By Aaron Allen
The Seattle Medium
Junior Division: Seatac Sharks 33, 5 Star Cougars 8
This was a unique game as each team possessed secret weapons. Number one who says girls can’t play football! Each team possessed stellar young ladies on their teams and none stood out more than the Seatac Sharks’ all around player Leilani Savelio. She not only played fullback but nose tackle for the Sharks and dominated in this game. Supported by her fellow phenom Isendre “Poppa” Ahfua literally a man amongst boys at just over 6 feet and 220 pounds at age 11, 5 star had their hands full all game long. Due to the physical nature of this particular championship 5 Star lost several player to injury including their starting quarterback Jason Brown who had to leave the game after applying a vicious touchdown saving tackle on Ahfua.
Seatac had the ball and were marching down field but a fumble and recovery by the Cougar’s Cashon Stewart gave 5 Star life. 5 Star’s defense and depleted team fought through the adversity with great tackling by Silas Robinson.
But stopping Isendre and Savelio was a tall order and proved to be much more than the Cougs could handle as each continued to rake up yardage with Ahfua scoring the first score from ten yards out and Savelio punching in the extra point.
Silas Robinson and Maliqki Walker of 5 Star contributed mightily for their team with great runs . Na’Tavia Roberson of 5 Star too contributed on defense with a sack and tackle for a loss keeping the Cougs competitive. As the first half came to close the Sharks’ run game was just to superior as Ahfua and Savelio ran up and down the field, ending the half with Ahfua on a 40-yard romp for a score as well as a pass to Jsame Fola for a score making it 19-0 at the half.
The second half was like a movie sequel of the first half. Six minutes into the third quarter, Seatac’s Savelio rushed for another Shark touchdown followed by a successful extra point attempt bring the score to 27 to 0. To make matters worse Seatac’s defense stepped up their game with an interception by Jose Doval.
The Sharks’ Fasimoeafiataufa’ahau Fola-Kongaika contributed in the run game as well with a powerful twenty-five yard stomp, as Seatac showed that they were going to rely on the run. With a shutout seemingly the outcome, Edrie Caminong put an exclamation point with a 30 yard floater to Jamari Bradford for house raising score with four minutes and thirty seconds left on the clock.
But, the game is not over till the clock is at zero and the 5 Star Cougars hearts knew this as they competed valiantly till the buzzer as Jason Brown returned to the game and fought for a Coug’s touchdown to the end the game, no shut out today!
Senior Division: Puget Sound Lancers 39, Rainier Ravens 19
With two false starts, second and 20 and then an interception by Puget Sound’s Jaelin Green, the Rainier Raven’s began digging a deep hole for themselves that if it wasn’t for resilience and heart would not have been able to get out of. Mistakes plagued a talented Ravens team in the first half.
Off of the interception, the Puget Sound Lancers were in position to score and they did. Just six minutes into the game, the Lancers’ Jaelin Green made his presence know again with a jump ball pass from quarterback Isaiah Malloe, followed by a successful field goal attempt.
Cahmarion Burgos for the Rainier Ravens and their defensive unit remained staunch in lieu of the offensive struggles in the first quarter.
Burgos was productive as well in the running game yet again penalties plagued the offense with another interception, this one by the Lancers’ Marcus McCraney. With the momentum seemingly tilted towards the Lancers, the Ravens defense displayed the toughness that made them undefeated as well, as they stepped up to close out the first quarter with their own interception by Dylan Spencer.
The first half was a defensive and mental battle, back and forth as the defenses of both teams made for a difficult start on offense. Dev’Evon Chaney-Cooper, William Jefferson, Izaac Falepau all contributed on defense for the Lancers.
But the storyline continued to be turnover/penalties by the Ravens and in the redzone a sack and an interception by Puget Sound’s William Jefferson resulted in a pick six for 72 yards and a score. A fumble recovery by the Lancers’ Chance Bogan turned into a touchdown, 20 to zero Lancers. But the Ravens couldn’t resist, Burgos added a catch and run for fifty yards and a touchdown, getting the Ravens on the board.
Part two of this plot, the second half began where it left off, Isaiah Malloe tossed Green another jump ball and the tall receiver delivered a score for his teammates and coaches. The Ravens defense remained vigilant blocking the extra point. The offense of the Ravens began to show some life with a big run by quarterback Noah Schmid rumbling for thirty yards. The Lancer’s Leagaiatuimanua Asoau saved a possible touchdown with a big hit.
But that hit did not deter Schmid, after the run he attacked with a pass to Ellis Branca for a forty yard touchdown, making the score more respectable at 26-12 still in favor of the Lancers.
The Lancers tried to answer but Rainier’s Jacob Butler had other plans with a vicious hit causing a fumble as the Ravens recovered it, letting their fans know they weren’t going anywhere.
The end of the third quarter and into the fouth was defense, defense and more defense. Lancers tackles for loss by Jefferson. A pass from Schmid to Burgos followed by spectacular run after with a hurdle by Burgos as the Ravens showed their heart. The Ravens’ Mathew Morla had a huge defensive stop and Burgos topped it off with an interception for the Ravens.
The Lancers answered with a running attack using up the clock. At eight minutes into the quarter the Lancers strike again and with a forced fumble on the kickoff the Lancers recovered the fumble to maintain momentum.
Lancers began contributing, everybody wanted a piece. Deangelos Clark-Baker Jr. rumbled for twenty, Ary’Eon Allen-Jack had a reception. The Ravens refused to go away though. Cole Reynold had an eighty yard catch and run to set up a go ahead touchdown run by Noah Schmid and extra point pass to Cole Reynolds making it 32 to 19 Lancers still feeling confident.
Lancer’s Deangelos Clark-Baker Jr. as he took the handoff with two minutes and forty-five seconds left in the game and went up the middle untouched for a game ending dagger touchdown. Karahata Asuega put the period on this saga by smashing in the extra point. Game over and the Lancers are “Undefeated” Champions.
