Warriors, Royals close out year strongly

Edmonds-Woodway and Lynnwood wrapped up their 2009 football campaigns with impressive victories.

The Warriors overpowered Western Conference North Division rival Oak Harbor 59-0, while the Royals beat 4A rival Shorewood 33-10.

Edmonds-Woodway’s Zack Berg scored on runs of 4 and 60 yards and returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score as the Warriors finished 5-5 overall. Running backs Jimmy Spears and Gus Carstens each scored two touchdowns.

“It was fun,” Edmonds-Woodway coach John Gradwohl said. “Everybody got to play.”

The Warriors lost four out of their first five games, but closed strongly, winning three straight.

“The kids, even when we weren’t doing so well, were coming to practice and working hard and believed in what we were doing,” Gradwohl said. “Eventually, we got the ship righted. We played well.”

Unlike this year when the Warriors returned only three players, next season Edmonds-Woodway will have plenty of experience (six to seven starters) on both sides of the ball.

What the Warriors won’t have is a returning starting quarterback as Andy Willcock and Sam Storino will both be graduating.

Four individuals likely will be vying for the job.

“Next year will be the first time we have a true competition for the job,” Gradwohl said. “Before it (quarterback position) was somewhat predetermined. The competition will be good. I may play more than one guy, whatever it takes.”

Lynnwood (2-8) finished with back-to-back victories over Sedro-Woolley and Shorewood. Senior running back Typhis Cochran scored on runs of 72, 10 and 1 yard, while quarterback Michael Stanley had TD runs of 1 and 29 yards.

Both Cochran and Stanley are seniors so the Royals will have some rebuilding to do. But the Royals’ offensive line is largely composed of underclassmen.

Lynnwood trailed 10-7 after the first quarter but then responded with four unanswered touchdowns during the next three quarters of play.

Shorewood finished the season 0-10.