High school football roundup: Timberline’s toughness on display in win over Gig Harbor

Turned out, Timberline High School missing its starting kicker might have been a blessing in disguise. After senior Kaleb McNeely scored in overtime on a 2-yard run, Timberline had no choice but to go for a 2-point conversion, as the Blazers had done all game against Gig Harbor in a Class 3A South Sound Conference matchup Thursday night at Roy Anderson Field.

The call? Another handoff to McNeely, who trucked his defender on the way into the end zone, putting Timberline up by eight points.

Gig Harbor answered with a touchdown, but the Tides’ 2-point conversion failed and Timberline hung on for the 36-34 road win.

“This is big,” McNeely said. “Our coach all week was telling us, this is a playoff game for us. We win this game, it puts us in a really good spot. … I told my guys, just put a body on a body and I’ll run somebody over.”

Timberline is down to what would’ve been its third-string running back going into this season. Presumptive starter Jackson Brown suffered an elbow injury in the spring. Jacob Nadeau, the starter so far this fall, broke his collarbone last week. In stepped junior Cedric Ragland, who looked good for the Blazers, extending plays with his legs and making big plays downfield in clutch moments. He completed 11-of-20 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown and added 30 yards on the ground.

“He’s a talented kid,” Timberline coach James Jones said. “He’s an athlete. Plays basketball. He was able to make the adjustments. We were pretty much able to roll with a lot of the same game plan.”

In important spots throughout the game, Timberline was just tougher than Gig Harbor. That piece — setting the tone physically — was a point of emphasis for the Blazers coming into the game.

“We wanted to set the tone from the start,” linebacker Darrell Gipson said. “We knew that we’re the smallest team, so coming into every game, we want to come in and set the tone and let you know that we’re not just going to back down.”

The play of the game came in the fourth quarter, when senior Jerrell Larkins spun out of a couple tackles, sprinted down to left sideline and took a punt return for a touchdown 55 yards. Timberline converted the ensuing two-point conversion, giving the Blazers a 22-21 lead.

“Gigantic,” Jones said. “It got us right where we needed to be. Special teams has been a little rough for us. Our kicker is hurt. To be able to have our special teams make a big play was just incredible.”

While Gig Harbor would ultimately force overtime, the play swung momentum in Timberline’s direction.

“That’s huge,” McNeely said. “I told Jerrell before that, just give us one right here, we need it. That was huge, that put us right back in the game. All the momentum on our side.”

Gig Harbor quarterback Will Landram had a big night, completing 18-of-33 passes for 344 yards and four touchdowns, two of which went to Benji Parks. Landram also rushed for a touchdown in overtime. Gavin Nash had four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown for Gig Harbor.

McNeely led the Blazers with two rushing touchdowns and Jackson Brown had five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown.

PENINSULA 48, RIVER RIDGE 6

Elsewhere in 3A SSC play, it took the Seahawks (4-1) a little bit of time to warm up against the Hawks (0-4), but despite some early hiccups, the Peninsula offense settled into a productive and unrelenting rhythm at South Sound Stadium in Lacey.

“We took the first possession right down the field. We had a clunky first half, River Ridge was doing a nice job at throwing some stunts and different rushers we weren’t expecting,” Peninsula coach Ross Filkins said. “But, we cleaned it up at halftime. Payton Knowles did a great job operating the offense, and our third-down conversion rate was outstanding.”

The Seahawks never lost the lead after scoring on their opening possession.

The Hawks did answer with a Kekoa Kopp rushing touchdown, but Peninsula kept a 7-6 advantage following a missed PAT attempt, and River Ridge didn’t find the end zone again.

The Seahawks added two passing touchdowns from Knowles in response to take a 21-6 lead at the break.

“River Ridge has some athletes on their side of the ball, our work was cut out for us,” Filkins said. “As the game progressed, we had to make sure everyone was doing their job. The defensive backs especially stepped up. They forced turnovers, playing more disciplined, and are letting the game come to them.”

The Seahawks offense continued to roll in the second half, adding four more rushing touchdowns to close out a win.

Knowles finished 14-of-21 passing for 197 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Smith (five catches, 38 yards) and another to Dane Meddaugh (five catches, 51 yards).

Landon Watson led Peninsula’s rushing attack with 11 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns, while Smith also had two rushing scores and 76 yards on two carries.

Peninsula’s next 3A SSC contest is at Central Kitsap next Friday, while River Ridge travels to play Gig Harbor.

ENUMCLAW 56, STEILACOOM 13

The Hornets added another convincing win Thursday night at Pete’s Pool in Enumclaw to keep their undefeated season rolling.

They opened with a pair of wins over 3A programs in last season’s 3A SSC co-champion Peninsula and Silas.

The last three weeks, the Hornets (5-0) have rattled off three more wins over 2A SPSL opponents, and are now alone atop the league standings with four regular season games to play.

First, they routed Washington. Last week, they held on for a victory over previously undefeated Fife.

Thursday night, they ran away with another win over defending league champion Steilacoom — which was the only other 2A SPSL program still unbeaten in league play entering the week.

The Hornets were quick to build a lead they never lost against the visiting Sentinels (3-2).

A pair of touchdown passes by quarterback Gunnar Trachte — on a 35-yard toss to Bo Dods and a 30-yard completion to Karson Holt — gave Enumclaw a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.

The first of running back Emmit Otero’s three rushing scores on a 9-yard run in the second gave the Hornets a three-touchdown lead in the second.

Steilacoom responded with an 8-yard score by Jaycion Cain to make it 21-7, but the Sentinels never got closer.

Enumclaw scored the next five touchdowns.

