AUBURN — In the end, the result was what many people expected — an Auburn Mountainview victory over Meadowdale in Friday night’s 3A quad-district playoff game.
The route the Lions took to their 35-27 triumph was much more unexpected.
Even since before the season began, the Mavericks have heard how this was supposed to be a difficult season with a new head coach and roster full of inexperienced players. Friday night, they were one win away from the state playoffs and none of that seemed to matter. The Mavericks played their best game of the season and nearly pulled off the upset.
“We played a hell of a game,” Meadowdale head coach Matt Leonard said. “We shocked a lot of people tonight. Probably not a whole lot of people in those stands that thought that performance was coming. When you’re emotional like this after a game it’s because you know you left everything out there. You give everything you have and you have absolutely nothing to be disappointed in. We played our tails off. That’s the best game we’ve played.
Meadowdale set the tone early, forcing the Lions into a turnover on downs after a long first possession. The Mavericks scored just five plays later to take a 7-0 lead. Auburn Mountainview scored the next 14 points to a take 14-7 advantage, but again the Mavs bounced back. Junior Kela Marshall scored on a 28-yard touchdown run — his second of the game — to tie the game at 14.
Marshall finished the game with 131 yards rushing on 25 carries and scored three touchdowns.
“He’s a sensational kid,” Leonard said. “He’s a sensational player and a better human being. He’s a great teammate and a great kid in the classroom. He’s only a junior and he fell in our lap when he moved here from Hawaii. His performance speaks for itself over and over.”
To go along with Marshall’s performance, junior quarterback Drew Tingstad also played well despite not knowing Leonard not knowing if he would be able to play for most of the week after coming off a broken hand he suffered earlier in the season.
Tingstad finished the game 18-for-28 for 188 yards, but he did throw two interceptions.
“He was pretty gutty out there and took a lot of shots,” Leonard said. “There were two throws that we would love to have back, but that’s the kid that is going to lead us next year.”
The Lions took a 21-14 lead later in the second quarter, but Marshall’s third touchdown of the game tied the score once again at 21. It looked as though the teams would go into the locker room tied, but Auburn Mountainview quarterback Gresch Jensen led a quick touchdown drive in the final two minutes of the half to give the Lions a 28-21 lead at the half.
The Mavericks defense got stingy in the second half. Meadowdale didn’t allow any offensive points after halftime. The Lions only second half touchdown came on a late fumble recovery that put the game away.
“They played great,” Leonard said. “(Jensen) is a sensational quarterback. Other than (Lake Stevens quarterback Jacob) Eason, he’s the best quarterback we’ve seen. He made some throws that you’re like, ‘Dang, that’s a next-level kid making a play.’ I thought our defensive effort — both sides of the ball really — it’s the best we’ve played all season.”
Jensen finished the game 26-for-34 for 258 yards and three touchdowns for Auburn Mountainview.
At Auburn Memorial Stadium
Meadowdale 7 14 6 0 —27
Auburn Mountainview 7 21 0 7 —35
M—Kela Marshall 10 run (Julio Abad kick)
AM—Vaughn Daggs 40 pass from Gresch Jensen (Jared Lewis kick)
AM—Ki’Jan Weisinger 37 pass from Jensen (Lewis kick)
M—Marshall 28 run (Abad kick)
AM—Bitner Wilson 9 run (Lewis kick)
M—Marshall 3 run (Abad kick)
AM—Weisinger 7 pass from Jensen (Lewis kick)
M—Abad 29 FG
M—Abad 35 FG
AM—Antonio Corea 4 fumble return (Lewis kick)
Records—Meadowdale 5-5. Auburn Mountainview 8-2.
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