Snohomish County pounds Pierce County

  • David Pan<br>Enterprise sports editor
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 11:37am

EDMONDS — Snohomish County wrapped up the regular season with its best performance of the year.

Quarterback Clay Tolliver threw for three touchdowns and the defense forced seven turnovers as the Vikings pounded Pierce County 56-8 in a Northwest Football League game Aug. 26 at Edmonds Stadium.

“The kids played really well,” Vikings head coach Wes Fischer said. “They created their fortune tonight (with) interceptions, knocking the ball out and taking it from people. That was good stuff … we just got after them.”

With the victory, Snohomish County finished the regular season with a 5-3 record, tied for third place with the Willamette Valley Raiders and the Oregon Thunderbolts. Because the Vikings lost to both teams during the regular season, they did not advance to the playoffs. Only the top four teams move on to the postseason.

Fischer was pleased with the way his team played in its final two games. Snohomish County outscored its opponents 85-8 in the pair of victories.

“The difference was the speed we ended up being able to put in,” Fischer said. “Apollo Lewis is so fast.”

Lewis rushed for 115 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns. Tolliver completed seven of 21 passes for 115 yards as the Vikings’ balanced attack was too much for the Bengals to handle.

“We added some motion that we didn’t use before and it makes (the defense) guess,” Fischer said. “We added some traps and counters in our offense that we didn’t use before. I think the whole thing worked out well.”

The future is bright for Snohomish County with the expected return of Tolliver and fellow quarterback Daimino Stewart, who threw for one touchdown and ran for two more in the Vikings’ 29-0 win over Multnomah County two weeks ago.

While Stewart brings speed to the backfield, Tolliver gives Snohomish County some toughness.

“He’s got a strong arm,” Fischer said of Tolliver. “We saw … they would have two or three guys on him and he still gets off the ball and completes it. He’s a strong young man. If he works out real hard in the offseason, which we’re working towards, and comes in real good shape, I think he could push for doing anything he wanted to.”

Fischer expects to have most of the team to return next year and to build on this year’s success.

“The guys are very excited about the quality of ball we’re playing and it was a fun season for everybody,” Fischer said. “We’re just trying to … put it back together. Guys are saying ‘I’ll be back.’”

Lewis’ 1-yard touchdown run gave Snohomish County a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Snohomish County defensive back Drew Jenkins then picked off a Pierce County pass and pitched it back to teammate Brian Carter during the runback. Carter was eventually tackled at the Snohomish County 43. Three plays later, Tolliver threw a 61-yard touchdown to wide receiver Davie Beeks.

Two minutes in the second quarter, Snohomish County linebacker Chris Stokes recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Lewis followed with his second 1-yard touchdown run with 2:53 to go in the quarter.

Pierce County’s Jerard English then picked off a Tolliver pass and returned it 42 yards for the Bengals’ lone touchdown of the game.

Jenkins’ second interception of the game set up a 5-yard pass from Tolliver to James Hunt as the Vikings took a 35-8 lead with five seconds remaining in the first half.

In the third quarter, Snohomish County added to its lead with a 13-yard touchdown run by Sam Humble.

The Vikings closed out the game with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Tolliver found Antwoine Gamble on a 10-yard scoring strike and Davie Jones ran the ball in from the 16.

At halftime, Fischer presented the Volunteers of America with a check for $2,000. The home finale, also known as the annual Harvest Bowl, raises money for food banks in Snohomish County.

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