E-W, Heard trample Kamiak

EVERETT — Tony Heard carried the ball 16 times before reaching the end zone Friday — an unusual drought for a running back who scored 16 touchdowns in his first five games this season.

It took Heard longer than usual to score, but he’s not the kind of player a coach gives up on.

“If you keep rolling the dice, you’ll roll sevens eventually,” said Edmonds-Woodway High School football coach John Gradwohl, whose decision to keep giving the ball to Heard, a powerful 225-pound junior, paid off nicely for the Warriors.

On his 17th rushing attempt of the game, Heard blew past the Kamiak Knights defense for a game-changing 60-yard TD run. The play broke a 7-7 tie and ignited a binge of 28 consecutive points in the Warriors’ 35-7 triumph over Kamiak.

Heard, who came into the game leading the Western Conference with 999 yards, finished with 211 yards and two scores on 24 carries. He also made some punishing tackles for an E-W defense that tightened in the second half to boost the Warriors to a key South Division victory at Goddard Stadium.

“I just had to stay patient. I knew that after a while the holes would open up,” said Heard, whose first TD gave E-W a 14-7 lead with 3 minutes, 55 seconds to go in the third quarter.

Tyler Lange tallied 96 rushing yards and a TD for unbeaten E-W (6-0 in division and overall). Quarterback Kyle McCartney passed for 133 yards and a TD, and also ran for a score for the Warriors, who are ranked No. 4 in the WashingtonPreps.com Class 4A poll.

E-W’s defense struggled at times in the first half, but the Warriors intercepted two passes in the final two quarters and forced back-to-back three-and-out possessions when Kamiak (4-1, 5-1) tried to rally.

“We didn’t do a great job, but we did a better job in the second half. I’d say we did a great job when it mattered,” said Gradwohl, whose team gained more than 450 yards against sixth-ranked Kamiak and is alone in first place in the Wesco South.

Kamiak had a third-and-goal from the E-W 5-yard line early in the third quarter, but an intentional-grounding penalty and a missed field goal left the Knights with a giant missed opportunity. About two minutes later, Heard exploded for his big TD.

The sequence definitely swayed the momentum, Kamiak coach Dan Mack said.

“They’re a fine football team. We’ve got to do a better job of coming up and tackling,” said Mack.

Backs Kaniala Manzano (67 rushing yards) and Justin Glenn (47 yards on 16 attempts) led Kamiak’s offense, which gained 160 total yards.

E-W took the opening drive 68 yards in seven plays for a touchdown. Heard carried three times for 31 yards and Antoinne Wafer capped the possession with a 27-yard TD reception. McCartney lofted a high pass to the end zone and Wafer (three catches, 54 yards) hauled it in after Kamiak’s Glenn jumped and tipped the ball in the air.

Kamiak tied the score at 7-7 with 7:20 to go in the first half. After recovering a fumble at their own 10-yard line, the Knights plowed 90 yards in 13 plays. Glenn, who came into the game with 635 yards rushing but had minus-4 after his first six carries Friday, finished the drive with a 4-yard plunge.

Both teams had several impressive drives in the first half that didn’t result in points because of turnovers and timely defense.

Heard’s lead-changing run up the right sideline in the third quarter gave E-W the only other points it needed.

“That was huge,” McCartney said. “We wanted to come out with a bang in the second half.”

At Goddard Stadium

E-W70721—35

Kamiak0700—7

Edmonds-Woodway—Wafer 27 pass from McCartney (Milone kick)

Kamiak—Glenn 4 run (Gaddy kick)

Edmonds-Woodway——Heard 60 run (Milone kick)

Edmonds-Woodway——McCartney 3 run (Milone kick)

Edmonds-Woodway—Heard 3 run (Milone kick)

Edmonds-Woodway—Lange 1 run (Milone kick)

Records-Edmonds-Woodway 6-0 in division and overall. Kamiak 4-1, 5-1.

Contact Herald Writer Mike Cane at mcane@heraldnet.com. For more high school sports news, check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

Palmer Mutcheson chips onto the green during the Men’s Club Championship at Snohomish Golf Course. Mutcheson won the tournament and carded a nine-under-par 63 on Aug. 4, 2024, which set a new course record. (Photo courtesy Kiana Richards, Snohomish Golf Course)
Tee off in style: The top three golf courses in the Snohomish County

From scenic fairways to championship-level greens, these courses are a golfer’s dream!

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.