Everett, Wash.
Published: Saturday, November 22, 2008

Archbishop Murphy dominates with powerful ground attack

Four different backs score as the Wildcats amass nearly 400 rushing yards; Milburn leads way with 151 yards, 3 TDS

By Mike Cane
Herald Writer

 TUMWATER -- The last game Terry Ennis coached in his prolific career was at Tumwater District Stadium.

Ennis, the renowned football coach who died of cancer last year, guided the Archbishop Murphy High School football team to a victory over Black Hills at the stadium on Sept. 8, 2007. Ennis passed away four days later.

On Friday Archbishop Murphy returned to the field for the first time. The Wildcats' dominant performance would have made Ennis smile.

Sparked by a powerful rushing attack that generated nearly 400 yards, Archbishop Murphy blasted Centralia 40-13 in a Class 2A state quarterfinal game.

Standout running back/linebacker CJ Milburn rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns. He also spearheaded a defense that kept Centralia scoreless until the fourth quarter.

"He just anchors the middle of that defense and he's such a solid tackler. When he sticks a guy, they go down," said first-year Murphy head coach Dave Ward, whose team improved to 12-0. The Wildcats, ranked No. 2 in the final Associated Press 2A poll, play Lynden (10-2) next weekend in the semifinals at the Tacoma Dome.

Sixth-ranked Lynden, which beat Blaine 21-7 Friday, lost to Murphy 26-15 Sept. 5 in the season opener for both teams.

In three playoff games, Murphy has outscored opponents 140-20. Against ninth-ranked Centralia (9-3), the Wildcats built a 33-0 lead. With wet, windy conditions limiting their passing ability, they mainly kept the ball on the ground. Milburn and Randy Gordon (91 yards and a TD on seven carries) led the way.

Eleven Murphy players had a rushing attempt. Four backs scored touchdowns.

"It gives us a lot of options," said Milburn, the Cascade Conference defensive player of the year, "and so many weapons, so it's hard to stop."

Other than allowing a 47-yard run on Centralia's first offensive play, Archbishop Murphy was in control throughout the first half. The Wildcats led 20-0 thanks to good blocking and three touchdown runs -- two by Milburn and one by Gordon.

The conditions were frigid and soggy, but that didn't hamper Murphy's offense. The Wildcats racked up 190 yards rushing and another 45 yards through the air through the first two quarters. Milburn led the ground attack with 94 yards on 11 carries.

Gordon's TD provided Murphy's first points of the game, on its first drive. Five plays after Murphy stopped Centralia on fourth-and-6 inside the Wildcats' 20-yard line, Gordon zipped through an opening on the right side and sprinted 51 yards untouched to the right corner of the end zone.

In the second half, Centralia tried to get back in it. But the Tigers' run-heavy Wing-T offense didn't produce big plays, thanks largely to Milburn and lineman JJ Quinlan.

Ennis, Murphy's former coach, was on Quinlan's mind all night, Quinlan said a few minutes after the game ended.

"It was really emotional. I just kept thinking about him the whole entire game," Quinlan said.

Murphy defenders limited Centralia's star back, Zack Baldwin, to 24 yards in the first half on nine carries. Baldwin came into the game with 1,656 yards (a school record) and 17 TDs.

"That was the key," coach Ward said. "He's a good-looking young running back. We had to key him and take him out of the game."

Centralia finally scored with 7 minutes, 40 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. Baldwin zoomed into the end zone for the first of his two TDs. He finished with 94 yards on 22 carries.

At Tumwater H.S.

Murphy 7 13 13 7 -- 40

Centralia 0 0 0 13 -- 13

Archbishop Murphy--Gordon 51 run (Mifflin kick)

Archbishop Murphy--Milburn 4 run (Mifflin kick)

Archbishop Murphy--Milburn 3 run (kick failed)

Archbishop Murphy--Milburn 2 run (Mifflin kick)

Archbishop Murphy--McClure 7 run (kick blocked)

Archbishop Murphy--Clark 14 run (Mifflin kick)

Centralia--Baldwin 12 run (Murphy kick)

Centralia--Baldwin 3 run (kick failed)

Records-Archbishop Murphy 12-0 overall. Centralia 9-3.



Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA