PASCO — The Lake Stevens football team’s incredible run has come to an end.
After two consecutive WIAA Class 4A state championships in 2022 and 2023 (which followed a second-place finish in 2021), the Vikings’ quest for a third state title in as many years was stopped by Chiawana, 48-21, on Saturday in the quarterfinals at Edgar Brown Stadium.
In the past four seasons, Vikings coach Tom Tri saw his team compile a 42-9 record.
Tri felt this Lake Stevens team (8-4) had as legitimate a shot at a 4A state title as any number of squads.
“Our team, I certainly thought we had opportunities this season (to battle for the state title),” said Tri. “We had a lot of guys back, with some young talent coming in. We had senior leaders. I thought we had a good chance (to repeat).
“But we had a lot of injuries, and by no means am I using that as an excuse. But it certainly didn’t help us.”
Both Tri and senior quarterback Kolton Matson said the Vikings faced a tough Chiawana team (11-1).
“Today we played a good football team,” said Matson. “They have a good offense, and they’re good up front. Their defense gets up close and physical. I wish them the best in the next few weeks.”
Tri said the Vikings made too many mistakes.
“Today we got out-physicalled. I’m very proud of this team’s effort. But you can’t turn the ball over like we did in the playoffs,” said Tri.
Lake Stevens had three turnovers that the Riverhawks turned into 14 points, and breakdowns hurt too. And that came together at a key time in the game:
• With the game tied at 14-14 and Chiawana with the ball in the waning seconds before halftime — the Riverhawks had two short rushes at midfield netting almost nothing and some of his players pleading to throw the ball — head coach Scott Bond called a timeout with 1.3 seconds remaining and the ball at the Vikings’ 45.
“I knew what we were doing,” said Bond. “I only wanted one try there at the end. If we fumbled, we could get the tackle in plenty of time.”
What happened instead was Chiawana quarterback Julian Martinez launched a bomb down the right sideline to Cooper MacPherson — who sneaked by two members of the Lake Stevens secondary to catch the pass for a touchdown as time expired.
It was the beginning of 4 minutes and 49 seconds of an explosive Riverhawks attack that put this game away.
• The Vikings came out in the third quarter and marched 53 yards downfield in four plays — keyed by a 53-yard Matson to Blake Moser pass play. But MacPherson — the two-time Defensive Player of the Year in the Mid-Columbia Conference — then made another key play on the fifth play of the drive.
On a third-and-8 from the Chiawana 13, MacPherson bull-rushed the blockers and closed in on Matson, who fell backward but lofted a pass to the left side near the end zone.
Waiting was Chiawana’s Braxton Feldmann, who gathered in the pass and raced through a number of would-be tacklers for a 96-yard touchdown return.
Chiawana wasn’t done yet.
• On the ensuing kickoff, the Vikings had a tough time handling the squib kick and the Riverhawks’ Andre Mehrer recovered the loose ball at the Lake Stevens 34.
Six plays later Gage Williams — who comes in as quarterback for Chiawana during its rushing offense setup — rolled into the end zone from 5 yards out.
It was Williams’ fourth touchdown of the game, and suddenly Chiawana’s lead was insurmountable.
For Matson, it ends a stellar career that screams Winner all about him.
He led Lake Stevens to those two state titles, a second-place finish, and a top-eight finish this year.
His final career stats include going 575 for 875 for 8,344 yards and 89 TD passes against 25 interceptions.
That also includes Saturday’s 18-for-27 performance for 256 yards and two touchdown passes.
More importantly to Matson, last year’s Washington Gatorade Player of the Year in football, he leaves a winning atmosphere with the Vikings.
“I’ll miss the culture of this team,” said Matson. “I couldn’t be more proud of these guys.”
Tri says Matson is a one-of-a-kind young man.
“He is one of the best leaders I have had in my 20-plus years I’ve had as a head coach,” said Tri. “He’s a fun kid to be around. He’s positive, and everything he does is hard-working. And I mean everything. He’s the kind of kid that you want your own son to be when he grows up.”
In high school sports, only one team ends up being happy, winning a state title.
Tri understands that. But this has been an incredible run for the Vikings.
“I’m very proud of our team’s effort,” he said.
— — — — — —
At Edgar Brown Stadium, Pasco
Lake Stevens 7 7 7 0 — 21
Chiawana 7 14 20 7 — 48
— — — — — —
SCORING PLAYS
C — Gage Williams 12 run (Morgan Dodson kick)
LS — Jayshon Limar 17 pass from Kolton Matson (Lucas Mooring kick)
LS — Kekoa Okiyama 2 pass from Matson (Mooring kick)
C — Williams 5 run (Dodson kick)
C — Cooper MacPherson 45 pass from Julian Martinez (Gavin Naef kick)
C — Braxton Feldmann 96 interception return (Naef kick)
C — Williams 5 run (kick blocked)
LS — Limar 2 run (Mooring kick)
C — Williams 4 run (Naef kick)
C — Cody Iverson fumble recovery in end zone (Naef kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — LS, Matson 5-43, Limar 16-23, Jay Ferrell 1-3, Totals 22-69. Chi, Feldmann 18-111, Anthony Godino 15-74, Williams 11-60, Brooks Zaro 1-11, Martinez 2-8, Totals 47-264.
Passing — LS, Matson 18-27-2-256 yards. Chi, Martinez 4-6-0-86, Williams 1-1-0-49.
Receiving — LS, Blake Moser 3-86, Limar 4-72, Okiyama 6-54, Kaiden Peck 2-38, Cannon Kennard 1-9, Ferrell 1-minus 1, Keagan Howard 1-minus 2. Chi, MacPherson 3-94, Dodson 1-23, Zaro 1-18.
First downs — LS 14, Chi 18. Fumbles-Lost — LS 2-1, Chi 1-0. Penalties-Yards — LS 6-52, Chi 7-45.
Defense — LS, DL Andrew Claudio-Ortega 7 tackles; DE Keegan Brown 7 tackles; DE Brayden Dougherty 6 tackles (1 for loss); Chi, DB Feldmann 6 tackles (1 for loss), forced fumble, interception pick 6; LB Tayten Cissne 9 tackles (1 for loss); LB Williams 4 tackles (1 for loss), 2 QB sacks.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
