Reported By Karrington Kincaid, The Seattle Medium
In a game that had all the makings of a playoff classic, the B12 Bearcats and the Federal Way Hawks battled through four quarters of defensive grit and two overtime periods before the Bearcats emerged with a 14–6 victory in the first round of the Washington Youth Football League 12U playoffs.
It was a game where yards were hard-earned, mistakes were costly, and every possession mattered. With both teams trading punts, turnovers, and defensive stands throughout regulation, it became clear early that this wasn’t going to be a high-scoring shootout — it was going to be a war of attrition.
The first half was dominated by both defenses. Neither team could sustain a drive for long, as miscues, fumbles, and negative-yardage plays prevented offensive rhythm. For the Bearcats, quarterback Kristopher Hammick completed a handful of short passes but was under constant pressure. On the other side, the Hawks struggled to find space for their backs, with Anthony Jackson and Leone Maka being bottled up behind the line of scrimmage multiple times.
Federal Way’s best chance of the first half came late in the second quarter when J’Rome Olive broke free for a 27-yard run to flip field position. But a series of negative plays and an incomplete pass on fourth down turned the ball back over to the Bearcats, who also failed to convert in the final minutes of the half. The two sides went into halftime locked in a scoreless tie, with defensive adjustments taking center stage.
The deadlock was finally broken in the third quarter when Hammick connected with Dominic Crane on a 39-yard pass to set up the game’s first scoring opportunity. Moments later, Hammick found Benicio Moreno over the middle for a 13-yard touchdown strike, giving the Bearcats a 6–0 lead. The extra point attempt was no good, but the momentum was shifting.
Federal Way responded with determination. Led by Olive, who carried the bulk of the offensive workload, the Hawks marched down the field. A series of strong runs — including gains of 17, 9, and 4 yards — helped the Hawks inch toward the end zone. Early in the fourth quarter, Olive punched it in with a 9-yard touchdown to tie the game at 6–6. However, the conversion attempt came up short, keeping the game level and setting up a tense finish.
The Bearcats pushed for a go-ahead score, but their drive stalled, and with time winding down, Hammick’s pass was picked off by Tali Talakai, giving the Hawks one final shot to steal the win in regulation. But Federal Way’s offense couldn’t capitalize, as a key sack by Crane and a fourth-down stop by the Bearcats’ defense forced overtime.
In the first extra session, both defenses held firm. Hammick’s pass was intercepted by Anthony Jackson to stop the Bearcats’ possession, while Olive and Jackson worked the ball forward for Federal Way. But again, the Bearcats’ defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs to send the game into a second overtime.
That’s when the Bearcats made their move. Behind steady runs from Daniel Salas and Hammick, the Bearcats advanced the ball into scoring position. Hammick then hit Braylon Sanders on a perfectly placed 8-yard touchdown pass. This time, the extra point was good, giving the Bearcats a 14–6 lead.
Federal Way had one final possession to keep their season alive, but the Bearcats defense, as it had all game, answered the call. With the Hawks trying to mount a game-tying drive, Sanders made a highlight-reel interception to seal the win and send B12 to the next round.
Player Stats
B12 Bearcats (Offense):
Kristopher Hammick – 11 rushes, 35 yards; 6/6 passing, 63 yards, 2 TDs
Daniel Salas – 9 rushes, 27 yards
Benicio Moreno – 1 reception, 13 yards, 1 TD
Braylon Sanders – 2 receptions, 11 yards, 1 TD
Dominic Crane – 1 reception, 39 yards
B12 Bearcats (Defense):
Dominic Crane – 3 tackles
Kristopher Hammick – 2 INTs
Braylon Sanders – 1 INT (game-sealing play)
Federal Way Hawks (Offense):
J’Rome Olive – 16 rushes, 125 yards, 1 TD
Darren Tito – 4 rushes, 26 yards
Federal Way Hawks (Defense):
Anthony Jackson – 1 INT
Tali Talakai – 1 INT
