In a tough Northwest Premier Junior Football League 10U playoff game, HEIR defeated RISE 12-0 to secure their place in the championship game. The game was marked by defensive strength and crucial plays, as both teams fought to advance to next Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. championship at Renton Stadium.
HEIR set the tone early, recovering a fumble on the second play of the game at the RISE 46-yard line. Running back Tyree Bellinger quickly took advantage, breaking a run to the 18-yard line, but penalties backed HEIR up to the 28. Bellinger powered through for an 8-yard gain, but RISE’s Tobias Milloy sacked HEIR quarterback Maddux Sua for a major loss back to the 32-yard line. Forced to punt on 4th and 14, HEIR caught a lucky break when RISE fumbled the return, allowing HEIR’s Zakhy Sumlin to recover at the RISE 13-yard line.
With excellent field position, HEIR pushed forward. Bellinger gained two yards, and Joseph Kennerly IV followed with an 8-yard run, advancing to the 3-yard line. However, RISE’s defense held firm, stopping Sua inches short of a first down on a critical fourth-and-2, giving RISE possession at their own 3-yard line. RISE struggled to advance out of their territory as HEIR’s defense, led by Cariz Altheimer, stopped RISE’s Alex Marrero for a loss. With seconds left in the first quarter, HEIR forced a turnover on downs at the 3-yard line, setting up a short 1-yard touchdown run by Bellinger. The point-after attempt was no good, but HEIR took a 6-0 lead as the quarter ended.
The second quarter continued with HEIR’s defense dominating. RISE began a drive from their own 35-yard line but was unable to move the ball against HEIR’s aggressive defense, with Altheimer coming up with a tackle for a loss on Marrero to end RISE’s drive. Taking over at the RISE 35, HEIR advanced as Sua connected on a 24-yard pass to Sumlin, putting the ball on the 9-yard line. However, a fumble on the next play forced HEIR back, and RISE’s defensive pressure pushed HEIR into a 4th-and-goal from the 21-yard line, where Sua was tackled for another loss.
RISE’s offense attempted to respond before halftime but faced consistent setbacks. After Milloy’s screen pass resulted in a 4-yard loss, RISE was forced to punt, giving HEIR the ball at the 24-yard line with 1:43 left in the half. RISE’s Milloy made a key tackle on Sua, stopping him for a 4-yard loss, but with just 16 seconds left, Sua found Bellinger on a 23-yard touchdown pass to extend HEIR’s lead to 12-0. The PAT was no good, and HEIR took a 12-point lead into halftime.
The third quarter was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to gain ground. RISE managed to gain possession on HEIR’s side of the field after a fumble recovery by Armani Sio at the HEIR 29-yard line. However, HEIR’s defense proved too strong, with Nathan Vanderlinde sacking the RISE quarterback and forcing a turnover on downs. As the third quarter ended, the score remained 12-0 in HEIR’s favor.
In the final quarter, RISE found some success when Milloy dragged several HEIR defenders on a powerful 15-yard run down to the HEIR 8-yard line. After a short run by Milloy, RISE’s drive faltered with a fumbled snap that pushed them back to the 14-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, RISE quarterback Hoohie Hoopii-Tupito attempted a run to the 4-yard line but was stopped short, resulting in a turnover on downs.
HEIR took over at their own 5-yard line, and RISE’s Sio nearly forced a game-changing safety by tackling HEIR’s running back just inches from the goal line. HEIR fought back, though, with Sua connecting on a crucial pass to Sumlin, advancing to the 9-yard line and giving HEIR breathing room. RISE took over again with excellent field position at HEIR’s 21-yard line after a penalty on the punt, but HEIR’s Vanderlinde came through with another sack, effectively ending RISE’s final scoring opportunity.
With under a minute left, HEIR’s Kennerly broke away on a 43-yard run to the RISE 42-yard line, sealing the game. RISE’s defense held strong until the final whistle, but they were unable to overcome HEIR’s early lead.
Key Performances:
HEIR:
• Tyree Bellinger: 1-yard rushing touchdown, 23-yard receiving touchdown
• Maddux Sua: 24-yard pass to Sumlin, 23-yard touchdown pass to Bellinger
• Joseph Kennerly IV: 43-yard run in the fourth quarter
• Nathan Vanderlinde: 2 sacks, key stops on defense
RISE:
• Tobias Milloy: 15-yard and 3-yard runs, multiple tackles, key sack
• Hoohie Hoopii-Tupito: multiple hard-fought runs, defensive contributions
• Armani Sio: nearly forced a safety, key tackles throughout the game
Final Score: HEIR 12, RISE 0
