TACOMA — Running back Alex Galgano and quarterback Conner Kruse combined for 152 yards rushing to lead a strong Wildcats offensive attack.
The Wildcats featured seven different rushers throughout the game. They racked up 203 yards on 59 carries.
Galgano led the Wildcats with 77 yards on 19 carries and Kruse had 75 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. Fellow quarterback Hans VanderWel, who ran more than he passed, rushed for 11 yards on 11 carries and the Wildcats’ other touchdown. Ricky Gordon, Alex Kramer, Morgan Masanda and Eneliko Tevaga also carried the ball for Archbishop Murphy.
Read Aaron Lommer’s thoughts on the 2A state championship game here
Kruse scored on an 8-yard touchdown late in the third quarter that gave the Wildcats a 14-10 lead. The run was reminiscent of Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch’s patented “Beast Mode” run during last year’s playoffs. Kruse scored from 8 yards out, but spent the final five yards of the run dragging nearly the entire Lynden defense into the end zone with him.
QB’s split time again
VanderWel and Kruse have split time at quarterback during Archbishop Murphy’s playoff run and Saturday was no different.
Kruse began the 2011 season as the Wildcats’ starter, but VanderWel took over midway through the Wildcats’ campaign.
In Saturday’s 2A State Championship VanderWel got the start, but Kruse came in on the third Wildcat drive of the game and the two split time for the remainder of the contest.
Each quarterback found the end zone once for the Wildcats’ only two touchdowns of the game. Both came on rushes.
VanderWel completed one of his three passes for two yards and also rushed for 11 yards on 11 carries. Kruse completed four of six passes for 54 yards and rushed for 75 yards on 18 carries.
“Conner filled in at quarterback when we needed to rest Hans a little bit and Hans did the same for Conner,” Ward said. “Conner runs hard and he threw the ball really well and he threw the ball right on the money.”
Woes for Ward
After winning the state championship with Oak Harbor in 2006, Archbishop Murphy head coach Dave Ward has suffered a championship drought despite his team’s constant regular and postseason success.
Ward suffered his second consecutive loss in the 2A state championship game (2011 to Lynden, 2010 to Tumwater) on Saturday, which followed two semifinal losses to Lynden in both 2008 and 2009.
“We keep knocking on the door and someday we will bang it down,” Ward said.
Injury report
Center Ryan Kouchakji went down early in the fourth quarter with left leg injury. He was helped off the field, putting no weight on the injured leg. Kouchakji was tended to by the Archbishop Murphy training staff and returned to the game shortly after … Conner Kruse limped off the field in the final minute of the game. He was replaced briefly by Hans VanderWel, but returned for the final two plays of the game.
Aaron Lommers and David Krueger cover prep sports for The Herald. Read their live blogs at www.heraldnet.com/prepzone and follow them on twitter @aaronlommers and @Krueger_David and contact them at aaronlommers@gmail.com and davidakrueger3@gmail.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
