By Kiara Doyal
The Seattle Medium
The No. 4-seeded Bethel Bison 10U faced the No. 5-seeded Federal Way Hawks 10U in a playoff battle. Bethel brought a strong defensive presence and an explosive rushing attack, building a commanding lead through the first three quarters.
Federal Way received the opening kickoff and attempted to establish its offense, but penalties and defensive pressure made it difficult for the Hawks to find a rhythm. After an incomplete pass on third down, Federal Way turned the ball over on downs.
Bethel took advantage of the opportunity, with Kannon Jones connecting with Gavin Strickland for a 5-yard completion. Despite some penalties and a defensive stop by Federal Way, Bethel kept the drive alive. Facing a fourth-and-17 situation, Martez Reed broke free for an incredible 32-yard touchdown run. The extra point was good, giving Bethel an early 7-0 lead.
Bethel continued its momentum in the second quarter as Federal Way struggled with offensive setbacks, including bad snaps and significant losses of yardage. Reed came up with a huge interception on fourth down, giving the Bison another opportunity.
The Bison capitalized once again as Reed delivered another explosive play, breaking loose for a 44-yard rushing touchdown. The extra point was good, extending Bethel’s lead to 14-0 with 6:10 remaining in the half.
Federal Way attempted to respond, but another possession ended in a turnover on downs. Bethel later fumbled, giving Federal Way’s Reece Liggens an opportunity to recover. The Hawks managed a promising 30-yard run from Cornelius Maxey Jr. but couldn’t find the end zone before halftime.
Federal Way kicked off to begin the second half, but Bethel’s defense continued to hold strong, limiting the Hawks’ opportunities. After several stalled possessions and penalties, Reed broke through for another explosive touchdown, this time on a 50-yard run.
The touchdown pushed Bethel’s advantage to 20-0 with 7:27 remaining in the third quarter. Federal Way struggled to respond, fumbling on its following possession and giving Bethel another takeaway. After limited gains on either side of the ball, the third quarter ended with Bethel leading 20-0.
The Federal Way Hawks found their offensive rhythm in the fourth quarter, putting points on the board after trailing through the first three quarters. Maxey found the end zone on a 6-yard reception, while Romello Wyche added another touchdown with an impressive 60-yard run around the left edge.
However, Bethel answered with one final touchdown of its own in the fourth quarter, securing a 26-13 victory over Federal Way.
