Glacier Peak edges Ballard 41-33 in 3A state opener

SNOHOMISH — The wet weather didn’t do anybody any favors Saturday night.

The Glacier Peak and Ballard football teams both had a hard time hanging on to the ball in a steady rain, combining for eight turnovers. But the Grizzlies were able to hold on in the end, defeating Ballard 41-33 in the opening round of the 3A state tournament at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.

“It’s football in November, baby,” said Glacier Peak head coach Rory Rosenbach. “I’m so proud of these guys overcoming the adversity. Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong with turnovers. Both teams were so resilient. Those guys were amazing. They fought back after every single thing that went bad for them too. It was just a great high school football game. We were fortunate to come out on top.”

Glacier Peak’s Colton Bunt led the Grizzlies’ comeback with five touchdowns. The junior had 291 yards rushing on 21 carries.

“He’s a beast. He’s a man,” Rosenbach said. “Man, 290 yards? I don’t know what else to say.”

“Huge props to the linemen,” Bunt said. “It wouldn’t have happened without them. That was awesome.”

The Grizzlies won despite losing four fumbles in the contest. Ballard lost three — along with an interception by quarterback Davine Tullis — to account for the game’s eight turnovers.

The Beavers scored the games first 19 points and led the entire first half, with a 26-15 advantage at halftime. A 13-yard run by Iain Black gave Glacier Peak its first lead of the game with 3:33 to go in the third quarter.

“When you’re down you can’t just give up,” Bunt said. “The coaches have been pounding on that the whole time. We never felt nervous. We knew we were going to come back. We had to make a couple adjustments. We knew we were a good enough team that we could come back.”

The teams continued to battle with Ballard retaking the lead on a 40 yard touchdown pass from Tullis to Simon Robinson IV — the second touchdown for the pair in the contest.

The Grizzlies quickly responded, with a pair of touchdown runs by Bunt in the fourth quarter to help Glacier Peak (10-1 overall) recapture the lead.

“We knew we could grind them and wear them down in the second half,” Rosenbach said. “They can’t stop you if you keep chugging away.”

Fittingly, a lost fumble by Ballard on a punt return with a minute left in the game sealed the victory for Glacier Peak.

Black finished with nine carries for 43 yards and Dexter Carter added another 46 yards on nine carries for the Grizzlies’ rushing attack. Glacier Peak freshman quarterback Ayden Ziomas was 8 of 15 for 53 yards.

Ballard (8-3) running back Antoine Patton helped the Beavers build an early lead with two touchdowns in the first half. Patton had 94 yards on nine carries before injuring his left ankle late in the second quarter. The senior had to be helped off the field and did not return to the game.

With Patton out, Tullis ran more, gaining 46 yards on 13 carries. The senior quarterback was 12 of 33 for 137 yards, two touchdowns and the interception.

The Grizzlies host Bellevue (9-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in the 3A state quarterfinals. The Wolverines defeated Glacier Peak 24-6 in a non-conference game in week five to account for the Grizzlies’ lone loss this season.

“We’re going to enjoy this one for the night, but let me tell you right now: we’re excited about next week,” Rosenbach said. “We’re excited about getting another crack at those boys.”

“We’re hungry for Bellevue,” Bunt added. “We want them. We know they’re a really good team, a really disciplined team. But we’re hungry. We’re coming for them.”

At Veterans Memorial Stadium

Ballard 13 13 7 0 –33

Glacier Peak 0 15 13 13 –41

B–Antoine Patton 24 run (Jack Dineen kick)

B–Simon Robinson IV 29 pass from Davine Tullis (kick blocked)

B–Patton 23 run (run failed)

GP–Colton Bunt 50 run (Kevin Ramsey kick)

GP–Bunt 4 run (kick blocked)

GP–Ballard punter tackled in endzone for safety

B–De’Lovante Sanders 12 run (Dineen kick)

GP–Bunt 2 run (run failed)

GP–Iain Black 13 run (Ramsey kick)