This year, the Marysville Pilchuck football team is thankful for spending its Thanksgiving morning at practice.
The Tomahawks have helped rally their city with three big postseason wins and are preparing to go for No. 4 as they take on Bellevue in the state semifinals Friday for just the second time in school history.
“Since what happened has happened, our team is just completely different,” said lineman Corbin Ferry, a senior captain. “It’s a different game when you’re playing for a city as opposed to playing for a win. The way the community has supported us, this is a chance for us to give back to them.”
Football has been a big part of helping the city cope in the past month, after a high school freshman shot five classmates and then himself in the school cafeteria on Oct. 24.
Gia Soriano, Zoe Galasso and Shaylee Chuckulnaskit, all 14, and Andrew Fryberg, 15, died of gunshot wounds. So did the shooter, Jaylen Fryberg, 15. Fellow freshman Nate Hatch, 14, was shot in the jaw and is recovering at home.
Tomahawks around the area have flocked to Marysville Pilchuck’s games to root on the football team, which has responded with a strong season.
“It’s been a nice distraction with all that’s gone on,” said Brandon Carson, Marysville Pilchuck’s head coach. “It’s really nice. The kids are into it, the coaching staff is into it, the fans, the community – everyone is into it. It means a lot to everyone involved … I know it means a lot to the players and the coaching staff.”
When the Tomahawks took the field on Oct. 31 for their first game since the tragedy, the players were overwhelmed by the community’s incredible support.
“The fans have been wonderful. That first game back was crazy,” lineman Keenan Darby said. “It was like 4,000 people there. You couldn’t hear anything. I love that feeling and I hope we can help them heal, because I know they’ve helped me heal. And my football team’s helped me heal.”
Now, the Tomahawks hope to continue the healing with another big playoff win.
Marysville Pilchuck’s next opponent is Bellevue on Friday night at 7:30 in a 3A state semifinal game, the Tomahawks’ first since 1989, in the Tacoma Dome.
The Wolverines, who are ranked among the top 25 high school teams nationally, have won 66 consecutive games and the past six state championships.
As has become their custom, the Tomahawks are not backing down.
“You’ve got to take into account how great they’ve been, historically,” junior center Sam Watson said. “When you think high school football, in this area especially, you just think Bellevue. They’re amazing… The biggest thing to me is just we have a shot at them. We have a chance to play that great team to see who we are, to see how we play.”
“It’s the biggest game of our lives,” said linebacker Drew Hatch, a senior captain. “We’re looking at a team that’s won state the last six years, so we know that they’re good and they’re hungry for that next one. But we’re just as hungry. We want to be the one to beat them. They haven’t lost since, what, 2009? We want to be the one to end it.”
The game has drawn national attention, with several former National Football Players, including Terrell Owens and Willie McGinest, tweeting at the Tomahawks to congratulate and encourage them as they prep for Bellevue.
“Congratulations @MPTomahawkFball! Out of the greatest darkness comes greater hope and light. #MPStrong,” tweeted NFL Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk.
Even Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff is a little conflicted about the game.
“They are the (sentimental) favorites coming in and they should be,” Goncharoff said. “All those things those guys have dealt with … we’ve got the stickers on the helmets. I’m quietly rooting for them. But when the ball is kicked we’re going to play football. I admire the hell out of those guys. But I’ll also tell you, they can play.
“If we don’t come out and play our best game and play as hard as we can, we’re not giving them the respect they deserve,” Goncharoff continued. “We’re not honoring them by coming out and not playing hard. We need to play hard. They want to see us at our best and we want to see them at their best. That’s what high school football is.”
All the excitement and anticipation has the players a bit eager to get the game under way.
“I’m trying to keep it cool because I don’t want to be freaking out in class and scaring my teachers,” Darby said. “But I’m pretty excited.”
Marysville Pilchuck is looking to continue to rally for its community and continue to give the Tomahawks’ fans something to cheer for.
“It feels like I’m living in a movie,” Ferry said. “The way that everyone’s come together and everyone’s supported each other has been amazing. I’m living in a movie right now.”
Friday night the Tomahawks are hoping for a Hollywood ending.
Herald Writer David Krueger: dkrueger@heraldnet.com
Herald Writer Aaron Lommers contributed to this story.
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