By Chris B. Bennett, The Seattle Medium
For two quarters, the Benson Bruins 9U Kutthroat Boyz went toe-to-toe with their older 10U counterparts, using an opportunistic defense and two big stops late in the first half to keep the highly anticipated matchup scoreless.
But after battling to a 0-0 tie at halftime, the Benson 10U Rebel Boyz took control in the second half behind Johzais Failautusi and a powerful rushing attack, scoring 27 points over the final two quarters to earn a 27-12 victory in The Seattle Medium’s Youth Football Game of the Week.
Both teams entered the matchup undefeated and had dominated their opponents through the first three games. The Kutthroat Boyz had outscored their opponents 95-12, while the Rebel Boyz had yet to allow a point, outscoring their opponents 101-0.
The first half belonged to the defenses.
Benson 10U was able to move the football into 9U territory on several occasions, but the younger Bruins repeatedly found ways to keep them out of the end zone.
One of their biggest defensive plays came late in the second quarter when James Hatfield intercepted a Tyce Jones pass to end a Benson 10U scoring threat.
Benson 10U got the ball back and made one final push before halftime, driving all the way to the goal line. But on the final play of the half, the 9U defense came up with another big stop, keeping the ball carrier out of the end zone and sending the teams into halftime locked in a 0-0 tie.
However, the game began to turn after halftime.
Benson 10U kicked off to begin the third quarter, and the ball sailed over the 9U returners before being recovered near their own 5-yard line. The 10U defense took advantage of the field position, forcing a turnover on downs and giving its offense the ball deep in 9U territory.
Failautusi eventually punched the ball into the end zone on a 1-yard touchdown run, finally breaking the scoreless tie and giving Benson 10U its first lead of the game.
The 9U team tried to respond, but the 10U defense came up with another key play when Andrew Foushee recovered a fumble at the 43-yard line.
Benson 10U took advantage of the turnover as its rushing attack began to find more room against the younger Bruins. Maurice McCray contributed a 6-yard run during the possession, while Failautusi helped keep the chains moving before Jones finished the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run. The extra point gave the Rebel Boyz a 13-0 lead with 35 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Even as the game began to shift, the 9U defense continued to battle. Emmett Noel recorded a sack early in the fourth quarter as the Kutthroat Boyz tried to keep the game within reach.
But as the second half wore on, Failautusi and the 10U rushing attack began to take over.
Failautusi broke loose for a 35-yard run that moved the ball to the 1-yard line, then finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to extend the Rebel Boyz lead to 20-0.
Benson 9U, however, answered immediately with one of the game’s most exciting plays.
Khalil Ladd fielded the ensuing kickoff and raced 67 yards for a touchdown with 3:36 remaining, finally putting the Kutthroat Boyz on the scoreboard and cutting the deficit to 20-6.
Benson 10U responded by going right back to the ground game. Failautusi eventually finished another scoring drive with an 8-yard touchdown run, his third touchdown of the second half, and the extra point increased the lead to 27-6.
Still, the 9U team wasn’t finished.
Facing fourth-and-10 with just 22 seconds remaining, Ladd broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown run, his second touchdown of the quarter, to make the final score 27-12.
Failautusi finished the game with 119 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries, with all three of his scores coming after halftime. Jones added the other 10U touchdown as the Rebel Boyz used their rushing attack to finally break through a 9U defense that had kept them scoreless for the first two quarters.
Ladd provided the biggest offensive spark for the Kutthroat Boyz, finishing with 141 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, including 74 yards and a touchdown on six carries and a 67-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
With the win, the Rebel Boyz improved to 4-0, while the Kutthroat Boyz suffered their first loss of the season and fell to 3-1.
Because the two Benson teams practice on the same field and regularly scrimmage against one another, Benson 10U head coach King Matavao said the familiarity between the players contributed to the competitive nature of the game.
“It was a close game. We practice on the same field every day, and we scrimmage them literally every week, so having an actual game over here, it kind of feels different,” said Matavao. “The familiarity kind of helps keep it close.”
For Benson 9U head coach Mike Fesili, the first half showed what his young team was capable of against an older opponent, but he said sustaining that effort for four quarters was ultimately the difference.
“They’re older. I tell you, we’re all nine,” said Fesili. “I think they didn’t give up a touchdown the whole year and we’ve got two. It’s just the age game, really, the one that played out. Yeah. 0-0 going to a half. You know, that age just kicks in. Four quarters. We played two-and-a-half good quarters. We got to play four to beat these older teams. That’s it.”
Game Stats
Benson Bruins 10U Rebel Boyz
Passing: Tyce Jones, 2 completions, 11 yards; Jaxson Shandill, 1 completion, -2 yards; Johzais Failautusi, 0 completions.
Rushing: Johzais Failautusi, 16 carries, 119 yards, 3 TDs; Omir Thomas, 6 carries, 30 yards; Jaxson Shandill, 5 carries, 23 yards; Jeremiah Sii, 7 carries, 15 yards; Tyce Jones, 2 carries, 11 yards, 1 TD; Bless Austin-Curry, 4 carries, 8 yards; Misiuepa Muaau, 2 carries, 8 yards; Maurice McCray, 1 carry, 6 yards; Khalil Randolph, 1 carry, 5 yards; Kainoa Ongque, 1 carry, 4 yards.
Receiving: Jaxson Shandill, 1 reception, 11 yards.
Defense: Misiuepa Muaau, 1 tackle; Tyce Jones, 1 INT; Andrew Foushee, 1 fumble recovery.
Benson Bruins 9U Kutthroat Boyz
Passing: Khalil Ladd, 0 completions; James Hatfield, 0 completions.
Rushing: Khalil Ladd, 6 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD; Leeangelo Bentley, 9 carries, 22 yards; Judah Maile, 4 carries, 8 yards; James Hatfield, 3 carries, 3 yards; Jaxton Prum, 1 carry, 1 yard.
Receiving: James Hatfield, 2 receptions, -2 yards.
Special Teams: Khalil Ladd, 67-yard kickoff return, 1 TD.
Defense: Keila Sausau, 2 tackles; Khalil Ladd, 1 tackle; Judah Maile, 1 tackle; Aiden Nieves-Leon, 1 tackle; Jojo Clark, 1 tackle; Ezekiel Palmer, 1 tackle; Emmett Noel, 1 sack; Sosaia Toutai, 1 sack; James Hatfield, 1 INT.
Week Four WYFL Pictorial Highlights
