Heraldnet.com
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 12:13 pm
LocalNorthwestNation & WorldPoliticsSpecial ReportsPhotosColumnistsMultimedia 
Blog
Double Team
Football updates: Jackson, Archbishop Murphy, E-W, Lynnwood, Shorewood, Shorecrest, King’s
Latest gallery

East-West All Star Game
June 27. 2009 (10 photos)
[More Herald photos]
 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Friday
Armed man shot by deputies in Arlington
Police ID make of vehicle in fatal hit-and-run
Boeing's 6-month tally: 1 net order
Thursday


One fire rips through $2 million home, another ...
Swine flu claims 2nd victim in Snohomish County
Jetty Island firefight continues; hot weather ...
Wednesday


Fire District 1 negotiates to take over service...
Snohomish County population rising fast since 2...
Honey's owners indicted by feds
Tuesday


Mobile home tenants along Snohomish River told ...
Lincoln to leave Everett in 2013
Put on your sailor's cap and explore Naval Stat...
Monday


Disabled people will be left without a ride
You'll soon have 4,500 reasons to trade in that...
Pay hike deserved, Monroe chief says
Sunday


1,670 local students in county are without homes
Monroe's business gets done in secret
$9 million to be sought for U.S. 2 in federal t...
Saturday


Use of local parks spikes
Gay-friendly shift at 2 churches
Racist graffiti scrawled on cars in Everett nei...
 

ADVERTISEMENT

High Schools   Print This Article  Email This Page  Subscribe Now! facebook digg reddit del.icio.us fark stumble

Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald  (click to enlarge)
Murphy running back CJ Milburn (32) finds a big hole in the Centralia defense and goes for a long gain.
 
ADVERTISEMENT

 
HIGH SCHOOL SCORES AND SCHEDULES:
By sport:
By date:
By school:    • Stadium map
By league:
STANDINGS:
CONTACT THE HERALD
Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.)
E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com
Kevin Brown, Sports Editor
kbrown@heraldnet.com
 
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

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.

READER COMMENTS
Be the first to comment.
You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet.

To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click hereLog out

1. Snohomish County man dies of swine flu
2. Lynnwood bank reprimanded by government
3. Police ID make of vehicle in fatal hit-and-run
4. Armed man shot by deputies in Arlington
5. IRS joins puppy mill investigation
6. Jetty Island ready for sand castles
7. Boeing's 6-month tally: 1 net order
8. Warriors & Patriots: Many American Indians served before getting full citizenship rights
9. Movin' out
10. Marshals seize swindler's home
Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
Warriors looking for balance
Three Scots vying for QB slot
Jackson looks for another title
Decorated veteran continues to serve as active volunteer
City Council reviewing sign regulations
Wildcats get a peek at newcomers
Lynnwood still in rebuilding mode
Shoreline feels a kindergarten growth spurt
Leave the patriotic pyrotechnics to professionals, cities urge
The Enterprise Online Newspaper

TODAY'S TOP JOBS
 View All Top Jobs 
Top Cars
Top Homes


ADVERTISEMENT