TACOMA — The Wildcats got to end their season on the field this year, but the journey ended sooner than the Archbishop Murphy High School football team had hoped.
Due in large part to a barrage of costly mistakes (four turnovers, six first-half penalties, ineffective pass coverage), Archbishop Murphy lost 21-13 to Lynden on Saturday in a Class 2A state semifinal at the Tacoma Dome.
The Wildcats (12-1), ranked No. 2 in the final Associated Press 2A poll, fell short of their goal to win a state title. They held sixth-ranked Lynden (11-2) scoreless in the second half and had a chance to tie it in the closing minutes.
Austin VanderWel completed three of five passes during a drive that began at Murphy’s 33-yard line with two minutes, 15 seconds to play. VanderWel guided the Wildcats to Lynden’s 33. But defensive end Ryan Seto sacked VanderWel on fourth down with about 40 seconds remaining. Lynden’s David Gaylord recovered VanderWel’s fumble, and the Lions ran out the clock.
“You wish you could just go back and try to correct (all the miscues),” Murphy offensive lineman Collin Huggins said, “but you can’t.”
“We didn’t have our best game. That’s pretty obvious,” first-year Archbishop Murphy head coach Dave Ward said. “We’ve been playing error-free football and shut-down football.”
In 12 previous games this season, Murphy outscored opponents 511-158 (140-20 in the playoffs). But Murphy, which beat Lynden 26-15 Sept. 5, fell behind early in the rematch and didn’t make enough plays to get back in it.
“We just couldn’t get their offense off the field,” Ward said, “and our offense didn’t capitalize on a few opportunities.”
Murphy’s 2007 season ended suddenly when it was forced to forfeit eight victories, including a district playoff win, because a player who was ruled ineligible for competing without a current physical exam. This season Murphy started 12-0 and rolled to the semifinals. The Wildcats stumbled against an energized Lynden team that scored a touchdown on its first play from scrimmage with an 80-yard pass.
“Their intensity was so far ahead of ours. They got that big play and scored a touchdown and kind of took us out of it,” Murphy fullback/linebacker CJ Milburn said of the Lions.
Milburn, one of 20 seniors on the Murphy’s roster, had 117 yards rushing on 16 carries and scored both Wildcats TDs. He also played well on defense, patrolling the middle to help shut down Lynden over the final two quarters.
Lynden’s offensive stars were junior receiver Blair Bomber (seven receptions, 119 yards, two TDs) and QB Jordan Hastings (173 yards passing, two TDs), another junior. Lynden now plays Prosser in the 2A championship Dec. 6 at the Tacoma Dome. Prosser beat Burlington-Edison 41-28 in Saturday’s other semifnial
In the first half, numerous pass-coverage miscues, pivotal penalties and a botched punt return devastated Murphy, which was fortunate to be behind by just 14 points (21-7) by halftime.
“The first half, every mistake possible happened to us and bounced their way,” Milburn said. “You’ve got to give (credit) to them — they came out with the intensity that we were lacking.”
Besides giving up a long TD pass on Lynden’s first offensive play, Murphy was penalized six times for 45 yards, including three offside penalties.
“That was a great call. You’ve got to give him credit for that,” Ward said of Lynden head coach Curt Kramme’s call on the first play. Against double coverage, Bomber caught a long pass along the right sideline from Gaylord, Lynden’s season-leading rusher. Bomber beat both defenders and completed a stunning 80-yard score.
“It was just a great, great scheme by (Kramme). He knows what he’s doing,” said Bomber.
The Wildcats got within 14-7 late in the first quarter with a 47-yard TD run by Milburn. But midway through the second quarter Lynden recovered a fumbled punt return at Murphy’s 17-yard line. Five plays later, Hastings tossed his second scoring pass, a 2-yarder to Bomber.
In the first half, Bomber had three receptions for 92 yards and two TDs. Hastings had 110 passing yards. Murphy’s leading rusher was Milburn (six carries, 70 yards, one TD). No other Murphy back gained more than five yards in the half.
Murphy came out strong in the third quarter, taking the opening drive 53 yards in nine plays. Using short runs and two pass connections from Jake Downs to Randy Gordon that covered 28 yards, the Wildcats seemed ready to score. But on the 10th play, with Murphy on Lynden’s 12-yard line, Bomber stepped in front of receiver JD Melton and intercepted Downs.
It was a huge swing, and one of many solid defensive plays by Bomber. He stuck with Melton, Murphy’s top receiver, all game. Despite being 8 inches shorter than the 6-foot-4 Melton, Bomber (5-8) held Melton without a catch. Coming into the semifinals, Melton had 36 receptions for 694 yards and 14 TDs.
At The Tacoma Dome
Murphy7006—13
Lynden14700—21
Lynden-Bomber 80 pass from Gaylord (Brown kick)
Lynden-Gaylord 25 pass from Hastings (Brown kick)
Archbishop Murphy-Milburn 47 run (Houts kick)
Lynden-Bomber 2 pass from Hastings (Brown kick)
Archbishop Murphy-Milburn 10 run (kick blocked)
Records-Archbishop Murphy 12-1 overall. Lynden 11-2.
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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