2A Football State Championship Capsule
Published 11:02 pm Friday, December 2, 2016
Archbishop Murphy vs. Liberty (Issaquah)
When: 1 p.m., Saturday
Where: Tacoma Dome
ARCHBISHOP MURPHY (13-0)
Head coach: Jerry Jensen (4th season)
Road to the Dome: 1st in Cascade Conference; beat Burlington-Edison 55-6 in bi-district, beat North Kitsap 34-0 in first round, beat Tumwater 48-10 in quarterfinals, beat Lynden 52-14 in semifinals
State titles: 2 — 2003 (1A), 2002 (1A)
State title game history: 2011 (2A): lost to Lynden 17-16; 2010 (2A): lost to Tumwater 34-14; 2005 (2A): lost to Pullman 28-24; 2003 (1A): beat Zillah 20-0; 2002 (1A): beat Royal 35-14
About the Wildcats: Making its fourth state championship game appearance since becoming a Class 2A program in 2004, Archbishop Murphy is seeking its first-ever 2A state title. The Wildcats won back-to-back 1A state titles in 2002 and 2003, shortly after the school established the football program in 2000. Top-ranked Murphy has outscored its opponents 407-30 in eight games this season, with its other five scheduled contests forfeited by opponents due to player-safety concerns. The Wildcats’ stifling defense has yielded just 17 first-half points this year while forcing 28 turnovers and returning seven for scores. Senior quarterback Connor Johnson, who was 11-of-12 passing for 242 yards and five touchdowns in last week’s semifinal win over Lynden, has completed 70.8 percent of his passes this season for 1,443 yards, 19 touchdowns and three interceptions. Junior receiver Kyler Gordon hauled in three touchdown passes last week and senior receiver Anfernee Gurley caught two touchdowns while posting his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game. Gordon has 14 total touchdowns this season, including a team-high 10 touchdown receptions. Gurley has 13 total touchdowns, including three special teams returns for scores. Senior running back Collin Montez has 10 rushing touchdowns and three defensive scores.
LIBERTY (12-0)
Head coach: Steve Valach (18th season)
Road to the Dome: Independent; beat Blaine 27-24 in bi-district, beat Steilacoom 20-13 in first round, beat River Ridge 21-14 in quarterfinals, beat Ellensburg 35-26 in semifinals
State titles: 1 — 1988 (3A)
State title game history: 2009 (3A): lost to Bellevue 23-17; 1988 (3A): beat Cheney 31-0; 1980 (3A): lost to Centralia 39-26
About the Patriots: Liberty is making its fourth state championship game appearance and its first since losing to Bellevue in the 2009 Class 3A title game. The Patriots were a longtime 3A program before moving to the 2A classification in 2014. Although Liberty is a member of the KingCo 3A/2A league, the Patriots played an independent regular-season schedule this year that included five Metro League foes. After outscoring opponents by an average of 35 points during the regular season, unbeaten Liberty has won all four postseason games by single digits. Last week, the Patriots built a 35-7 third-quarter lead on their way to a 35-26 semifinal win over third-ranked Ellensburg. Liberty’s offense features a multifaceted rushing attack that has totaled nearly 3,500 yards this season. Senior running back Cameron Spaeth leads the Patriots with 749 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, while senior slotback Dulin Hayden has added 608 yards rushing and a team-high 17 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Austin Regis has rushed for 526 and 12 touchdowns this fall after a late-season move from running back last year. Liberty is yielding just 12.3 points per game behind a defense that’s led by 6-foot-5, 285-pound junior defensive tackle Julian Bruce, the younger brother of former Washington State University and NFL defensive end Mkristo Bruce.
—Cameron Van Til, Herald Writer
