Week four is over, nine teams remain undefeated, the Peninsula Seahawks made a pretty solid statement, and two teams jumped into our top ten rankings. For an updated look at the standings from around the state, head on over to WaPrepZone.com .
This week I attended four games, featuring four 3A teams, including a Thursday Night matchup between two top ten teams, the Peninsula Seahawks and Lakes Lancers.
Game Recap
Heading into week four, there was one game I was really excited to see. The undefeated and 6th ranked Lakes Lancers were travelling to Roy Anderson Field at Peninsula High School to take on the 9th ranked Seahawks.
This game has decided the SPSL 3A championship the last two seasons, and many people believed this year would be no different. The game started with rainy conditions, but they wouldn’t last long.
Lakes would receive the opening kickoff, and promptly went three-and-out.
Just a few plays later, Peninsula QB Robert Kvinsland would pump-fake, getting the Lakes defender to freeze while WR Kyle Olson-Urbon ran right by him and underneath a beautiful pass from Kvinsland. The Seahawks had a quick 7-0 lead.
After another Lakes three-and-out, it appeared as though Peninsula would return the favor, but Olson-Urbon, also a very good punter, would fake and take off for the first down. They would eventually punt a few plays later, with Olson-Urbon pinning the Lancers inside the one.
Lakes wouldn’t move the ball more than a few feet before punting again, this one coming to rest on their own 27.
On the final play of the first quarter, Kvinsland would float a screen pass to RB Major Ali who would power his way into the endzone to give the Seahawks a 14-0 lead.
The first quarter was all Peninsula, but the second quarter was a much different story.
Lakes QB Jaiave Magalei would find TE Benning Potoa’e on slow developing crossing route, and the Lancers brought it to 14-7 with just over 10 minutes to play in the first half.
The Seahawks would put together an impressive answering drive, but penalties would not only bring the drive to a halt, but also put them out of field goal range, forcing them to punt.
In just under five minutes, the Lancers would go 80 yards, finishing with a 41 yard WR screen to senior Bryson Foster. After a missed PAT, it was a one point game with three and a half minutes left to play.
Things would get worse for the Seahawks, as they would lose RB Major Ali to a lower leg injury that would require him to not only leave the game, but head to the hospital for evaluation.
After teams exchanged quick possessions, the Lancers would have a chance to take a lead heading into the half. To me, this is where the game changed.
The Seahawks were on their heels. They had just seen one of their top players carried out of the stadium, and Lakes was rolling towards the end zone with relative ease. With .8 seconds left in the first half, Lakes was flagged for delay of game, moving the ball back to the 23, setting up a deeper pass, that would fall incomplete.
This may not seem like a huge spot, but really it allowed Peninsula to take a deep breath. The coaching staff would be able to go to the locker room and refocus the team on the task at hand.
They received the kick to start and promptly drove down the field before Kvinsland would shoot a screen pass to Jared Boerner, Ali’s replacement, who would break a few tackles and rumble into the end zone for the touchdown and a 20-13 lead following a missed PAT.
Lakes would respond with a great drive to bring it to 20-19, after Magalei once again found Potoa’e, who couldn’t be stopped on his way for six.
Kvinsland and Olson-Urbon would connect for an 82 yard touchdown, and the Seahawks would take over the game.
Peninsula would outscore Lakes 21-0 over the final 18 minutes of the game, and walk away with a 41-19 win.
My Game Notes
To start, I wish teams would put a name pronunciation on their roster. I know it may be tough for some, but the Peninsula Public Address Announced was having all kinds of problems throughout the night. I really don’t blame the guy as there are probably 7-10 names on the Lakes roster that I don’t even know where to begin with.
I’m a big fan of Peninsula QB Robert Kvinsland. He has come a long way in the last two seasons, and really looked like a D1 QB against a good Lakes team. Time will tell, but if he continues to play like he is, I could see someone taking a chance on him.
Speaking of D1, Peninsula has a couple other athletes who will be on collegiate radars. One is Kyle Olson-Urbon, who is clearly one of the top WR’s in the 2016 recruiting class, the other is OL Cody Kanouse. The 6-foot-7, 295-pound sophomore looks to be one of the top lineman in the 2017 recruiting class.
This Lakes team is set up VERY well for next season. I really like what I saw from QB Jaiave Magalei. He is raw, but really looks good in that offense. Skill players Melvin Miller and Xzavier Weston give Magalei great running mates in what could be a high powered offense.
I really liked what I saw from Cale Lindsey of Lakes. Time will tell as he is just a sophomore, but the 6-foot-1, 220-pound middle backer looks to be one of the better linebackers in the 2017 class. He did a good job getting from sideline-to-sideline and shows tremendous instincts.
Following the game I spoke to Robert Kvinsland and Kyle Olson-Urbon . Click their names to watch those interviews.
Next week: Peninsula Seahawks (3-1) @ Sumner Spartans (3-1); Lakes Lancers (3-1) vs Bonney Lake Panthers (1-3).
Other 3A Notes/Links
I attended a Saturday afternoon game at Mickey Naish Field at Blanchet. The game wasn’t the most exciting, but the host Braves showed they are one of the better teams in the state. I grabbed RB/S Oshea Trujillo and OL/DL Raemo Trevino following the contest. Click their name to watch those interviews.
Jusstis Warren of Lincoln (Tacoma) is one of the top athletes in the 2015 recruiting class and already holds multiple offers. I got to know Warren well over the offseason, and you will not find many bigger supporters. Evan Thompson from the Tacoma News Tribune wrote a tremendous piece about Warren, that you can read Right Here .
Shadle Park QB Brett Rypien had a big week. He surpassed the 10,000 yard passing mark in a win over Central Valley, was awarded our Elite Performance after a close vote, and signed his financial aid agreement to enroll early at Boise State. Chadd Cripe from the Idaho Statesman has the story Right Here .
Congratulations are in store for two Bellevue athletes, who made their commitments to Pac-12 schools this week. LB Mustafa Branch was offered just a few hours before committing to the Stanford Cardinal, while TE/DE Isaac Garcia committed to the USC Trojans.
The Everett Herald’s week five podcast is available on their site. If you haven’t listened before, I highly suggest it. Aaron Lommers and David Krueger are two of the better writers in the state, and do a great job every week. Click Here to give them a listen.
Meadowdale enters the top ten this week following their win over a good Glacier Peak team. The Mavericks are now 3-1 on the season, and have the inside track towards a Wesco South title. The game recap is Right Here by Aaron Lommers of the Everett Herald.
Columbia River also enters the top ten this week, following a non-league win over Black Hills, which you can read about Right Here . The Chieftains are 4-0, and have yet to play a league game, but I will be surprised if any of their league foes will be much of a test. Nathan Hawthorne and company are really rolling, and will face their toughest test thus far when they host the 2A #2 ranked Tumwater Thunderbirds (4-0).
The Kamiakin Braves of Kennewick look to be the top 3A team in the Mid-Columbia Conference. Their only loss is to a good Hermiston team from Oregon, otherwise they have handled business fairly easily thus far. This week’s game recap is from the Tri-City Herald and can be found Right Here .
The Week’s Top Ten
1. Bellevue Wolverines (4-0)
2. O’Dea Fighting Irish (4-0)
3. Lincoln Abes (4-0)
4. Eastside Catholic Crusaders (3-1)
5. Juanita Rebels (4-0)
6. Marysville Pilchuck Tomahawks (3-1)
7. Peninsula Seahawks (3-1)
8. Lakes Lancers (3-1)
9. Columbia River Chieftains (4-0)
10. Meadowdale Mavericks (3-1)
