VANCOUVER — Even in defeat, a lopsided defeat in fact, the Edmonds-Woodway Warriors made quite an impression.
The undefeated Evergreen Plainsmen blew out another opponent Nov. 13 in the first round of the Class 4A state football playoffs, taking care of the Warriors 42-7. But after the game, they spoke as if they were in a battle to the end.
“It was by far the most physical game we’ve played all year,” Evergreen running back Taylor Rank said. “They weren’t quitting. It felt like a close game, like it was a 17-14 game.”
Evergreen coach Cale Piland said it was the first time all season his team has had to play four solid quarters.
“The score wasn’t indicative of how even this game was physically,” he said.
Evergreen advances to the state quarterfinals to play Curtis. The Warriors, meanwhile, will have to settle with being the first players from Edmonds-Woodway to make it to the playoffs.
E-W coach John Gradwohl said he was proud of his team for making it this far, but it was difficult for him to accept just how they went out.
“I’m not real worried about losing, just disappointed with how we played,” he said.
Taylor Rank rushed for 160 yards and scored three touchdowns and quarterback Nick Fleck threw for 211 yards and two scores to lead the Evergreen attack.
But the Plainsmen had a lot of help from the Warriors, who self-destructed in the first quarter.
E-W turned the ball over on its first three possessions. Evergreen scored off two of the turnovers, and the other turnover cost the Warriors points as they were heading into the end zone.
The Warriors fumbled on their first play of the game, and two plays later, Rank broke free for a 26-yard touchdown, just squeezing the ball inside the pylon at the goal line.
“I can’t really explain it. My adrenaline was at a high,” Rank said of his celebration in the end zone after seeing the official raise his arms to signal a touchdown.
The Warriors responded with one of their two long drives of the night, but Evergreen defensive lineman Greg Peach stripped the ball from E-W running back Travis Smith on the Evergreen 10-yard line. The Plainsmen recovered.
“I went for the tackle, and I kind of felt the ball,” Peach said. “It’s the first time I got my hand in there all year, and I ripped it out.”
Evergreen’s Justin Schuele ended E-W’s next possession with his second interception in as many weeks, leading to the Plainsmen’s second touchdown.
Fleck found Tyler Rutherford all alone in the flat for a 28-yard scoring play to make it 14-0. Making things worse for the Warriors, the drive would have stalled if not for a roughing-the-passer penalty on E-W on a third-down play.
“Those were breaks that fell our way, and we were fortunate enough to capitalize on them,” Rank said.
Gradwohl knows the drill.
“They’re a dang good team, and you can’t give a dang good team like that advantages,” he said.
Fleck completed nine of 14 passes for 211 yards, and he’s earning more confidence every start. Evergreen came into the season as mostly a running team. The Plainsmen, though, have expanded the offense.
“I think we are a balanced attack,” Fleck said. “If you can stop the run, we’ll pass the ball, and if you stop the pass, we’ll run. We’re hard to prepare for.”
Piland said the Warriors loaded the box to try to shut down the run, and that allowed the Evergreen receivers to go one-on-one with defensive backs. Evergreen won those battles.
Paul Valencia writes for the Vancouver Columbian.
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