HS Football: Emerald Ridge defense stifles Bethel in SPSL win

10/07/22

(Puyallup, WA) In a game that featured the #1 scoring offense in the 4A SPSL in Emerald Ridge and the #1 scoring defense in the SPSL in Bethel, it was the Emerald Ridge defense that stood out as the Jaguars recovered 4 Bison fumbles in route to a 28-7 win at Carl Sparks Stadium in Emerald Ridge’s homecoming game.

It was an ominous start for the Bethel offense as they got the ball to start the game and on just the 2nd play from scrimmage, The Bison fumbled the exchange from freshman Ethan Barnes to junior running back Roy Lockley with Daylen Matthews getting the fumble recovery for Emerald Ridge.

Just two plays later, Jaguars junior quarterback Jake Schakel took a shot downfield and threw an interception to Bethel senior cornerback Prince Malo at the 8-yard line of the Bison.

Bethel could not take advantage of the ER turnover however as Bethel went 3-and-out on their ensuing possession, and the Jags made them pay with 6-play, 38-yard drive capped off with a 1-yard passing TD from Schakel to junior Tony Harste to make it 8-0 after a successful 2-point attempt by Mitchell Condon on a 1-yard run.

The Bison again went 3-and-out and on the first play of the drive, Schakel hit junior receiver Gio Kafentzis on a 33-yard TD, to make it 14-0 Jaguars with 4:37 left in the 1st as the 2-point conversion failed.

Bethel finally responded with their best drive up until that point with a 7 play, 65-yard drive, but a fumble on a bad snap ended the scoring threat at the Emerald Ridge 1-yard line.

The Bison defense continued to bail out their offense by forcing another Emerald Ridge turnover, this time a Kafentzis fumble to give it back to Bethel.

The problem for the Bison is that they could not get out of their own way, as a 9-play drive ended in yet another Bethel fumble at the Emerald Ridge 1-yard line that Sean Tutty recovered for the Jaguars to end the 1st quarter.

Emerald Ridge continued to take advantage of Bether miscues as the Jaguars went on a 9-play, 89-yard drive finished off by a Schakel 7-yard TD run to give the Jaguars a 21-0 advantage at halftime.

Emerald Ridge got the ball to start the half and ended any chance of a Bison comeback by going on a 6-play, 65 yard drive and Schakel threw his 3rd TD of the game, this one to Pierce Kelly to increase the lead to 28-0 in the 3rd.

Kelly then forced the 4th Bethel fumble of the game in 3rd quarter on the ensuing Bison drive to basically seal the game for Emerald Ridge.

The Bison did get on the board thanks to an excellent 17 play drive that started at their own 16-yard line that lasted just over 10 minutes and reserve QB Nathaniel Negron-Harrison snuck it in from a yard out to make the final score 28-7.

The ESN Career MVP Award went to Emerald Ridge linebacker and running back Logan Lisherness, who flew around all night from his linebacker position and added 5 carries for 22 yards.

Jaguars quarterback Jake Schakel did a good job of bouncing back from a rough start to go 15/17 passing for 240 yards, 3 touchdowns, an INT and added a score on the ground. Kafentzis had 5 receptions for 100 yards and a TD, and Harste added 7 catches for 97 yards and 1 TD. Emerald Ridge outgained Bethel 301 yards to 272 yards but Roy Lockley had a season high in carries and yard with 18 carries for 109 yards to lead Bethel. Javon Wills had 10 carries for 63 yards as well for the Bison who had a total of 191 rushing yards against Emerald Ridge.

The Jaguars improved to 5-1 on the season and have now won 5 straight games after losing to rival Puyallup in week 1. They will have a big game next week against a Bellarmine team that has some confidence after thumping South Kitsap on Friday 38-6.

Bethel falls to 4-2 and continues their toughest part of their schedule as they host 5-1 Puyallup, next week.