It’s on: Skyline vs. Issaquah for state title
December 1, 2008
By Christopher Huber
Eagles defense clamps down on Cougars for 31-13 win
Issaquah quarterback Joey Bradley passes the ball amid pressure from a diving Howard McDonald, of Central Kitsap. Photo by Christopher Huber.
Issaquah quarterback Joey Bradley passes the ball amid pressure from a diving Howard McDonald, of Central Kitsap. Photo by Christopher Huber.
As the clock ran out in the fourth quarter, Issaquah High School fans chanted, “Bring on Skyline! Bring on Skyline!”
That’s because they were ready. They had seen their team battle against injury throughout the regular season and as they stood waving their purple-and-gold paraphernalia and shouting for their team, they knew they had a chance for a rematch against their top-ranked league rival.
Issaquah had finished off the Cougars of Central Kitsap and were already mentally preparing for the rare opportunity.
Get ready for another showdown with Skyline. This time it will be at the Tacoma Dome for the 2008 Class 4A state title. “I am just shocked right now, just full of emotion right now,” sophomore linebacker Nik Landdeck said.
Issaquah (11-2) has now won four straight games in its run to state after beating the Central Kitsap Cougars 31-13 Nov. 29 in the semifinal round at the Tacoma Dome.
Issaquah looked like its healthy self as it used a balanced offensive attack and strong defensive line. With all of its top starters back in action, Issaquah stifled any Central Kitsap momentum throughout the afternoon game by plugging any gaps left open for Cougars standout running back Howard McDonald. The Eagle defense held him to just 62 yards on 18 carries.
“We were there before they were there, at the line of scrimmage,” Landdeck said. “We are just proud of our d-line, because they closed their gaps and the linebackers filled. The DBs did what they needed to do to stop their running game.”
In the end, Issaquah outgained the Cougars, 276 yards to 179, while relying mostly on its passing game to get the job done.
Central Kitsap did a good job defending Issaquah’s leading rusher Grant Gellatly — he had just 62 yards. But Eagle quarterback Joey Bradley showed his composure through the air, connecting with six receivers for 181 yards, including two touchdown passes.
“We just took advantage of some things that we thought that they would do, and put in some plays this week that we thought would counter to their weaknesses, and it ended up working pretty well,” Bradley said as the team and fans celebrated on the field.
The defensive play of the game came in the fourth quarter, when Issaquah senior defensive back Brennan Miller intercepted a Jason Simonis pass and returned it 29 yards to the Central Kitsap 4-yard line.
The Eagles scored three plays later on a 1-yard Bradley keeper. That put the score at 31-13 and the game out of reach for the Cougars.
“They did a great job against the run,” Issaquah head coach Chris Bennett said of Central Kitsap after the game. “But at this point in the season, everybody plays good and you’ve got to find ways to move the football, and we did that.”
The game started off on a sour note for the Cougars. On the opening kickoff, Issaquah kicker Gavin Schumaker’s pooch kick deflected off a Cougar and Kyle Hansen was able to recover the ball for an Eagle possession.
“They played well up front and I think that’s where the difference was. In that first half, we made some mistakes that really hurt us,” Central Kitsap head coach Mark Keel said. “The opening kickoff, we fumbled the kickoff and, you know, gave it back to them, and that kind of set the pace for it.”
Issaquah scored the game’s first touchdown six plays later on a 12-yard pass from Bradley to Ross Zuhl.
The teams exchanged punts a few times in the first half, but Issaquah led 21-7 at the half and never looked back.
Schumaker also added a 38-yard field goal in the third to increase the lead to 24-7.
As the team gathered in the middle of the field for a post-victory chat, Bennett congratulated his players.
“We’ve got one more,” he said. “We’re not done and the bottom line is we have that chance.”
The Eagles will get the chance for the championship against Skyline, the first time two teams from any school district have faced each other in the 4A title game, at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Tacoma Dome.
“I know they’re a tough team, but I know we can take ‘em, because we’ve got all of our weapons back and we are ready,” Landdeck said.
Reach Reporter Christopher Huber at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.isspress.com.
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