By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Behind three rushing touchdowns from quarterback Leo Harnetiaux and a defense that recorded its second consecutive shutout, the Seattle Prep Panthers overwhelmed the Ballard Beavers 42-0 Thursday night at West Seattle Stadium in Metro League football action.
Harnetiaux led the Panthers’ offensive attack, completing 18 of 23 passes for 185 yards and rushing for 50 yards and three touchdowns. Reilly Cahill added 55 rushing yards and two touchdowns on seven carries, while Ben Cunningham caught a 24-yard touchdown pass as Seattle Prep improved its record to 5-3.
The Panthers wasted little time taking control, scoring 21 unanswered points in the first quarter before adding another touchdown in the second. Seattle Prep’s defense also played a major role in the victory, forcing two turnovers that helped the Panthers build a commanding lead.
After Ballard kicked off to open the game, Seattle Prep put together an impressive opening drive behind Harnetiaux, who helped move the offense downfield with runs of six and 17 yards.
Cunningham and Cahill added key runs, while Sean McDowall broke off an 11-yard gain to keep the drive moving. Harnetiaux then connected with Miller Kavanaugh for 13 yards before finding Cunningham for a 24-yard touchdown pass. The successful extra point gave Seattle Prep a 7-0 lead with 8:39 remaining in the first quarter.
The Panthers quickly extended their advantage after Ballard lost a fumble on its next possession, giving Seattle Prep the ball deep in Beavers territory.
Harnetiaux moved the offense closer to the end zone before Cahill broke through for a 9-yard run and followed with a 3-yard touchdown run. Another successful extra point extended Prep’s lead to 14-0 with 6:30 remaining.
Ballard struggled to establish its offense on the ensuing possession and was forced to punt.
The Panthers capitalized again, with Cahill breaking off an 18-yard run before Harnetiaux scored on a 9-yard touchdown run. The successful extra point made it 21-0 with 2:34 remaining in the opening quarter.
Ballard showed signs of life late in the quarter as Jack Rees picked up several yards on the ground, including runs of 10 and eight yards. However, the Beavers remained scoreless as the first quarter came to a close.
Ballard opened the second quarter looking to build momentum, with quarterback Isaiah Parker completing a short pass to Rees to convert a third down. However, the Beavers were unable to sustain the drive and punted the ball away.
Seattle Prep’s next possession featured a defensive stand by Ballard, including a sack that pushed the Panthers backward.
Harnetiaux responded by connecting with JD Rudolf for 17 yards on a difficult third-down play, then found Kavanaugh for gains of 10 and nine yards as Seattle Prep continued moving downfield.
Cahill continued moving the ball with runs near the goal line before Harnetiaux finished the possession with a 4-yard rushing touchdown. The extra point extended Prep’s lead to 28-0 with 4:35 remaining in the first half.
The Beavers put together one of their more productive drives of the half behind Cy Shepard, who opened the possession with consecutive runs of 10 and seven yards.
Parker added a 9-yard rush to help Ballard advance toward Seattle Prep territory, while Rees contributed another short gain. However, the Panthers’ defense held firm, and Parker’s incomplete pass on fourth down ended the drive.
Seattle Prep threatened to add another score before halftime.
After a penalty pushed the Panthers backward, Harnetiaux completed an 18-yard pass before connecting with Black Heeter for a 41-yard gain that moved Seattle Prep deep into Ballard territory.
With just 11 seconds remaining, the Panthers reached the 5-yard line but could not convert either of their final two pass attempts. Seattle Prep carried a 28-0 lead into halftime.
The Panthers picked up right where they left off after halftime.
Ballard struggled to gain ground on its opening possession of the third quarter and eventually turned the ball over on downs, giving Seattle Prep possession near the goal line.
Harnetiaux capitalized with a 3-yard touchdown run, his third rushing score of the night. The successful extra point extended Seattle Prep’s lead to 35-0 with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Ballard’s troubles continued when the Beavers fumbled during the ensuing kicking sequence, and Seattle Prep recovered, giving the Panthers another short-field scoring opportunity.
After penalties disrupted the Panthers’ momentum, Cahill found the end zone on a 9-yard touchdown run. The successful extra point pushed Seattle Prep’s lead to 42-0 with 8:28 remaining in the third quarter, triggering a running clock for the remainder of the game.
Despite the growing deficit, Ballard continued to compete and put together a sustained possession late in the quarter.
Rees contributed several runs, while Parker connected with Callen Holte for an 8-yard completion on third down. Parker later found Jules Pattison for an 11-yard gain, helping the Beavers move the chains.
Rees and Wyatt Minear added short rushing gains as Ballard worked to establish its offense, but the Beavers were unable to turn the possession into points before the quarter ended. Seattle Prep maintained its 42-0 lead heading into the final quarter.
With the running clock in effect, the fourth quarter moved quickly.
Ballard’s possession carried over from the end of the third quarter, but the Beavers were unable to convert on fourth down and turned the ball over on downs.
Seattle Prep took over but struggled to generate another scoring opportunity as penalties and a bad snap disrupted its drive. The Panthers were eventually forced to punt, giving Ballard another chance to get on the scoreboard.
However, Seattle Prep’s defense continued to hold firm, limiting the Beavers to negative gains on consecutive plays. Ballard continued battling for yardage, but the clock expired before the offense could put together another scoring drive.
Seattle Prep’s defense completed its second consecutive shutout, preventing Ballard from reaching the end zone despite several promising possessions throughout the game.
After the game, Seattle Prep head coach Aaron Maul credited his team’s defensive performance and noted the importance of the victory as the Panthers continued through the second half of their season.
“Two turnovers on defense, and this was our second consecutive shutout to move to 5-3,” said Maul.
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Game Stats
Seattle Prep Panthers
Passing: Leo Harnetiaux, 18 of 23, 185 yards, 1 TD; Ben Cunningham, 1 of 1, 6 yards; Martin Wolfram, 0 of 1, 0 yards.
Rushing: Leo Harnetiaux, 9 carries, 50 yards, 3 TDs; Reilly Cahill, 7 carries, 55 yards, 2 TDs; Ben Cunningham, 1 carry, 6 yards; Sean McDowall, 1 carry, 11 yards.
Receiving: Miller Kavanaugh, 5 receptions, 35 yards; Black Heeter, 1 reception, 41 yards; Ben Cunningham, 1 reception, 24 yards, 1 TD; JD Rudolf, 1 reception, 17 yards; Sean McDowall, 1 reception, 11 yards.
Ballard Beavers
Passing: Isaiah Parker, 3 of 7, 22 yards; Jack Lacy, 1 of 1, 11 yards.
Rushing: Jack Rees, 10 carries, 37 yards; Cy Shepard, 2 carries, 17 yards; Isaiah Parker, 2 carries, 15 yards; Wyatt Minear, 2 carries, 1 yard; Benji Stephens, 1 carry, 0 yards.
Receiving: Jules Pattison, 1 reception, 11 yards; Kieran Power, 1 reception, 11 yards; Callen Holte, 1 reception, 8 yards; Jack Rees, 1 reception, 3 yards.
