Offense, early start are top concerns for Archbishop Murphy

The Archbishop Murphy football team beat North Kitsap 27-0 to advance to Saturday’s 2A state semifinal against No. 1-ranked Tumwater, but the Wildcats certainly weren’t as sharp in the win as they had been in previous weeks.

The Wildcats led just 6-0 at halftime against a team that had lost to Black Hills, which Archbishop Murphy trounced 56-21 and led 49-7 at halftime in the opening round of the state playoffs.

Defensively, the Wildcats didn’t allow a point, something they had done five other times this season.

However, the Wildcats’ usually potent offense struggled. A punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter by junior Anfernee Gurley sparked a 21-point second half for the Wildcats, but the offense will need to do more against Tumwater if the Wildcats are going to earn a spot in this year’s state championship game.

Head coach Jerry Jensen made sure his team was aware of that throughout the week.

“I would rather have a wake-up call than to have gone out and beat North Kitsap 56-0 and then try to tell the kids that Tumwater is going to beat their butts if they don’t focus up,” Jensen said. “It was cold that night. That was the first time we really have been in those conditions. (Running back and Wildcats’ leading rusher) Kerry Jackson went out in the first series and that’s another thing we hadn’t prepared for. Kerry has been a workhorse for us. It took us a quarter and a half to figure out what we could do and what we wanted to do without Kerry. Once we did that, Anfernee returned the punt and we scored a couple of times in the second half.”

Jackson, who has rushed for 1,018 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, is day-to-day after suffering a hip injury, Jensen said.

Playing indoors at the Tacoma Dome the Wildcats won’t have to worry about the cold, but they do have a 10 a.m. start, which Jensen made clear he doesn’t like and is cause for concern.

“It’s craziness,” Jensen said. “I don’t know why the WIAA puts a game at 10 o’clock. From scheduling whether we’re going to leave school at 6:30 in the morning or if we’re going to try to get the kids in a hotel down there, it doesn’t make any sense. So, yeah, it’s a concern.”

An even bigger concern for the Wildcats might be Tumwater’s potent rushing attack. The Thunderbirds have four players who have rushed for 590 or more yards this season.

“We’ve got to just do what we do and that’s who we are,” Jensen said. “If they’re good enough to beat us and we’re playing what we do, then so be it. We’re not going to jump out and try to do a bunch of crazy things to confuse them.”

Archbishop Murphy vs. Tumwater

Where: Tacoma Dome

When: 10 a.m., Saturday

Key Players: Archbishop Murphy—Anfernee Gurley, jr., RB/DB; Kerry Jackson, sr., RB/LB; Jesus Echevarria, jr., OL/DL; Jackson Yost, jr., OL/DL; Ben Hines, soph., RB/LB; Kyler Gordon, soph., WR/DB; Connor Johnson, jr., QB. Tumwater—Jarid Barrett, sr., FB/MLB; Dominic Jones, sr., RB/OLB; Noah Andrews, jr., QB/RB/FS; Griffin Shea, sr., WR/DB; Spencer Dowers, sr., QB; Cade Otton, jr., TE/OLB; Devon Shedd-Kirkland, sr., DE.

Records: Archbishop Murphy 12-0. Tumwater 12-0.

Twitter: @aaronlommers, @Krueger_David and @heraldnetpreps

Herald Pick: Archbishop Murphy

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

X
Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16

Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.