Arlington QB helps Eagles keep Stilly Cup

By Chris Trujillo

Herald Writer

ARLINGTON – Arlington quarterback Kevin McCormack has the type of arm that can silence an opposing crowd for good.

It has even been known to create gaps just wide enough to complete game-deciding passes. The Standwood Spartans can attest to all this, and some. After all, they became McCormack’s lastest victims during Friday’s 40-something running of the annual Stilly Cup.

Current owners of the communities’ renowned rivary and tradition, the Eagles defeated their Western Conference North Division foes, the Spartans, 33-26 at Arlington Stadium.

The victory keeps Arlington alive in the North Division’s playoff hunt at 3-2 in league and 4-2 overall. The Spartans are 1-5, 1-5.

The McCormack-led air assult took over for the Eagles’ usual running attack, which was somewhat contained due to the Spartans’ defensive game plan. Meanwhile, the 6-foot-2 senior quarterback threw three picture-perfect passes for touchdowns to receiver Tyler Burt, totaling 35, 27 and 37 yards. Two of the three passes to Tyler, who caught four passes for 122 yards by halftime, had to negogiate the arms and hands of several defenders. Nevertheless, they found their target.

McCormack also found Joseph Boitano, who scored the game’s first score on a 6-yard run, for a 27-yard touchdown in the second quarter for the team’s fourth first-half score.

“We got Tyler back today and he was everywhere,” McCormack said. “I don’t know how he did it but he caught every thing I throw his way. It was a great win.”

Despite leading the Eagles to what seemed like an untouchable 27-0 halftime lead, McCormack had to revive a sluggish team in the fourth quarter after Stanwood scored 20 unanswered points.

Leading 27-20, McCormack threw a carbon copy of his first two touchdown passes to Tyler in the first half. Only this time, it came with 6:51 remaining in the game and with the Spartans mounting a comeback.

After being chased to the left sideline, McCormack heaved a tight spiral to Burt who had gained a step on his nearest competitor, going for his fourth touchdown pass of the night, giving Arlington a 33-20 lead.

The Spartans, who returned from the dead in the second half, scored back-to-back touchdowns by quarterback Jake Herigstad on a pair of 1-yard dives, making the score 27-20.

The pride-motivating resurgence by the Spartans, however, couldn’t stop the Eagles. It did provide for one last moment of excitement. With the 0:01 on the clock, Herigstad threw up a prayer, which landed in the hands of Rodney Youngren for a touchdown.

“We’ve been thinking about this game all day,” said McCormack, who threw for 245 yards on 18 passes. “It meant a lot to all of us.”