Arlington’s season ends with 33-21 loss to Bonney Lake

Published 10:52 pm Friday, November 6, 2015

ARLINGTON — An early touchdown on a 97-yard fumble return by linebacker Parker Spady gave the Arlington football team an encouraging start, but a punishing Bonney Lake ground game was just too much for the Eagles on Friday night.

Ethen Koepke was the workhorse for the visiting Panthers, representing the South Puget Sound League, with 287 yards on 31 carries and four touchdowns, including three rushing TDs in the decisive fourth quarter, as Bonney Lake pulled away for a 33-21 quad-district playoff victory, an outcome that ended Arlington’s season.

“I thought we competed real well,” Eagles coach Greg Dailer said. “The SPSL is a tough league, so we knew coming in we were going to have our hands full. And we did, but we battled the whole way. A couple of things went our way and a couple of things didn’t, and that’s what happens in close games.”

Bonney Lake finished with 402 yards on the ground.

“They just pounded, pounded and pounded, and it was tough,” Dailer said.

Bonney Lake opened the game with an impressive drive, traveling 63 yards in 10 plays to reach the Arlington 1-yard line. But on first-and-goal, the Panthers tried to hand off to Koepke and the ball ended up on the turf, where it was picked up by Spady.

With an escort of teammates around him, Spady dashed 97 yards for a touchdown and, with the extra point, a 7-0 lead.

“That was a nice start to the game,” Dailer said. “But we never really got going on offense. (Bonney Lake) had a good game plan. … They had eight guys in coverage and kind of dared us to run it. So they gave us a tough time.”

After a Panther touchdown (the PAT kick was blocked), the Eagles added another touchdown late in the second quarter on a pass from quarterback Andrew Kalahar, who rolled left and spotted Kyle Bayer near the left sideline. Bayer dove for the end zone between two defenders and the PAT gave the Eagles a 14-6 lead.

But Bonney Lake answered with a touchdown with 15 seconds remaining before halftime, though a two-point conversion try was stopped, giving Arlington a 14-12 lead at halftime.

The third quarter was scoreless, but in the early moments of the fourth period Koepke burst through a hole on the left side on a fourth-and-1 play and dashed 52 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

After an Arlington punt, another Bonney Lake drive resulted in another Koepke TD, this on a 4-yard run.

The Eagles kindled hope with 2:33 remaining as Kalahar found Donavan Sellgren in the right corner of the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown reception, but Bonney Lake recovered Arlington’s ensuing onside kick. On a fourth-and-3 play, and with 2:02 on the scoreboard clock, Koepke shot through a gaping hole on the left side and went untouched to the end zone on a 14-yard game-clinching TD run.

Kalahar threw 31 passes and completed 18 for 189 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

“We had a great group of seniors (this season),” Dailer said. “They brought us a Wesco North title, which we haven’t had since 2010. So the leadership has been great. They’ve just been a great group of kids to be around.”

At John C. Larson Stadium

Bonney Lake 6 6 0 21 —33

Arlington 7 7 0 7 —21

Arl—Parker Spady 97 fumble return (Andrew Kalahar kick)

BL—Ethen Koepke 1 run (kick blocked)

Arl—Kyle Bayer 17 pass from Andrew Kalahar (Andrew Kalahar kick)

BL—Marcus Hamilton 10 run (run failed)

BL—Ethen Koepke 52 run (Tate Hamlett kick)

BL—Ethen Koepke 7 run (Tate Hamlett kick)

Arl—Donavan Sellgren 21 pass from Andrew Kalahar (Andrew Kalahar kick)

BL—Ethen Koepke 14 run (Tate Hamlett kick)

Records—Bonney Lake 6-4 overall. Arlington 7-3.