SEATTLE – The Streak is over.
Is it ever.
The Bellevue High Wolverines shocked mighty De La Salle of Concord, Calif., 39-20 Saturday night at Qwest Field, snapping the Spartans’ 151-game winning streak before a crowd of nearly 25,000 in the Emerald City Kickoff Classic.
It’s the longest streak ever by a football team at any level. The last time the Spartans lost was Dec.7, 1991 to Pittsburg, Calif., 34-27 in the North Coast Sectional championship game. They had gone unbeaten 12 seasons and been declared mythical national champions five times.
It was only the 15th loss for De La Salle coach Bob Ladouceur, who is beginning his 26th season at the school. His record is 287-15-1. He has had more unbeaten seasons (17) than losses.
Bellevue, the three-time defending 3A state champion, spent eight months practicing for this game. And, boy, were the Wolverines prepared.
They had the ball five times in the first half and scored on every possession to take a 30-20 lead, stunning not only the Spartans but the partisan crowd.
De La Salle had no answer for J.R. Hasty, who rushed for 271 yards and four touchdowns.
The 5-11, 200-pound senior ran for 196 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, including a 74-yard scamper on the Wolverines’ first play of the game.
The Spartans had taken a 7-0 lead on an eight-play, 86-yard drive to open the game. But 11 seconds later, Hasty was standing in the end zone.
The Wolverines were devastating with their running game during the first 24 minutes, pounding for 328 yards on 26 carries, a 12.6 average. They finished with 463 yards – all on the ground. They didn’t attempt a pass.
Bellevue had a 14-year-old sophomore at quarterback, but Eric Block looked more like an 18-year-old senior.
Starting his first varsity game, Block did a marvelous job of handling the ball in the Wolverines’ Wing-T offense, keeping the Spartans guessing at who had the ball with his fakes.
Block scored on a 37-yard run with 8:08 remaining in the second quarter to put the Wolverines ahead for good at 20-13.
Lakewood 32, Orcas Island 31: Brad Sears scored from 5 yards out with 3:06 remaining in the fourth quarter to give Lakewood a come-from-behind victory in the non-conference season-opener for both teams. Sears rushed for 115 yards and teammate Anthony Savage made six catches for 222 yards to go with two touchdowns. Orcas Island’s Hunter Easterling scored five touchdowns, including a 91-yard kickoff return for a 31-22 lead with less than five minutes remaining.
At Orcas Island
Lakewood015810-32
Orcas Island 19606-31
Orcas Island-Easterling 80 pass f rom Stone (Mayon kick)
Orcas Island-Easterling 34 run (kick failed)
Orcas Island-Easterling 30 pass from Stone (kick failed)
Lakewood-Bruns 39 pass from Kon (Sears run)
Lakewood-Savage 68 pass from Kon (Sears kick)
Orcas Island-Easterling 30 pass from Stone (kick failed)
Lakewood-Savage 23 pass from Kon (Sears kick)
Orcas Island-Easterling 91 kickoff return (pass failed)
Lakewood-FG Sears 27
Lakewood-Sears 5 run (Sears kick)
Records-Orcas Island 0-1 overall. Lakewood 1-0.
Port Townsend 38, South Whidbey 14: Port Townsend rushed for 336 yards in its season-opening, non-conference victory over South Whdibey. Michael Lodell scored a touchdown and rushed for 142 yards for the Falcons.
At Port Townsend
South Whidbey6008-14
Port Townsend771212-38
Port Townsend-Scoring plays not reported
South Whidbey-McNanney 15 pass from Parrick (kick fail)
South Whidbey-Lodell 35 run (Guetlin pass from Parra)
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