Guffey stars as Glacier Peak routs rival Snohomish

SNOHOMISH — Justin Guffey and the Glacier Peak football team couldn’t wait to take on crosstown rival Snohomish to open the season.

Then the Grizzlies and their fans couldn’t wait to see how Guffey would make it into the end zone next.

The senior wide receiver caught nine passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns, scored two touchdowns on kickoff returns and threw a 17-yard touchdown pass as Glacier Peak improved to 4-0 all-time against its crosstown rival Snohomish with a 42-25 victory Friday night in a non-conference game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“We’ve been waiting all offseason, we’ve been preparing every day for these guys,” Guffey said as the Glacier Peak student section chanted, “Guffey! Guffey!”

“It’s good to get the win. It’s a big rival game.”

Guffey had touchdown receptions of 26 and 25 yards and added an 85-yard kickoff return and a 70-yard score on a kickoff the Panthers tried to direct away from Guffey.

Instead Guffey ran up, grabbed the ball and headed to the end zone.

“He had a really nice game,” Glacier Peak head coach Rory Rosenbach said. “He had a couple opportunities, he took advantage of them. The kick returns were awesome. … It was a really great first game for him.”

Guffey deflected credit to his team, praising the Grizzlies for making blocks to free him up.

“We got the momentum going and the team was playing great,” Guffey said. “We were fired up. We were ready to play these guys. All my guys, I’ve got to give it to them, they were giving me great blocks. The hole was wide open. I just ran through the hole.”

Both of Guffey’s touchdown passes came from senior quarterback Devyn Rainbow. Rainbow started the game before being relieved by freshman Ayden Ziomas in the second quarter. Rainbow returned to the game for the Grizzlies and played the entire second half for Glacier Peak (1-0 overall).

Rainbow went 14-of-22 for 239 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Ziomas completed 8-of-11 attempts for 98 yards.

Rosenbach said splitting the time was planned, with the coach wanting the senior to close the game out in the second half.

“It’s always a battle,” Rosenbach said of the two quarterbacks. “In everything. Every position is always a battle. Those two guys have competed all fall and both of them have done well enough to earn an opportunity to compete tonight. … In the second half we just felt more comfortable with the older guy. That could change next week.”

Snohomish had an answer for Glacier Peak early with a 20 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kobe McDaniel to Josh Johnston and a four-yard run by AJ Gaddy — a 6-foot-4, 245-pound senior who is listed as a tight end and defensive end on the Snohomish (0-1) roster.

Panthers sophomore running back Keegan Stich scored on a 39-yard run late in the second quarter to bring Snohomish to within two, 21-19 at halftime.

Stich added another score with a 57-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the fourth quarter to get cut the deficit to 35-25 but that’s as close as the Panthers would get.

Stich finished the game with 16 carries for 148 yards and McDaniel went 15-of-30 for 177 yards to lead Snohomish.

“They’re going to be a good football team,” Rosenbach said of the Panthers. “They’re going to win some games. They’re going to be in the playoff battle.”

Glacier Peak was able to overcome three fumbles which allowed Snohomish to keep pace with the Grizzlies. Two of Glacier Peak’s fumbles were deep in its own territory leading to one score by the Panthers.

The Grizzlies have won all four contests against Snohomish in their program’s history, with the last two both coming by 17 points or more.

“It’s tough. It’s fun, but it’s tough because everything is amplified. Every mistake counts 10-times more than it does in some other games because it’s Snohomish,” Rosenbach said. “Records don’t matter and talent doesn’t matter.”

Coaches from both teams wore white button-up shirts and ties in honor of late Snohomish teacher and cross country and track coach Tuck Gionet, who passed away last month. The longtime Panther coach was the clock operator at Snohomish football games.

The flag at Veterans Memorial Stadium was at half staff to honor Gionet.

“I never saw him not in this coaching or teaching,” Rosenbach said. “It was something we came up with together (with Snohomish) that we wanted to do.”

At Veterans Memorial Stadium

Glacier Peak 14 7 14 7 — 42

Snohomish 7 12 0 6 — 25

GP–Justin Guffey 26 pass from Devyn Rainbow (Kevin Ramsey kick)

S–Josh Johnston 20 pass from Kobe McDaniel (Taylor DeVries kick)

GP–Alex Garrett 17 pass from Guffey (DeVries kick)

S–AJ Gaddy 4 run (kick failed)

GP–Guffey 85 kickoff return (Ramsey kick)

S–Keegan Stich 39 run (run failed)

GP–Colton Bunt 31 pass from Rainbow (Ramsey kick)

GP–Guffey 25 pass from Rainbow (Ramsey kick)

S–Stich 57 pass from McDaniel (pass failed)