catholic who played Bellevue. Additionally, the last 5 State 2B Championships have gone to Eastside teams, the last two at the expense of the Napavine Tigers losing to Okanogan both times.
Liberty has 2 State Titles in their trophy case but the last was back in the early 90’s and they were more than ready to add to that collection. As this game kicked off the 2 teams would trade possessions and Liberty would take over on their own 38. Tyler Haas would bust off a 54-yard run down inside the Napavine 10 but the Tiger defense would hold and force a 4th and 5 and Garrett Van Slyke came on to boot home a 22-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead at the 6:39 mark.
Napavine would answer with a touchdown on the following possession and was set up by a perfect block by Dawson Stanley on a 4th and 2 springing Noah Lantz for a 13-yard run and a 1st down. Wyatt Stanley would throw a touchdown pass to Sam Fagerness in what looked like a hail mary. Stanley under pressure rolled to his right and threw back to the other side of the field into the endzone where Sam and Mac Fagerness were right there with Van Slyke and another defender but Sam Fagerness hauled it in for the score, Austin Filley kicked the PAT and it was 7-3.
Napavine would take a 14-3 lead after a big defensive play by Connor Locke who sacked the Lancers Garrett Rogers and stripped him, Sam Fagerness then recovered the loose ball on the Liberty 37. Cole Vanwyke would make a nifty run from the 20 hitting the edge and then cutting back inside the 10 to get into the endzone and took a 14-3 lead with 6:25 to play in the half.
Liberty would then put together their best drive of the game starting on their own 30. On this drive Haas would make a spectacular play by picking up another strip sack fumble and turned it into a 4 yard gain. The Lancers Patrick Paredes also had a pair of big 4th down catches for 1st downs and set up a 22-yard TD pass from Rogers to Chase Burnham and the Lancers would pull within 14-10 as they went to the break.
The Tigers would begin the 3rd quarter with the ball but got off to a slow start until the play of the game would turn around the drive and put Liberty in a big hole. A high snap would push the Tigers back to their own 33 when another high snap would go over the head of Stanley who then ran back picked it around the 15 yard line and sprinted up the far side line still looking down field and unloaded a 44-yard pass completion to Mac Fagerness hauling it in on the Liberty 23. 6 plays later Wyatt Stanley would run it in from the 4 thanks to another spectacular block by Dawson Stanley, Filley added the PAT and it was 27-10.
Liberty came right back and got 6 back on the board in less 90-seconds. The big play Rogers connecting with Josh Larsen on a slant play and Larsen split defenders and sprinted to paydirt making it 27-16 after the PAT missed.
The Tigers would then put the game away going on a 16-play 7 minute drive culminating with another touchdown on a 4th and goal play from the 8 when Stanley found Jordan Purvis in the front corner. There was some discussion on whether or not the ball crossed the goal line but it was ruled a score and Napavine extended their lead to 34-16 anf that’s where it would stay giving Napavine their 3rd State Championship in school history and 2nd for Head Coach Josh Fay.
Our Pacific Sports Spa Players of the Game went to Napavine’s Sam Fagerness and Liberty’s Tyler Haas. Others in consideration were Connor Locke, Austin Filley and Seth Harris for Napavine while we considered Chase Burnham, Patrick Paredes and James Heer for Liberty. Our Pacific Sports Spa Play of the game there was no debate, the opening drive of the 2nd half where Wyatt Stanley scrambled and hit Mac Fagerness on a 44 yard strike avoiding a punting situation and led to a huge touchdown.
Photo Gallery
Semi-Finals (Saturday, Nov 26)
Liberty (Spangle) 20, Asotin 13
Game Story on NW Preps Now by Josh Horton
Napavine 31, Toledo 28
(Centralia, WA) The Toledo Indians were hoping for rain thinking that might slow down the potent passing attack of the undefeated Napavine Tigers. They got the rain but the the offense was still potent, however, the Indians also found their offensive stride as both teams scored enough to win most games. This Semi-Final contest actually came down to defense. Not a smothering, overwhelming defense but defenses that made plays at critical times. That’s all you need in games like these, not a shut down defense, one that can give you enough of a lead to hold off the other team.
