Bellevue never trailed on Friday night at Harry E. Lang Stadium in Lakewood, handing Lakes its first loss of the year, 35-14 and advancing to next week’s 3A state semi-finals against either Kennewick or Kamiakin.
The Wolverines’ defense set the tone from the opening drive, forcing a turnover on downs after a David Wood pass sailed high on fourth-and-one and allowing the Lancers only half of their previous low point total for the season. Both Michael Carlson and Nathan DeRider intercepted passes for a Bellevue defense that has allowed 20 points or more only twice on the year.
“They’re a big play team,” Carlson said. “We just focused on staying over the top and making plays.”
Bellevue defensive backs coach Danny Razore echoed his junior safety’s sentiments.
“We knew we were going to come in facing a Lakes team that was similar to Oaks Christian in terms of speed,” Razore said. “Our main goal was to take away the big play, which we did for the most part.”
Junior quarterback and cornerback Tyler Hasty put his team on top nearly eight minutes in when he scored from 10 yards out, the first of four rushing touchdowns on the night. He was also a cog in the defensive back group that continued to stymie top offensive opponents.
“I just love those guys,” Hasty said of fellow defensive backs Carlson, Devin Murphy and Budda Baker. “They go 100 percent all the time, I know I can count on them.”
He made it 14-0 on a seven yard run with four minutes remaining in the first quarter and it began to look as though the Lancers may again struggle to find any footing, as they did in last year’s 35-7 semi-final.
But a Cedric Dozier interception opened the door to a five-play, 51 yard scoring drive that running back Levonte Littlejohn capped from 14 yards out.
The Lancers regained possession still only trailing by seven with 7:08 left in the first half, but were turned away in only three plays as the Bellevue defense stopped Littlejohn for a three yard loss before swarming fellow senior running back Charles Hall on consecutive plays.
That was as close as things would be the rest of the way as the Wolverines continued to grind on offense and keep a lid on the combustible Lakes playmakers.
Hasty, who finished with 113 yards on 17 carries and the four scores while also leading the Wolverines’ offense, credited his linemen with the production in the running game and senior Michael Kneip admitted to feeling some extra motivation to perform given the competition.
“We just took it personal,” Kneip said of the notion that the Lancers had a superior offensive line. “We took it to heart and we did our thing to show that we’re among the best in the state as well.”
Goncharoff, who has guided his team to 24 straight wins and 17 consecutive playoff victories, has no worry of whether or not his team will be able to refocus after a game with build-up rarely seen in Washington prep football.
“If you can’t refocus for a semi-final then you shouldn’t be playing,” Goncharoff said. “This was a marquee game built up by everybody else, but it was just another game.”
The Wolverines will face the winner of tomorrow’s Kennewick-Kamiakin match up and regardless of the outcome, will head east of the Cascades for next week’s semi-final round.
Photo Credit Chad Coleman. Top: Wolverine DB Michael Carlson (2) and Myles Jack (21) tackle Lancer RB Levonte Littlejohn. Middle: Wolverine RB Andy Boulware (28) stiff arms Lancer DB Cedric Dozier (7).Bottom: Head coach Butch Goncharoff addresses the team after a 35-14 playoff win over Lakes at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood on Friday.Stadium in Lakewood on Friday.