Otero added a 35-yard scoring run before the break and Mason Taylor-Wells found the end zone on a blocked punt return to give the Hornets a 35-7 advantage at halftime.

Holt added a second touchdown catch on an 18-yard pass from Trachte in the third, and Otero added a 2-yard run to push the lead beyond 40 points before the quarter expired.

Louis Chevalier scored the last of Enumclaw’s eight touchdowns in the fourth on a 35-yard run.

The Sentinels didn’t find the end zone again until late in the fourth, on a 70-yard completion from Drew MacDonald to Jaydus Green.

Steilacoom continues 2A SPSL play next Thursday at home against Clover Park, while Enumclaw travels to Franklin Pierce.

LAKES 70, SILAS 28

It may not show in the final score, but the Lancers (4-0) had a slow start in their game against the Rams (2-3) on Friday night.

At one point, they were down 20-14.

The game eventually turned behind big rushing nights from Ki’marree Washington and BYU commit Leo Pulalasi, who combined for 328 yards on the ground for Lakes.

“We came out a little flat out of the gate. But, it is good for the kids to deal with a little bit of adversity,” Lancers coach Dave Miller said. “We definitely leaned on the running game, and the offensive line gave them some creases to run the ball effectively.”

Washington led the way for Lakes with 186 yards and four touchdowns, while Pulalasi finished with 142 yards and three scores.

Freshman quarterback Legend Galeai finished 5-of-9 passing for 166 yards and two touchdowns, with his top target David Wells, an Oregon State commit, hauling in three catches for 137 yards and both scores.

Lakes hosts Battle Ground in a nonleague contest next Saturday, while Silas visits Spanaway Lake in a 3A Pierce County League matchup.

SPANAWAY LAKE 42, STADIUM 0

The Sentinels left no room for the Tigers’ offense to get going in a shutout Friday night.

Meanwhile, Spanaway Lake’s offense took control early, and piled up six touchdowns at Stadium Bowl.

“We just had a great game plan going in,” Spanaway Lake coach Cameron Robak said. “Offensively we controlled the game and we hit the spots we wanted to along the way. (Dempsy) James took advantage of some running opportunities, and that really helped out our offense.

“The defense shut out Stadium. They did what we needed them to do out there.”

James opened scoring with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Cotman in the first quarter, and added a 30-yard scoring pass to De’arius Hawkins and a 60-yard rushing touchdown in the second.

D’aryhian Clemons also scored a pair of first-half rushing touchdowns on runs of 3 and 29 yards.

The Sentinels built a 35-0 lead by halftime.

Jonathan Wray scored Spanaway Lake’s final touchdown on a 10-yard run late in the fourth.

Spanaway Lake (4-1) continues 3A PCL play against Silas next Friday, while Stadium (1-4) visits Lincoln.

W.F. WEST 28, TUMWATER 7

For the first time since 2009, the Bearcats (4-1) stand victorious over the T-Birds (4-1), and now have sole possession of first place in the 2A Evergreen Conference.

How did W.F. West solve Tumwater on Friday night at Tumwater District Stadium? With a fast start and a ferocious defense.

The Bearcats defense held Tumwater offense just 161 yards of total offense, including 104 on the ground and 57 through the air.

“It feels incredible. Our boys worked extremely hard for this,” W.F. West coach Dan Hill said. “The offense had some big plays through the air, and our O-line held up against their athletic D-line.

“We had a great game plan going. Tumwater is one of the best in the state, and they executed the game plan perfectly. Our front seven are great football players, a very talented group of guys.”

Quarterback Gavin Fugate got the ball rolling offensively for the Bearcats early in the first quarter. Their first drive got close to the goal line after a connection with sophomore receiver Gage Brumfield. Two plays later, running back Tucker Land punched the ball in from 8 yards out.

Fugate connected with Brumfield again, on the next drive, this time for a 10-yard touchdown.

Receiver Cameron Amoroso later caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Fugate to extend the Bearcats’ lead.

W.F. West added a big defensive stand at the end of the first half. Recovering a fumble at the goal line, the Tumwater offense then gave the ball back to the Bearcats via an interception.

Receiver Evan Stajduhar scored before the break for the Bearcats, who entered halftime with a 28-0 lead.

Tumwater eventually responded with an interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter, but the T-Birds never got closer.

Both programs continue 2A EvCo play next Friday. W.F. West hosts Rochester, while Tumwater hosts Aberdeen.

CURTIS 34, BELLARMINE 14

Some early defense combined with junior quarterback Rocco Koch having a productive day for the Vikings, allowed them to cruise to a win over the Lions.

After turning the ball over on downs on their first possession deep in Bellarmone’s territory, a quick interception by sophomore defensive back Parker Mady put them right back knocking on the door. Then Koch completed a 12 yard touchdown pass to Mady to take the early lead.

“Our defense wanted Bellarmine to throw the ball. We had them backewd up, and the turnover negated itself after we got the ball back,” said coach Darren McKay. “Our offense didn’t punt all game, and we had nearly 300 yards of offense by the half. We still felt like we could’ve scored more, we left some points on the field.”

From there, the Vikings would get two more scores before the end of the half. The first came from a four yard run from senior receiver Carter Siridakis. The second rushing touchdown was a 76-yard run from Koch.

After a Lions score to open the second half, Koch answered back with a drive that culminated with a 13-yard pass to junior receiver Mataio Wilson. Their final touchdown was another four yard scamper from Siridakis to seal the game away.

Curtis comes away with the victory and will try to continue their winning ways against Graham-Kapowsin. That game starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 8 at Art Crate Field.

C: 7-14-7-6--34

BP: 0-7-7-0--14