3 Washington high school football games you should not have missed from Week 3 (9/15/2023)
With both programs on the rise in Class 4A, the Bothell-Skyview matchup Friday had all the makings of a thriller.
Scoreless at halftime, Bothell put the first points of the game on the board on a 4-yard touchdown run from Cole Brooke in the third quarter.
What followed was 21 unanswered points from fourth-ranked Skyview - and a 21-7 non-league win over the No. 8 Cougars at Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver.
"It wasn't a thing of beauty. We turned the ball over a bunch in the first half, but I thought our guys settled down and fought hard," Skyview coach Steve Kizer said. "They just made some incredible catches and Jake Kennedy made some great throws. Our receivers caught some balls I thought were highlight kind of catches, our o-line came around a little bit and the defense bent a little bit, but didn't break."
Skyview tied things up with 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Kennedy to wide receiver Riley Artis.
Artis helped set up the go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter with a long reception before running back Trey Jacob punched it in from 1 yard out.
The Storm got some insurance late from Kennedy and Artis yet again who hooked up for a 77-yard score to make it 21-7.
"We gave Jake enough time to throw it and the biggest play – the 70-yarder to Riley – there was a protection breakdown and Jake just threw the guy off, popped up and threw it. That was all Jake."
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BONNEY LAKE STUNS LAKES ON THE ROAD
Even though it's been nearly seven seasons since Bonney Lake has played in the WIAA playoffs - coach Jason Silbaugh had a good feeling about his squad's playoff outlook heading into this fall.
He might be right after all.
The Panthers drove 65 yards in the final 31/2 minutes, capped by Marcus Lloyd's 12-yard touchdown run with 1:13 to go, to upset sixth-ranked Lakes, 29-26, at Harry E. Lang Stadium.
And the Bonney Lake defense got a key sack in the final seconds of backup quarterback Exavier McChristian, who came on for the injured Legend Galeai to start the fourth quarter, to thwart a final push.
"This was a huge step," Silbaugh" said. We took a step back last week against Gig Harbor .. with nine 3-and-outs and let it get away from us.
"I believe this is a playoff team. We’ve got the kids ready to make plays and are ready to fight."
Lakes held a 20-15 lead when Galeai left the game at the end of the third quarter.
Brayden Palmer gave the Panthers a 21-20 lead on a 22-yard touchdown run with 6:30 to go, but Lakes answered on McChristian's 60-yard scoring strike to Elijiah McChristian.
It set up Bonney Lake's game-winning march to shake up the 3A PCL.
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ENUMCLAW MAKES STATEMENT IN 2A SPSL
It's still early in the 2023 football season, but Enumclaw coach Mark Gunderson knows how important his team's 42-0 win over Steilacoom was.
Even with a banged up Sentinels squad on the other sideline, the Hornets, looking every bit of the state contender they were a year ago, sent a message to the rest of the 2A SPSL.
"We just played really good tonight – obviously our offense did, as well," Enumclaw coach Mark Gunderson said. "It was just a good team win. It feels good to be 3-0."
It was all Enumclaw from the start and not once did the Hornets let up.
Quarterback Gunnar Trachte was an efficient 12-of-14 passing for 135 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Louis Chevalier had a 45-yard rushing touchdown and 35-yard pick-six.
The win leaves Enumclaw and Orting as the remaining undefeated teams in the 2A SPSL with the two set to face next week.
Gunderson and the Hornets aren't looking that far ahead yet, though.
"It's definitely too early to start talking about that stuff down the road," Gunderson said. "We'll take it one game at a time here and when all that stuff is said and done hope to take it another game farther than we did last year."
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