By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
The No. 6-seeded Rainier Beach Vikings opened the WIAA Class 3A state football playoffs with an impressive performance against the No. 27-seeded Mountlake Terrace Hawks, using an explosive offensive attack and a relentless defensive effort to secure a 40-7 victory in the first round of the 32-team tournament.
Playing at home with their postseason hopes on the line, the Vikings established control early and never trailed. Rainier Beach built a 14-0 first-quarter lead, carried a 20-7 advantage into halftime and outscored Mountlake Terrace 20-0 in the second half to advance to the next round.
Damari Ae Barrington led the Vikings with five touchdowns, scoring three times on the ground and twice through the air. Quarterback Esquire Williams threw three touchdown passes, while Rainier Beach’s defense consistently pressured Mountlake Terrace quarterback Mason Wilson and limited the Hawks to one touchdown.
Rainier Beach wasted little time showing its offensive potential, opening the game with a 27-yard run by Barrington. Although the Vikings’ opening drive eventually stalled, their defense quickly forced Mountlake Terrace to punt after allowing only a few short gains.
The Vikings struck first on their next possession when Williams picked up 12 yards on the ground before connecting with Micah Ili-Meneese on a 16-yard touchdown pass. The successful extra-point attempt gave Rainier Beach a 7-0 lead with 7:50 remaining in the first quarter.
Rainier Beach continued building momentum on its next possession. Williams connected with Barrington for nine yards before Sirjewel Glover broke free for a 20-yard run. Williams added another nine yards on the ground as the Vikings moved into scoring position.
Despite penalties and consecutive incomplete passes, Rainier Beach kept the drive alive. Facing third-and-15, Williams found Barrington for a 16-yard touchdown reception, extending the Vikings’ lead to 14-0 with 3:48 remaining in the quarter.
Mountlake Terrace attempted to respond behind the rushing attack of Owen Boswell and Wilson. Boswell contributed several important gains, while Wilson converted a fourth-and-one situation with a 3-yard run to keep the possession alive.
A personal foul against Rainier Beach helped the Hawks advance deeper into Vikings territory, but the first quarter ended with Rainier Beach holding a 14-0 lead.
Mountlake Terrace continued its drive into the second quarter, looking to cut into the deficit. However, Rainier Beach’s defense delivered a crucial stop when Achilles Reyna sacked Wilson on fourth down, ending the Hawks’ scoring opportunity.
The Vikings quickly turned defense into offense.
Williams opened the possession with a 5-yard run before connecting with Wes Armstrong on an 18-yard completion. Another 31-yard passing play moved Rainier Beach deep into Mountlake Terrace territory.
Barrington then took over, gaining nine yards before powering into the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run.
A bad snap prevented the extra-point attempt, but Rainier Beach had extended its lead to 20-0 with nine minutes remaining in the half.
Mountlake Terrace struggled to generate offense on its next possession, and the Hawks were forced to punt. Rainier Beach appeared to produce another explosive play on the return, but a penalty wiped out the touchdown.
The Vikings’ next possession ended when Mountlake Terrace’s Mason Wilson intercepted a Williams pass, giving the Hawks an opportunity to get back into the game.
Mountlake Terrace capitalized on the turnover, putting together a lengthy scoring drive behind Boswell and Wilson.
Boswell helped move the Hawks downfield with several runs, while Wilson converted a critical fourth-and-four situation with a 6-yard gain. Mountlake Terrace continued advancing toward the goal line, eventually reaching the Rainier Beach 3-yard line.
Facing fourth down, Wilson connected with Jackson Wallis on a 3-yard touchdown pass. The successful extra-point attempt cut Rainier Beach’s lead to 20-7 with 3:25 remaining in the second quarter.
The Vikings attempted to answer before halftime, with Williams contributing runs of 13 and 14 yards to help move the offense downfield. However, penalties and a loss of yardage stalled the possession, forcing Rainier Beach to punt.
Mountlake Terrace was unable to put together another scoring opportunity before the break, and the Vikings headed into halftime holding a 20-7 advantage.
The Hawks opened the second half looking to build on their late first-half momentum.
Wilson helped move Mountlake Terrace across midfield with runs of 10 and five yards, while a facemask penalty against Rainier Beach gave the Hawks additional yardage.
However, the Vikings’ defense continued making key stops. Mountlake Terrace eventually faced fourth-and-11, and although Wilson completed a pass to Wallis for six yards, the play came up short of the first down.
Rainier Beach immediately made the Hawks pay.
On the Vikings’ next offensive play, Williams connected with Barrington for an explosive 80-yard touchdown reception, giving Rainier Beach a commanding 26-7 lead with 7:41 remaining in the third quarter.
The extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, but the Vikings had regained complete control of the game.
Mountlake Terrace attempted to respond with another sustained drive, using Boswell’s rushing ability and penalties against Rainier Beach to move into Vikings territory.
Boswell picked up gains of five, four and two yards during the possession, but Rainier Beach’s defense continued applying pressure. Facing fourth-and-13, Wilson attempted to keep the drive alive through the air, but Malcolm Fields intercepted the pass to end the threat.
The Vikings looked to add to their advantage on the ensuing possession.
Williams connected with Quis Tovia for a 24-yard gain before finding Glover on completions of 15 and eight yards. However, penalties and incomplete passes eventually stalled the drive, forcing Rainier Beach to give up possession.
