Defense helps Lake Stevens win playoff opener

Published 1:30 am Saturday, November 5, 2016

LAKE STEVENS — It’s no secret that the Lake Stevens football team has an explosive offense. Thanks to a gifted quarterback, a strong run game, a deep pool of receivers and a sturdy offensive line, the Vikings averaged almost 49 points per game through their first nine contests of the season.

Lake Stevens’ defense, however, is also formidable. The unit gave up just over eight points per game during the regular season, holding its opponents to single-digit scoring on seven separate occasions.

The 4A Wesco champions’ defense played well once again Saturday as the Vikings posted a resounding 42-10 win over visiting Federal Way in a bi-district playoff game. With the win, Lake Stevens (10-0), ranked fifth in the latest Associated Press 4A state poll, is headed back to the state tournament, where it will take on Bellarmine Prep, which beat 10th-ranked Todd Beamer 17-2 Saturday, in a first-round contest. This will be the Vikings’ fifth trip to the state tournament in the past six seasons.

“This is kind of like Week One, everybody’s 0-0 heading into the playoffs,” Lake Stevens coach Tom Tri said. “We had an emotional win last week (over unbeaten Monroe), and we worked hard to not allow the team to let down. We were ready to play tonight.”

The Vikings’ front seven consistently got a strong push on the Eagles’ offensive line and often had several tacklers wrapping up the opposing ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. Federal Way’s passing game couldn’t get untracked, as the Vikings held the Eagles to just 70 passing yards.

Lake Stevens recorded an interception, a fumble recovery and three quarterback sacks.

“Our defense has been so great at stuffing the run all season,” Tri said. “We want to stop the run because then we can get teams into long down-and-distance situations and generate a pass rush and do some things with our secondary coverage. It’s all started up front with our defensive line — those four guys have really set the tone. For 10 games they’ve been dominant. Our defense has been sort of flying under the radar until the last two or three weeks or so. Not anymore.”

“We just fly to the ball really well,” said Vikings cornerback/wide receiver Anthony Hutchinson. “We never give up.”

In the first half, the Vikings’ defense made several big plays to help Lake Stevens build a 28-3 halftime lead. The Vikings forced three turnovers-on-downs and recorded a fumble recovery, courtesy of Hutchinson. Late in the second quarter, they stopped an Eagles drive deep in Federal Way territory. David Carter blocked the Eagles’ ensuing punt attempt and recovered the ball in the end zone for Lake Stevens’ fourth touchdown of the half.

“Our defense is solid,” Vikings defensive end Matt Sevao said. “We’re like a family, and we really help each other out. We just get the job done.”

Vikings running back Blake May turned in a stellar effort, rushing for 199 yards on 27 carries. He scored Lake Stevens’ second touchdown of the first quarter on 16-yard run, then added a 4-yard scoring run with 3:38 left in the second quarter. His third score came in the third quarter, from 2 yards out, with the ensuing extra point giving the Vikings a 35-10 advantage.

Hutchinson caught a 56-yard pass from Conor Bardue with just over a minute elapsed in the first quarter for the Vikings’ first score.

The only points Lake Stevens allowed in the first half came from a 30-yard field goal several plays after the Vikings lost a fumble at the Eagles’ 1-yard line.

The Vikings’ starting defense surrendered its first rushing touchdown of the season on a 58-yard run by Darious Bourne in the third quarter, but rebounded to make a big play on the Eagles’ next possession. After the Eagles recovered a fumble in Vikings territory, Federal Way’s drive was ended by Sevao’s quarterback sack to force a turnover on downs.

Early in the fourth quarter, Lake Stevens defensive back Hunter Eckstrom thwarted an Eagles drive by intercepting a long pass at the Vikings’ 1-yard line. Later on, Eckstrom scored from 1 yard out, and the Vikings took a 42-10 lead.

Bardue finished 10-of-16 for 243 yards passing. His preferred target was Hutchinson, who caught five passes for 133 yards.

Lake Stevens might be dominating defensively, but there’s one thing that it hasn’t done yet this season: hold an opponent scoreless. But the Vikings know that the state playoffs would be a great time to post their first shutout.

“Our goal every game is to get the shutout,” Hutchinson said. “We still haven’t got the goose egg yet, but we’re working toward that.”