By Aaron Coe

Herald Writer

BOTHELL — If there remained any questions about the Bothell football team’s defense, they were answered on Thursday at the expense of Lake Stevens.

The No. 6-ranked Cougars intercepted six passes en route to a 25-10 non-conference victory over Lake Stevens at Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell. They stuffed the running game and picked apart the Vikings passing game in a playoff-type atmosphere in front of a large crowd.

"The whole defense stepped up," said Bothell strong safety Russ Wacker, who intercepted two Lake Stevens passes. "It was a team effort. We should’ve had a shutout, but we made the big plays when we needed them."

Despite outgaining the Vikings 315 yards to 157 — including a 182-19 advantage on the ground — Bothell didn’t put Lake Stevens away until the waning moments.

Because of some misfires on offense, especially the 0-for-3 mark on conversion attempts after touchdowns, the Cougars (5-0 overall) led only 18-10 when Lake Stevens (4-1) took possession at midfield with 2:16 remaining in the game.

After an incomplete pass, defensive end Bart Ward blindsided the Lake Stevens quarterback, who fumbled for Lake Stevens’ eighth turnover. Fellow defensive end Nick Jones recovered the loose ball at the Vikings 38, setting up his own victory-sealing 38-yard TD run with 1:54 to go.

Ward, who rushed for a game-high 117 yards on 21 carries and recorded two of Bothell’s six sacks, wasn’t sure he’d get a chance to end the Vikings’ hopes.

"I came around the corner and saw the quarterback getting ready to throw," Ward said. "I was thinking, ‘Please don’t throw. Please don’t throw.’ ”

The Vikings attempted 28 passes, in part, because of Bothell’s run defense. Lake Stevens, which has been one of the top rushing teams in the Western Conference for many years, never established its ground attack on Thursday.

"Our defense played really well," said Bothell coach Tom Bainter, who led the Cougars to their first state playoff victory in school history last season. "Lake Stevens is a good football team. They are physical and tough. We really relied on our defense tonight."

The Vikings also displayed a strong defense. After allowing Bothell to score on its first two drives, Lake Stevens held strong until Jones’ dam-breaking run. Vikings free safety Jesse Shields, who intercepted a pass, returned a punt 61 yards to set up Ricky Bargreen’s 19-yard TD pass to Carter Fronsman with 4:22 remaining. It was Fronsman’s first reception of the season.

Early in the game, it was all Bothell.

Jones and his offensive line kept Bothell’s first drive alive with two fourth-down conversions. Jones blasted up the middle for six yards on fourth-and-2 and 11 yards on fourth-and-1.

His second run set up Tony Gardiner’s 20-yard TD pass to Travis McGee, who juggled and held on to the ball despite being mauled by a Lake Stevens defender. Gardiner completed 12 of 22 passes for 133 yards.

The Cougars missed the extra point, but led 6-0 3:33 into the game.

An interception by Wacker set up Bothell’s second scoring drive.

Facing third-and-15, Ward broke two tackles on his way to a 34-yard run to the Lake Stevens 12. Gardiner eventually plunged in from a yard out for a 12-0 Cougars edge.

The Vikings tightened their defensive screws after the first two Bothell drives. Lake Stevens lineman Travis Bayha blocked Bothell’s 36-yard field goal attempt and Shields intercepted a pass to kill another opportunity.

"The game’s out of hand if we come through (with our kicking game)," said Bainter, whose team has allowed 42 points in five games. "That’s an area we’ve got to improve on."

Clint Osborne registered Lake Stevens’ lone first-half play longer than seven yards, breaking five tackles to turn a short screen pass into a 56-yard gain to the Bothell 15. Willem Jongejan eventually booted a 25-yard field goal with 11:49 remaining to complete the first-half scoring.

Ward gained 91 yards on 13 carries in the half to lead the Cougars to a 113-18 advantage in rushing yards.

At Pop Keeney Stadium, Bothell

Lake Stevens 0307—10

Bothell12067—25

Bothell—McKee 20 pass from Gardiner (kick failed)

Bothell—Gardiner 1 run (pass failed)

Lake Stevens—FG Jongejan 25

Bothell—Ward 13 run (pass failed)

Lake Stevens—Fronsman 19 pass from Bargreen (Jongejan kick)

Bothell—Jones 38 run (Musseau kick)

Records—Lake Stevens 4-1 overall. Bothell 5-0 overall.