Mountlake Terrace took over late in the third quarter, but the Vikings’ defense once again disrupted the Hawks’ offensive rhythm.
Armstrong recorded a sack as Rainier Beach continued pressuring Wilson, helping the Vikings maintain their 26-7 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
The defensive pressure carried into the final period, with Rainier Beach recording another sack before forcing Mountlake Terrace to punt.
The Vikings quickly turned the stop into points.
Barrington opened the ensuing possession with a 20-yard run before adding another eight yards to move Rainier Beach into scoring position. After a short completion to Armstrong, Barrington broke free for a 21-yard touchdown run.
The two-point conversion attempt failed, but Rainier Beach had extended its lead to 32-7 with 8:46 remaining.
Mountlake Terrace continued battling, putting together another promising drive behind Boswell.
The Hawks’ running back broke loose for a 33-yard gain, one of Mountlake Terrace’s biggest offensive plays of the night, helping move the Hawks deep into Rainier Beach territory.
However, the Vikings’ defense once again refused to allow the Hawks into the end zone.
After additional short gains and penalties, Mountlake Terrace faced fourth-and-11. Wilson’s pass fell incomplete, giving Rainier Beach possession with another opportunity to score.
The Vikings took advantage.
Barrington broke free for a 28-yard run to open the drive, then added another short gain. R’meeko Toms contributed a 3-yard run before Williams connected with Mykhai Stanton on a 17-yard completion.
Williams followed with an 8-yard pass to Armstrong, moving the Vikings inside the Mountlake Terrace 10-yard line.
Barrington finished the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run, his fifth touchdown of the night.
Toms successfully converted the two-point attempt, extending Rainier Beach’s lead to 40-7 with 2:17 remaining.
Mountlake Terrace attempted to put together one final possession, with Tyree Connor and Nathan Nicholas getting opportunities to carry the ball. However, Rainier Beach’s defense prevented the Hawks from mounting another scoring threat as the final seconds expired.
Williams finished with 242 passing yards and three touchdowns, connecting with several receivers throughout the game. Barrington led the Vikings’ offensive attack with 144 rushing yards on 14 carries and 105 receiving yards on three receptions, accounting for five of Rainier Beach’s six touchdowns.
Armstrong contributed three receptions for 26 yards, while Glover added 20 rushing yards and two receptions for 23 yards. Tovia, Stanton and Ili-Meneese also contributed to the Vikings’ passing attack.
For Mountlake Terrace, Boswell led the rushing attack with 97 yards on 20 carries, including a 33-yard run in the fourth quarter. Wilson contributed 52 rushing yards on 12 carries and connected with Wallis for the Hawks’ only touchdown.
Defensively, Rainier Beach received important contributions from Reyna, Armstrong and Fields, while the Vikings’ ability to stop Mountlake Terrace on critical downs prevented the Hawks from capitalizing on several promising drives.
The victory sends Rainier Beach into the second round of the WIAA Class 3A state playoffs, while Mountlake Terrace’s season comes to an end.
Game State
Rainier Beach Vikings
Passing: Esquire Williams, 13-of-21, 242 yards, 3 TDs.
Rushing: Damari Ae Barrington, 14 carries, 144 yards, 3 TDs; Esquire Williams, 6 carries, 53 yards; Sirjewel Glover, 1 carry, 20 yards; R’meeko Toms, 2 carries, 7 yards.
Receiving: Damari Ae Barrington, 3 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDs; Wes Armstrong, 3 receptions, 26 yards; Quis Tovia, 1 reception, 24 yards; Sirjewel Glover, 2 receptions, 23 yards; Mykhai Stanton, 1 reception, 17 yards; Micah Ili-Meneese, 1 reception, 16 yards, 1 TD; Malcolm Fields, 1 reception, 0 yards.
Defense: Achilles Reyna, 1 sack; Wes Armstrong, 1 sack; Malcolm Fields, 1 interception; Esquire Williams, 1 interception (listed in defensive summary); one additional sack recorded by an unidentified Rainier Beach defender.
Scoring:
- Micah Ili-Meneese — 16-yard touchdown reception from Esquire Williams.
- Damari Ae Barrington — 16-yard touchdown reception from Williams.
- Damari Ae Barrington — 3-yard touchdown run.
- Damari Ae Barrington — 80-yard touchdown reception from Williams.
- Damari Ae Barrington — 21-yard touchdown run.
- Damari Ae Barrington — 9-yard touchdown run.
- R’meeko Toms — successful two-point conversion.
- Two successful extra-point kicks.
Mountlake Terrace Hawks
Passing: Mason Wilson, 8-of-18, 23 yards, 1 TD; Alexander Robinson, 0-of-1, 0 yards.
Rushing: Owen Boswell, 20 carries, 97 yards; Mason Wilson, 12 carries, 52 yards; Tyree Connor, 2 carries, 4 yards; Jackson Wallis, 1 carry, 2 yards; Nathan Nicholas, 1 carry, 0 yards.
Receiving: Jackson Wallis, 3 receptions, 9 yards, 1 TD; Owen Boswell, 3 receptions, 6 yards; Mason Wilson, 1 reception, 0 yards.
Defense: Mason Wilson, 2 interceptions listed in the defensive statistics, including one confirmed in the play-by-play.
Scoring:
Jackson Wallis — 3-yard touchdown reception from Mason Wilson.
- One successful extra-point kick.
Pictorial Highlights of Rainier Beach vs Mountlake Terrace
Photos/John Saunders
