Glacier Peak scores 35 points in second half to beat Everett

Published 11:43 pm Friday, October 17, 2008

EVERETT — Who says you need seniors to compete in Wesco football?

On an evening when Everett High School honored its seniors who were playing their final home game, the Grizzlies — with nary a senior on their roster — came from behind to defeat the Seagulls 42-24 Friday at Everett Memorial Stadium.

“No one gives us that much respect,” Glacier Peak quarterback Zach Richter said. “We all hear it: We don’t have seniors. We’re too small. But I think we played all right tonight.”

Utilizing his young team’s wide-open, spread offense, Richter completed 22 of 31 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Luke Westberg caught eight passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns and Tommy Rollins, Ben Kaestner and John Darling each added 1-yard touchdown runs as Glacier Peak scored 35 unanswered points over the final three quarters.

“The offensive line gave us great time,” Richter said. “They gave me a lot of time so I could just stand back there and had all day and our receivers are great. Luke Westberg ran great routes — he had a phenomenal game.”

It took Glacier Peak until the second half to find its rhythm. On the Seagulls’ opening drive of the third quarter, Glacier Peak freshman Marcus Heard jumped a route to intercept a pass by Everett quarterback Chase Herrick. Seven plays later, Richter completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Westberg to give the Grizzlies their first lead at 21-17.

“I’m pretty proud of the way the guys came out in the second half and got after it,” Glacier Peak head coach Rory Rosenbach said. “The first half we made a lot of mistakes. We were very fortunate to be where we were. They just woke up.

“They just seemed a little flat to start with,” Rosenbach continued. “Maybe they weren’t quite ready to go but they got it turned around and that’s the best half of football we’ve played all year — offensively, defensively, and special teams.”

After forcing an Everett three-and-out, Richter capped a 9-play, 57-yard drive with his second touchdown pass to Westberg in as many possessions to make it 28-17. Then Darling recorded an interception, setting up his 1-yard touchdown run with 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Kaestner added the Grizzlies’ final touchdown with a 1-yard run on a lateral from Richter.

Jake Frauenholtz caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Herrick for Everett’s final touchdown.

Herrick completed seven of 10 passes for 136 yards in the first half, but just one of six with two interceptions in the second. Everett also mustered just 31 yards on the ground in the second half as Glacier Peak’s defense took over.

“I’m very pleased with the way the defense played because we were pretty confused during the first half,” Rosenbach said. “Our coaching staff did a great job making adjustments, kids bought into, did what we told them to do and boy, it sure showed.”

It was an impressive comeback for a Grizzlies team which faced deficits of 10-0 and 17-7 early in the contest.

Glacier Peak cut the deficit to 17-14 on a halfback pass from Rollins to Tanner Southard with 1:48 to play in the opening half.

“We did (take a while to get on track),” Richter said. “The first half was just not a great half for us but we came back and coach fired us up at halftime and we just came out a new team.”

Ben Barhanovich opened the scoring for Everett with 6:25 to play in the first quarter with a 38-yard field goal. Herrick added touchdown runs of 3 and 11 yards in the first half.

Rollins answered by scoring on a 1-yard run and throwing for his 18-yard touchdown pass to give the game its halftime score.

“We have to look forward,” Everett coach Will Soren said. “We still have two league games and a lot of opportunities ahead of us and we’ll get things turned around and we’ll make the most of the rest of the way.”

At Everett Memorial Stadium

Glacier Peak014217—42

Everett10707—24

E—FG Barhanovich 38

E—Herrick 3 run (Barhanovich kick)

GP—Rollins 1 run (Miller kick)

E—Herrick 11 run (Barhanovich kick)

GP—Southard 18 pass from Rollins (Miller kick)

GP—Westberg 8 pass from Richter (Miller kick)

GP—Westberg 5 pass from Richter (Miller kick)

GP—Darling 1 run (Miller kick)

GP—Kaestner 1 run (Miller kick)

E—Frauenholtz 31 pass from Herrick (Barhanovich kick)

Records—Glacier Peak 2-1 league, 3-4 overall. Everett 1-1, 4-3.