In this game the key defensive stand came after Toledo had re-taken the lead over Napavine with 5:59 to go in the 3rd. The Indians squib kicked the ensuing kick-off and recovered the loose ball on the Tigers 33. Toledo was up 21-18 and drove down inside the 20 to the 15. It was 4th and 2 and the Tigers defense made one of those key plays that turned the tide in this game.
Before we get totally into this key turning point let’s back up and tell you how we got here. Toledo made the first big play on their first possession when Marcus Ouellette busted off a 37 yard run deep into Tiger territory but on the next play a fumble would turn the ball over to Napavine on their own 24.
QB Wyatt Stanley then went to work for the Tigers driving his club down the field and then dropped a perfect pass right into the breadbasket of Mac Fagerness who hauled in the 1st of 2 touchdown passes on the day. The PAT, which would be an adventure for the Tigers for the entire game, began with a short kick from Austin Filley missing the point. It was amazing Filley even got the kick off as the wet ball hit the ground on the way to the holder. Napavine settled for a 6-0 lead with 6:08 to play in the 1st.
Toledo would strike back as the Indians QB Dalton Yoder completed a huge 26-yard pass to his tight end Gabe Fuentes down to the Tigers 4 yard line. It would take 4 downs to push it over the goal line but Ouelette would surge across on 4th down. Andreas Malunut converted the PAT and Toledo had their 1st lead in the game 7-6 at the 1:12 mark of the 1st.
After a pair of possession exchanges, Napavine took over on their own 32. Led by Stanley who was effective throwing and running the ball completed his 2nd TD pass of the game hitting Jared Purvis on a 19-yard completion with 5:04 to go in the half. Napavine Head Coach Josh Fay would go for 2 but again the PAT failed but Napavine re-took the lead 12-7 and that’s how it would stand to the half.
Toledo would get the ball to start the 3rd quarter and the Indians went right to work with what had been working for them all year. A ground and pound drive that began on their own 42 after a good kick-off return by Jackson Kumzinsky. Yoder, Ouellette and Keyton Wallace all combined to run the ball right at the Napavine defense and punched it in when Ouellette scored standing up from the 5 yard line. Malunut hit the PAT and Toledo again was in the lead 14-12 for the 4th lead change in the game.
Wyatt Stanley would strike back quickly in less than a minute when he ran in his own 5-yard TD run that was set up by a 37-yard strike to Noah Lantz. Once again the 2-point try failed but the 5th lead change in the game pushed the Tigers to a 18-14 lead with 6:55 to play in the 3rd.
The Indians Yoder would then show off his running skills plowing straight ahead on a keeper breaking through and going 57 yards for the score for the 6th lead change as Toledo took a 21-18 lead. This brings us to the beginning of the story with the Toledo recovery of a short kick-off on the Napavine 33 but the Tiger defense held getting the ball back on downs on their own 14.
So despite having the lead and Napavine pinned deep in their own territory the missed opportunity to make this a 2-score lead would prove to be the key moment of this tight game. Stanley and the Tigers would turn the tables on the Indians grinding out a drive that would culminate with Mac Fagerness’s 2nd TD catch this time from the 28-yard line. This time Austin Filley would kick the PAT and the 7th lead change of the game gave the Tigers a 25-21 lead.
Filley then booted the kick-off into the endzone and Toledo would take over on their own 20 when disaster struck for the Indians. On the 1st play a fumble would give the ball back to Napavine on the Indians 21. A few plays later Cole Van Wyke barrelled in from the 9 to give the Tigers a 10-point lead 31-21. Napavine would then miss their 4th PAT keeping the difference at 10 points.
Toledo took over on their own 34 with 9:49 to play in the game and put together another good looking drive that Napavine’s defense would again come up with a key stop on their own 24. The Tigers with less than 5 minutes to play though could not get a 1st down and an incomplete pass allowed the Indians not to burn their final time-out and got the ball back on their own 46. The Indians would quickly move the ball with a series of runs by Ouellette driving the ball down to the Napavine 23 when Yoder hit Fuentes again this time for the TD on a play-action pass play. The PAT was good and with 2:30 to play the Indians were down just 3 points, 31-28.
