On Saturday, the Garfield Bulldogs (6-3 overall, 5-3 in Metro) squared off with the Lincoln Lynx (6-2 overall, 6-1 in Metro) in the Metro League playoffs. The winner would advance to the WIAA 3A state tournament round of 32, and the loser’s season would come to an end.
The Bulldogs took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter as freshman running back Reylen Witherspoon scored the first touchdown of the game on an 81-yard run, and receiver Sejhe Jackson caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback EJ Caminong.
Caminong and Jackson would follow up with a 79-yard touchdown pass with 8:24 left in the second quarter as Garfield increased their lead to 21-0.
Lincoln would gain some momentum as Jack Leary returned the ensuing kickoff to the 42-yard line. A pass interference call would give Lincoln the ball at the Bulldogs’ 24-yard line. The Lynx would score on the next play, as running back Connor Goulet would take a screen pass 30 yards for a touchdown. The lynx would miss the extra point attempt as they trailed 21-6.
Later in the second quarter, Garfield would get into scoring position again but had to settle for a field goal after a 15-yard touchdown run was called back for holding. Garfield would go into halftime with a 24-6 lead.
The Bulldogs would get another big play to start the second half as Tawaf Aboudou would return the second half kickoff 78 yards to the Lynx 13-yard line. The play would set up a 13-yard touchdown by Reylen Witherspoon for his second touchdown of the game, as Garfield took a 31-6 lead.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Garfield’s Jimmy Miller would score on a 17-yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a commanding 38-6 lead.
The Bulldogs appeared to get another big play as running back Julius Gillick exploded down the sidelines on a 71-yard touchdown run that was called back for a penalty.
Final score: Garfield 38, Lincoln 6.
With the win, the Bulldogs earned a date with Spanaway Lake (6-2) in the WIAA 3A round of 32 this weekend.
