PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Glacier Peak football team is battle tested
Published 8:37 am Friday, November 13, 2009
The biggest game in Glacier Peak High School’s brief but eventful football history came down to one pressure-packed play.
The stakes were enormous: Stop the opposing offense and make team history; allow a score and be done for the year. Thanks to an assistant coach’s hunch and an aggressive defensive back’s sure-handed tackle, the Grizzlies prevailed.
Last week Glacier Peak survived an epic winner-to-state playoff clash, edging Peninsula 49-48 in double overtime. Glacier Peak (8-2), which rallied from a 22-point third-quarter deficit, stopped Peninsula’s two-point conversion attempt to win. Junior corner back Austin Wirtz tackled Peninsula ball carrier Darrian Creamer near the line of scrimmage.
It secured the first-ever state-playoff berth for Glacier Peak, a second-year program. The Grizzlies, ranked ninth in this week’s Associated Press 3A state poll, play unbeaten and fifth-ranked Timberline (10-0) in the first round of the Class 3A tournament at 7 p.m. Saturday at South Sound Stadium in Lacey.
On the last play against Peninsula, Glacier Peak defensive coordinator Andy Haynie had a hunch and guessed right, picking a tactic designed to stop a toss or a quarterback boot. Sure enough, Peninsula ran a toss to the offensive left. Wirtz and the Grizzlies squashed it, and the estimated 500 Glacier Peak fans who made the trek to Roy Anderson Field in Gig Harbor celebrated.
“Everybody exploded. It was such an emotional high,” Glacier Peak head coach Rory Rosenbach said.
Grizzlies QB Zach Richter had a record-setting performance, completing 34 of 56 passes for 454 yards and six touchdowns. Richter broke his own school single-game records for yards, attempts and TDs. His top receivers were Tanner Southard (six receptions, 75 yards, four TDs) and Jack Bonner (10 receptions, 200 yards).
Glacier Peak got off to a sluggish start and played two of its worst quarters of the season, Rosenbach said. But the team recovered, tied the contest in regulation and improved to 2-1 this year in games decided in overtime.
“I’d rather just get it done in regulation,” Rosenbach said, “but it is good to know your kids have been in battles.”
Glacier Peak’s next battle, against Olympic Western Cascade Conference champion Timberline, will be the Grizzlies’ toughest test ever, including last year, Rosenbach said. Timberline, NFL running back Jonathan Stewart’s alma mater, has outscored opponents 449-164 this season.
Meadowdale 10-0 for the first time in 37 years
The last time the Meadowdale football team went 10-0, its mascot was the Chieftain (not the Maverick) and the state playoffs did not exist.
Unbeaten Meadowdale won its 10th straight game of the 2009 season last week, drilling Renton 45-20. No. 9 Meadowdale, which plays unranked Columbia River (5-5) Saturday at Edmonds Stadium, has not been 10-0 since 1972. That year, the Meadowdale Chieftains finished 10-0 and ranked No. 2 in the state behind No. 1 Wenatchee. The state playoffs didn’t begin until the following year.
Meadowdale’s starting QB in ‘72 was Mark Hobbs, who now lives in Marysville and works as a contractor for Boeing. Hobbs recently connected with current Meadowdale coach Mark Stewart and spoke to the Mavericks a day before he watched part of their win over Renton.
“It was real pleasurable for me to bring back all the old memories,” Hobbs said, “and to see Meadowdale go undefeated (through 10 games) again was real special.”
Beware the Lumberjacks
Third-ranked Archbishop Murphy (9-1) plays unranked R.A. Long (8-2) of Longview on Saturday in a first-round 2A state playoff game. Murphy coach Dave Ward said his team must slow down R.A. Long quarterback William Yordy, a senior who “can make big plays, especially with his feet.” And R.A. Long’s linemen are imposing, Ward added: “They’re just kind of mean. Their mascot is the Lumberjacks and they play like it — like they’ve got boots and suspenders and they’re ready to fight.”
Jackson’s tackle out for season
Senior lineman A.J. Coppage will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury he suffered last week in 4A Jackson’s win against Eastlake, Jackson coach Joel Vincent said.
Coppage, who tore an anterior cruciate ligament, was Jackson’s starting left tackle. Senior Paul Sparks, previously a one-way starter at defensive end, will replace Coppage on the O-line. Jackson star running back/linebacker Riley Carr (ankle) and center Walker Evans (knee) also are battling injuries.
Fourth-ranked Jackson (10-0) plays host to unranked Issaquah (7-3) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Everett Memorial Stadium.
“It will be a real test for us. This will be our toughest opponent, without a doubt, so far,” coach Vincent said of Issaquah, which has standout running back Grant Gellatly. Limited by hamstring problems most of the season, Gellatly rushed for 150 yards and five TDs last week.
Glacier Peak rooter bus
Glacier Peak will provide a rooter bus for fans who want to see the Grizzlies’ game against Timberline on Saturday night in Lacey. Fans can sign up at the Glacier Peak High athletic office. The cost is $7. The bus will leave at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
