Vikings run away

Published 11:26 pm Thursday, September 15, 2011

BOTHELL — After hearing that teammate Christian Gasca was summoned to speak with the media following Lake Stevens nonconference football game with Inglemoor, his teammates were pumped up.

At least that’s what it sounded like.

“Gasca, Gasca, Gasca,” the team shouted un

iformly in a crescendo as the senior receiver/defensive back/punt returner emerged from the visitor’s locker room at Pop Keeney Stadium.

Thursday night Gasca stole the spotlight from quarterback Jake Nelson, which is no easy task, as he broke open the 45-25 victory over Inglemoor with a pair of third-quarter punt-return touchdowns.

“He was kind of a secret weapon at the start of the year,” Lake Stevens coach Tom Tri said of his senior captain that wears number 85, “but after scoring three touchdowns against Cascade and a couple more tonight, I’m not sure we are going to be able to hide 85 much more.”

Entering the showdown of unbeatens, Inglemoor (2-1) was hoping to contain Nelson and keep him off the field.

After Lake Stevens (3-0) took a 28-23 halftime edge, Nelson didn’t see much time between the lines in the second half, but it wasn’t the vaunted Inglemoor defense that stymied the senior quarterback. It was Gasca and a 75-yard punt return followed by a 44-yard return that broke the hearts of the Viking fans from Kenmore.

“That first one it was pretty wide the whole time, everybody held their blocks,” Gasca said. “The second time though, I saw a couple guys and I had to shake one, then one of my teammates came out of nowhere and knocked him over. It was sweet.”

After the first return with about three minutes remaining in the third quarter Gasca cramped up and went to the trainers, who gave him some mustard to eat. By the time Inglemoor went three-and-out Gasca was ready for the second score which came with just over a minute left in the third quarter.

“I chowed that (mustard) down and I was ready to go. … That second one blew me away — I was jacked,” Gasca said. “I’ve never seen (two straight punt return touchdowns), so it felt pretty cool.”

Inglemoor hadn’t given up a point in its first two games of the season, but Lake Stevens took care of that formality early in the game. Nelson scored the first of his two touchdowns on the ground on fourth-and-2 runs less than two minutes into the game.

Nelson shined again, nearly playing error free for the third straight week. He completed 15-of-26 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown. He had one interception that was tipped deep in Inglemoor territory. His spectacular 32-yard multiple-tackle breaking TD run toward the end of the second quarter made the score 28-17.

“I was amazed at the run that he had where he just wouldn’t go down,” Tri said. “I shouldn’t be amazed, because I’ve seen him do that a couple of times. Boy he’s our true leader on offense. We are going to ride his coattails all season I hope.”

Nelson connected with Gasca nine times for 93 yards through the air.

The emergence of Gasca as a threat gives Wesco defenses another thing to worry about as the Vikings begin league play next week. Inglemoor tried to stuff Nelson’s run game, holding him to 35 yards on 12 carries (he lost 28 yards on three sacks.) but the Vikings’ offense is finding new ways to score.

“Hopefully people start fearing us a little bit looking forward to the playoffs,” Gasca said. “It’s a long ways out, but hopefully people start recognizing what Lake Stevens is.”

Throughout the game, the officials crew used blue flags — with WIAA approval — to promote awareness for prostate cancer.

At Pop Keeney Stadium

Lake Stevens 14 14 14 3 — 45

Inglemoor 10 13 0 2 — 25

LS—Nelson 2 run (Sellars kick)

I—Vi 7 run (Augustavo kick)

I—Augustavo FG 37

LS—Carroll 6 pass from Nelson (Sellars kick)

LS—Giddens 16 run (Sellars kick)

LS—Nelson 32 run (Sellars kick)

I—Larson 44 pass from Edwards (run failed)

LS—Gasca 75 punt return (Sellars kick)

LS—Gasca 44 punt return (Sellars kick)

LS—Sellars FG 36

I—Team Safety

Records: Lake Stevens 3-0; Inglemoor 2-1