The Tigers kick-receiving team easily handled the attempted on-side kick and only needed 1 1st down to run out the clock. Sam Fagerness, Van Wyke and Wyatt Stanley combined for a 1st down in which Toledo had burned their final time-out on 3rd and 1. Stanley with the 1st down then simply kneeled down to run out the clock and Napavine is set to play in their 3rd straight State Championship game this Friday at 4pm in the Tacoma Dome.
The Tigers are 1-2 in State Title games under Josh Fay winning it all in 2008 28-24 over Asotin. The Tigers nearly had a rematch with Asotin who lost to Liberty Spangle on Saturday 20-13. The Tigers lost the last 2 years to Okanogan 17-14 in 2014 and 36-34 in 2015. Toledo finished the season 12-1 but head Coach Jeremy Thibault and his staff have certainly built the Indians into a contender and despite losing some quality players to graduation, it won’t be surprising to see the Indians back in the mix.
Our final stats show that the rain that fell all night really did not slow wither offense with the Tigers racking up 376 yards of offense led by Wyatt Stanely who threw for 221 yards and 3 TD’s while rushing for 63 yards and a TD. Mac Fagerness caught 5 balls for 94 yards and 2 scores, Jared Purvis had 2 catches for 41 yards and a TD and Noah Lantz 4 catches for 55 yards.
Toledo finished with 353 total yards led by Dalton Yoder’s 100 rushing yards and a TD while going 3-4 for 68 yards and a TD through the air. Ouellette ran for 112 yards and 2 TD’s, Keyton Wallace had 17 carries for 63 yards and Gabe Fuentes caught 2 balls for 49 yards and a TD.
Our Pacific Sports Spa Players of the Game went to both Senior QB’s Wyatt Stanley and Dalton Yoder and our ProActive Physical Therapy Play of the Game went to the Napavine defense for their critical 4th down stop on a 4th and 2 on their own 14 keeping the Indians from taking a 2 score lead.
Photo Gallery
Quarter Finals
Toledo 14, La Conner 10 Story in Lewis County Sports
Napavine 41, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 7 Story in Lewis County Sports by Aaron Van Tuyl
Asotin 20, Northwest Christian (Colbert) 14 Story in NW Preps Now by Kevin Dudley
Liberty (Spangle) 48, Dayton-Waitsburg 19 Story in Walla Walla Union Bulletin by Ken Morgan
1B
Link to State Bracket
State Championship, Tacoma Dome
Saturday, Dec 3 Neah Bay 64, Odessa-Harrington 34
(Tacoma Dome) If you come to wach 8-man football because of the high scoring well no one was disappointed in this shoot out that saw the Red Devils win their 3rd State Title in the past 4 years.
After a slow start and Neah Bay leading only 6-0 after 1 quarter of play the 2 teams exploded in the 2nd quarter scoring 6 touchdowns and the Red Devils taking a 34-14 lead into the break. Neah Bay added to their lead in the 3rd with 2 more scores and capped it off with another pair in the 4th for a final total of 64 points. Odessa-Harrington would out do themselves in the 2nd half putting up 20 but it was too little to keep pace with the potent Devil attack.
Neah Bay finished with 498 yards of offense to 378 for O-D. Cameron Buzzell ran for 168 yards and scored 3 TD’s for the Red Devils and caught 1 59-yard TD pass from Rwehabura Munyagi. For the Titans QB Colton Hunt threw for 154 yards and 2 TD’s while running for 110 and scoring another TD.
Photo Gallery
Semi-Finals (Saturday, Nov 26)
Neah Bay 28, Lummi 22
Game Story in the Bellingham Herald by David Rosbach
Odessa-Harrington 42, Sunnyside Christian 40
Game Story in the Yakima Herald by Luke Thompson
Quarter Finals
Neah Bay 66, Tacoma Baptist 26 Story in the Daily World
Lummi 56, Naselle 16 Story in Bellingham Herald by Michelle Nolan
Sunnyside Christian 60, Colton 58 Story in Yakima Herald by Scott Spruill
Odessa-Harrington 60, Almira-Coulee-Hartline 28
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