By Macerio Clark
The Seattle Medium
This week’s matchup between the Rainier Beach Vikings and the Seattle Prep Panthers would determine who would get a first-round bye in the Metro League playoffs, as both teams entered the game in a three-way tie with Garfield for fourth place in the Metro League’s Mountain.
The Vikings came out with a great sense of urgency scoring on their first drive of the game capped off by quarterback Trey Morris rushing 15-yards for a touchdown giving the Vikings an early 7-0 with 9:26 remaining in the first quarter.
On the following drive, Seattle Prep looked to respond with a touchdown of their own. Starting the drive from their own 20-yard line, the Panthers looked to its running game with sophomore running back Leon Neal, Jr. and senior running back Matthew Layton helping the Panthers get to the Vikings’ 10-yard line. Two plays later, Rainier Beach’s Xavier Burton intercepted a pass from Seattle Prep quarterback Jake Sype at the Vikings’ 1-yard line and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown to extend the Vikings’ lead to 14-0.
With their backs on the wall, Seattle Prep was in need of a scoring drive. Moving the ball successfully down the field the Panthers were inside the Vikings 5-yard line before a string of penalties forced them to settle on a field goal by kicker Adam Ambuske to cut the deficit to 14-3 late in the first quarter.
Seattle Prep had a tough time in the second quarter as they were penalized six times, including a helmet-to-helmet penalty that set up a 1st and goal at the 7-yard line for the Vikings. Two plays later, Rainier Beach running back Rashad “Shotti” Hebert rushed for a 1-yard touchdown giving the Vikings a 20-3 lead in the second quarter. Both teams combined for 110 yards on penalties in the second quarter, making it difficult for either team to get in a groove.
“Offensively we are intentional about trying to play fast and we felt like we could force them into some mistakes. But we made some mistakes that put us in more difficult downs to manage,” said Seattle Prep Head Coach Aaron Maul.
Facing a 17-point halftime deficit, Seattle Prep came out of the locker room sharp as a knife recovering an onside kick to start the second half placing them at the Vikings 30-yard line. Four plays later, Neal rushed 4 yards for a touchdown cutting the Rainier Beach lead 20-10 to start the second half. Starting on their first offensive drive of the half the Vikings leaned on the speed and power of Burton, who rushed for a 7-yard touchdown giving the Vikings a 26-10 advantage over the Panthers. Forcing Prep to a three and out, the Vikings looked to score with great field position as they started from the Panthers 32-yard line. Four plays later Hebert rushed for a 10-yard touchdown putting the Vikings on top 32-10 with three minutes remaining in the quarter.
Rainier Beach Head Coach Corey Sampson was pleased with the victory but acknowledged there are some things that his team needs to improve on as the enter the postseason.
“We have to minimize mistakes,” said Sampson after the game. “We get a lot of costly penalties… we have to execute better offensively.”
Seattle Prep outscored the Vikings 14-7 in the fourth quarter as they eventually fell to the Vikings 39-24. The Vikings (4-3, 2-3 Metro) will have a first-round bye in the Metro League Playoffs. While Seattle Prep (3-4, 1-4 Metro), who fell to last in the Metro League’s Mountain division, will start their postseason next week.
Pictorial Highlights of Rainier Beach vs Seattle Prep
Photos by John Saunders
