By Aaron Lommers Herald Writer
MARYSVILLE — It was total dominance, there is just no other way to describe it.
The Marysville Pilchuck controlled every aspect on Saturday night’s quad-district playoff against Mountain View, cruising a 42-7 victory over the Panthers to qualify for the state playoffs.
“It’s a really good way to start your second season that’s for sure,” Marysville Pilchuck head coach Brandon Carson said.
It took the Tomahawks just three offensive plays to get on the scoreboard first and it was the quick feet of running back Austin Joyner that did the job. Joyner’s 64-yard touchdown run was the longest play from scrimmage in the game and after Ryan Spiva’s extra point, gave the Tomahawks a 7-0 lead.
But it certainly wasn’t the only big play for Marysville.
The Tomahawks forced the Panthers into a three-and-out on the next possession and wasted little time capitalizing again. It took the Tommies just six plays to travel 53 yards and scored the game’s second touchdown, a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Jake Luton.
The score remained 14-0 until the second quarter, which is where the Tomahawks would do most of their damage.
Marysville’s Cody Freeman recovered a Panthers fumble on the last play of the first quarter and just three plays into the second quarter Joyner was in the end zone again, his second touchdown of the game, this time on a 19-yard run.
Meanwhile, while Joyner and running back Kacey Walker were carving up the Panthers defense, the defense of the Tomahawks was pitching a shutout.
Mountain View had just three first downs in the first half and finished with just 59 yards of total offense in the first half.
“We did a great job defensively there in the first half,” Carson said. “I was really happy with them. They really responded after last week, you know giving up a bunch of yards. They are a pretty prideful group and they are pretty excited to be at this point of the season, so they play hard.”
The first drive of the second quarter was the same story for the Panthers, another three-and-out and the Marysville offense went right back to work. Led by Walker and Joyner, the Tomahawks worked an 11-play drive that resulted in Joyner’s third touchdown, this time from 2 yards out and gave the Tommies a 28-0 lead.
“It all started with the line honestly,” Joyner said. “Our line blocked and executed every play. They made it so much easier for us to do everything that we did. The initial hole was there and that’s what caused the big runs.”
The Panthers next drive last just one play as the Tomahawks forced running back Austin Mace to fumble and the ball was recovered by Tyler Wade.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, the Tomahawks next drive lasted just one play as well, a touchdown run of 24 yards by Deion Stell.
“We were real efficient there in the first half,” Carson said. “It was really nice to build a lead and get some of our backups in and kind of get rested up a bit.”
Walker added a touchdown run from a yard out to give the Tomahawks a 42-0 lead going into the locker room. When asked if Carson expected to be up by 42 going into halftime, he admitted it hadn’t crossed his mind.
“No, not at all,” Carson said. “But I sure was happy that we got the running clock in the second half.”
The Tomahawks scored a touchdown on every possession they had in the second quarter except the last one, and that might only be because time expired.
With a big lead, Joyner and Walker were able to rest in the second half. It was probably fair considering they both put up statistics that most players would be happy to have for an entire game in the first half.
Joyner finished with 210 yards on 10 carries and three touchdowns and Walker had 109 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown — and both players did it all in the first half.
Saturday’s victory means that the Tomahawks travel to Lacey next weekend to take on Timberline in the 3A state round of 16.
“They are a big physical football team,” Carson said. “We are going to have our hands full; it is going to be a pretty good fight.”
Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on twitter @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.
At Quil Ceda Stadium
Mountain View0007—7
Marysville Pilchuck142800—42
MP—Austin Joyner 64 run (Ryan Spiva kick)
MP—Jake Luton 1 run (Spiva kick)
MP—Joyner 19 run (Spiva kick)
MP—Joyner 2 run (Spiva kick)
MP—Deion Stell 24 run (Spiva kick)
MP—Kacey Walker 1 run (Spiva kick)
MV—Justin Powser 50 pass from Luke DuChesne (Brad Hansen kick)
Records—Mountainview 5-5, Marysville Pilchuck 8-2.
