Marysville-Pilchuck comes up short in battle of unbeatens

Published 12:01 am Saturday, November 14, 2009

AUBURN — It was a first-round state playoff battle, but this one sure had all the drama you would want in a classic championship clash.

In a game that had a little bit of everything (dominant rushing attacks, seven lost fumbles, a late onside kick recovery and clutch defensive stops), the third-ranked Auburn Trojans rallied in the second half and edged No. 10 Marysville-Pilchuck High School 25-22 Friday in a Class 4A first-round state playoff football game at Auburn Memorial Stadium.

Back in the state tournament for the first time since 1989, previously unbeaten Marysville-Pilchuck (10-1) played well at times but couldn’t withstand the damage of four lost fumbles. Auburn (11-0) fell behind 15-0 but scored 25 straight points, including two touchdowns on long fumble returns.

“We made too many mistakes to beat a team like that,” M-P coach Brandon Carson said. “It’s frustrating because, you know, that’s not the way we’ve played all year. We’ve done a pretty good job of taking care of the ball.”

After Auburn’s Zak Sauve scored on a 38-yard fumble return that put the Trojans on top 25-15 with 8 minutes, 15 seconds to go, M-P responded with a TD. Senior AJ Kvangnes rushed for his third score of the night, a 1-yard run.

M-P made the extra-point kick (making it 25-22 with 4:37 remaining) and then the Tomahawks’ Suli Tamaivena recovered an onside kick by teammate Danny Stokes. But Auburn’s defense came up big, stopping M-P’s Jarrett Finau a yard short of a first down on fourth-and-10 near midfield.

In the midst of its fifth straight state appearance, Auburn took over and ran out the clock.

“They’re a great team. They came to play hard. That was probably the best team we played this year,” said Auburn’s Alphonse Wade.

After losing three fumbles in the first 26 minutes of game time, Wade bounced back by catching a 36-yard TD pass from Marshall Klontz. Wade followed it up with a two-point conversion run that tied it, 15-15.

Despite competing without star running back Austin Denton (2,055 yards rushing and 26 TDs through last week), who did not play because of a high ankle sprain, M-P was still in it. But the Tomahawks’ earlier mistakes and a few additional ones ended their hopes of advancing.

“We had our chances. Unfortunately it didn’t work out our way,” coach Carson said.

A massive following of M-P fans made the trek to Auburn and gave the Tomahawks a huge ovation after the game ended.

“It’s been the best season of my life. All these guys, we all love each other. I’m going to miss it a lot. It’s not going to feel right not going to practice (on Saturday),” said M-P’s Kvangnes, a senior who rushed for 112 yards on 15 carries, including the three TDs.

Although it took a 15-7 lead to halftime, M-P could have had a much bigger edge if not for several missed chances. The Tomahawks rushed for a staggering 283 yards on 24 attempts in the half and got two TD runs from Kvangnes (48 yards and 9 yards). Auburn also rushed 24 times but managed just 100 yards.

Despite the lopsided yardage totals, M-P hurt itself with three lost fumbles, including two late in the second quarter. Auburn’s Austin Embody picked up one of the fumbles and returned it 47 yards for a score, accounting for the Trojans’ only TD of the half.

On the first possession of the game, M-P quarterback Zack Hanson broke free for a long run after a great fake handoff. But Auburn’s Wade caught Hanson and poked the ball away at the Auburn 2-yard line. The ball bounced out of the end zone for a touchback.

Hanson rushed for 132 yards on 11 carries and completed a 39-yard pass but was just 1 of 8 through the air.

At Auburn Memorial Stadium

M-P 9 6 0 7 — 22

Auburn 0 7 8 10 — 25

Marysville-Pilchuck—Stokes FG 31

Marysville-Pilchuck—Kvangnes 48 run (Stokes kick failed)

Marysville-Pilchuck—Kvangnes 9 run (Stokes kick failed)

Auburn—Embody 47 fumble return (McMahon kick)

Auburn—Wade 36 pass from Klontz (Wade run)

Auburn—McMahon FG 18

Auburn—Sauve 38 fumble return (McMahon kick)

Marysville-Pilchuck—Kvangnes 1 run (Stokes kick)

Records—Marysville-Pilchuck 10-1 overall. Auburn 11-0.

Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.