Football Championships | Local teams in title race
One local unbeaten, Edmonds-Woodway, fell short, but Bothell, O’Dea and Skyline will try to cap dream seasons with state championships Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.
Third-ranked Edmonds-Woodway’s rally from 21 points behind at the start of the fourth quarter fell short, and the Warriors (12-1) lost to Lewis and Clark of Spokane 28-26 late Saturday in the Class 4A semifinals in Tacoma.
In a matchup of Nos. 1 and 2 teams in 4A, Bothell held off Ferris of Spokane 14-7, recovering a fumble in the final seconds inside the Bothell 1-yard line. Bothell linebacker Rami Salha fell on a fumbled snap, short-circuiting a 20-play, 76-yard drive that began with 3:35 left and ended with snowflakes falling at Joe Albi Stadium.
That means top-ranked Bothell (13-0) meets unranked Lewis and Clark (10-2) in the final on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
“We’re in the state championship,” Bothell quarterback Johnny Hekker said. “Growing up, that’s something that seems so unattainable.”
Bothell is making its second consecutive appearance in the 4A final. The Cougars lost to Oak Harbor 21-14 last year.
O’Dea and Skyline, both unbeaten, collide Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the 3A championship in Tacoma.
On Saturday morning, No. 1 Skyline (13-0) took the lead just before halftime, and the Sammamish school used five turnovers to cruise into the final with a 48-14 victory over Franklin Pierce of Parkland. No. 4 O’Dea (13-0) beat Bellevue (11-2) 27-17 Friday. Bellevue had won five of the past six 3A state titles.
Skyline’s sophomore quarterback, Jake Heaps, said he was a little “overwhelmed” by his first appearance at the Tacoma Dome in Saturday’s semifinals, but he’ll get another chance to play there on Friday. This time, Skyline’s passing game faces O’Dea’s crushing running game, led by Johri Fogerson.
The 2A final matches No. 1 Prosser (13-0) and its vaunted passing offense led by receiver Cody Bruns against Burlington Edison (12-1) Saturday at 10 a.m. In 1A, Connell (13-0) faces Royal (12-1) in showdown of two Central Washington teams Saturday at 1 p.m. Connell lost to Meridian 27-22 last year.
In 2B, DeSales of Walla Walla (12-0) plays Toutle Lake (11-1) Saturday at 4 p.m. In 1B, Odessa (12-0) plays Almira-Coulee-Hartline (12-1) Friday at 4 p.m.
Seattle Times staff reporters Tom Wyrwich and Sandy Ringer, and freelancer Zach Landres-Schnur, contributed to this report.