Glacier Peak rolls over Everett to improve its playoff chances
Published 10:53 am Monday, October 18, 2010
SNOHOMISH — The scramble for the second Western Conference spot to the 3A quad-district playoffs is starting to clear just a bit.
Glacier Peak shrugged off early turnovers and running back Alex Stepanchenko rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns as the Grizzlies rolled to a 31-13 Wesco 3A win over Everett Friday night at Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Seagulls had a hard time controlling the ball in the wet weather. Everett fumbled the ball six times, losing it to Glacier Peak four times and senior quarterback Chase Herrick threw one interception.
“It was frustrating because we’ve worked hard on that the last few weeks,” Everett head coach Will Soren said of protecting the ball. “…just tonight it seemed like every other play (the ball) was on the turf and against a good team you can’t really get away with that.”
The win gives the Grizzlies a 2-1 conference record (5-2 overall) with two games, including one conference clash with Shorecrest, remaining in the regular season. Everett falls to 1-1 (3-4 overall) in conference play with matchups against Shorecrest and Wesco 3A-leading Meadowdale in the next two weeks.
“Each game is as big as the next and we’re going to come out and battle and that opportunity is still for us and we’re going to play with the attitude and intensity that we want that spot,” Soren said.
Glacier Peak’s Stepanchenko compensated for the slippery ball by holding it higher and tighter following a first-quarter fumble. The senior compiled 167 rushing yards on 22 carries and set the tone early for the Grizzlies.
“I talked to coach and he told me I needed to hit the hole a lot faster because I was being a little too soft and the line did an amazing job — they just busted the holes and all I had to do was run through it,” said Stepanchenko, who rushed for 124 yards in the second half, including a 49-yard sprint up the middle on Glacier Peak’s first offensive play of the third quarter.
Glacier Peak quarterback Zach Richter completed 16 of 26 passes for 194 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Six-foot-three junior wide receiver Jack Bonner caught five passes for 75 yards and senior Tommy Rollins caught seven passes for 62 yards for the Grizzlies.
For Everett, Herrick passed for 119 yards and two touchdown passes to 6-foot-3 tight end Luke Frauenholtz.
The Seagulls may have lost starting senior fullback/linebacker Gorge Posadas for next week’s game due to a possible concussion.
Posadas was hit hard by Stepanchenko during an incomplete fourth-down conversion attempt by Glacier Peak early in the third quarter. The senior was shaken up and walked off the field with a noticeable wobble while being assisted by an Everett coach.
Soren said Posadas still has to be evaluated, but it is “probable” that he will be out next week against Shorecrest.
Everett entered the contest outscoring opponents 27-0 in the first quarter through six games, but Glacier Peak snapped the streak with two first-quarter touchdown runs by Stepanchenko.
The first run, an 8-yard pitch to the left side, capitalized on an earlier Seagulls fumble at their own 19 yard-line. Stepanchenko’s next score came with 3:07 remaining in the first quarter, a 1-yard dive the 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior running back set up with a lengthy punt return and earlier runs of 16 and 5 yards.
“We’re in pretty good position (for the playoffs),” Stepanchenko said. “But we still have to work our butts off in practice and hopefully make the playoffs.”
At Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium
Everett0607—13
Glacier Peak141403—31
Glacier Peak—Stepanchenko 8 run (Miller kick)
Glacier Peak—Stepanchenko 1 run (Miller kick)
Everett—Frauenholtz 39 pass from Herrick (kick blocked)
Glacier Peak—Southard 57 pass from Richter (Miller kick)
Glacier Peak—Hawley 8 pass from Richter (Miller kick)
Glacier Peak—FG Miller 27
Everett—Frauenholtz 23 pass from Herrick (Heman kick)
Records—Everett 1-1 league, 3-4 overall. Glacier Peak 2-1, 5-2.
