7:11 p.m. Countdown to kickoff This game must be a big deal. Three TV trucks (KING5, KIRO7, Q13) are here at Auburn Memorial Stadium to watch this battle of top-10 football teams.
It's the first state football playoff game for M-P since 1989, and the Tomahawks will be without their star: Senior running back Austin Denton (high ankle sprain) is in street clothes and obviously will not play.
M-P coach Brandon Carson said he hopes Denton can return next week for the state quarterfinals, if M-P (10-0) is able to beat Auburn (10-0) tonight.
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7:50 p.m. Score update: M-P 9, Auburn 0, End of first quarter
M-P is off to a great start and actually should be ahead by more. Danny Stokes kicked a 31-yard field goal for the Tomahawks, and AJ Kvangnes has a 48-yard TD run.
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8:04 p.m. Now M-P leads 15-0. Kvangnes just rushed for another TD.
Here is a pre-game video interview I recorded with M-P head coach Brandon Carson.
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8:28 p.m. Halftime score: M-P 15, Auburn 7
Although No. 8 Marysville-Pilchuck leads by eight points, the Tomahawks could have built a much bigger lead if not for several missed opportunities and turnovers.
M-P rushed for a staggering 283 yards on 24 attempts in the half and got two TD runs from Kvangnes (48 yards and 9 yards). Meanwhile, Auburn also rushed 24 times but managed just 100 yards.
Despite the lopsided offensive yardage numbers, M-P hurt itself with three lost fumbles, including two in the final 3 minutes of the second quarter. Auburn's Austin Embody picked up one of the fumbles and returned it 47 yards for a score, accounting for the Trojans' only TD of the half.
Even without star back Austin Denton, the school's single-season record holder for rushing yards, M-P is dominating on the ground and moving the ball almost at will. It just needs to do a better job of holding onto the ball.
A HUGE group of M-P fans made the trek from Marysville. They have pretty much packed the visitors' bleachers and they brought the school band.
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M-P rushing leaders through two quarters Zack Hanson 105 yards, seven carries AJ Kvangnes 89 yards, eight carries, two TDs Ryley Caldwell 55 yards, six carries
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Score update: M-P 15, Auburn 15, End of third quarter
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Score update: Auburn 18, M-P 15, 8:40 to go in the game
Auburn's Aaron McMahon made an 18-yard field goal.
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Score update: Auburn 25, M-P 15, 8:15 to go in the game
M-P lost a fumble and Auburn returned it 38 yards for a score.
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Score update: Auburn 25, M-P 22, 3:01 to go
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Final score: Auburn 25, M-P 22
Congrats to Marysville-Pilchuck on an incredible season. But in the end the Tomahawks made too many mistakes (mainly their four lost fumbles, including two that Auburn returned for TDs).
M-P senior AJ Kvangnes rushed for 112 yards on 15 carries, including three TDs. M-P senior QB Zack Hanson rushed for 132 yards on 11 carries and completed a 39-yard pass, but was just 1 of 8 through the air.
After Auburn’s Zak Sauve scored on a 38-yard fumble return that put the Trojans on top 25-15 with 8 minutes, 15 seconds to go, M-P responded with a TD. Kvangnes rushed for his third score of the night, a 1-yard run.
M-P made the extra-point kick (making it 25-22 with 4:37 remaining) and then the Tomahawks’ Suli Tamaivena recovered an onside kick by teammate Danny Stokes.
But Auburn’s defense came up big, stopping M-P’s Jarrett Finau a yard short of a first down on fourth-and-10 near midfield. In the midst of its fifth straight state appearance, Auburn took over and ran out the clock.
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