Football Notebook | New cast for Bothell-Oak Harbor rematch
Bothell coach Tom Bainter hoped that when he watched film of Oak Harbor, he’d see a team that suffered from losing half its starters from last year’s state-championship team.
As Bainter prepared for Bothell’s Class 4A quarterfinal game against the Wildcats Friday night, the film severely disappointed. He saw the same quick-strike offense and stout defense that helped Oak Harbor beat Bothell 21-14 for last year’s title.
He even sees similarities at quarterback, where Johnny Encinas replaced Washington State recruit Marshall Lobbestael.
“I was hoping there’d be a big drop-off from their last quarterback to their new quarterback, but that’s not the case,” Bainter said.
Bothell had an even greater renovation. The top-ranked Cougars replaced all but six starters, which might be one reason there hasn’t been much talk of last year’s game.
“We all have different teams. We all have different people,” said quarterback Johnny Hekker, a first-year Bothell starter. “It’s just us playing another great team.”
Hekker took a hard hit to his left knee against Central Kitsap last Saturday, but X-rays showed no bone damage. He’s been practicing all week.
“It’s feeling awesome,” Hekker said.
Said Bainter: “I think he’ll be fine for Friday.”
Eastlake
offense clicking
Coach Gene Dales said Eastlake’s 48-14 first-round victory last Friday against Cascade of Everett was the Wolves’ best performance this season.
Not only was Eastlake’s usually proficient passing game working, for 280 yards, the Wolves also ran for 234, led by senior Taylor Lappano’s 127.
“It was kind of an explosion for us,” Dales said. “We didn’t peak early in the season, so let’s be hoping we’re peaking right now.”
The fifth-ranked Wolves can advance to the 4A semifinals for the first time, but have to get past No. 3 Edmonds-Woodway at 5 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Seattle.
Dales said Eastlake will have to avoid kicking to Edmonds-Woodway’s Antoinne Wafer and limit how well Warriors quarterback Kyle McCartney and Tony Heard run. Heard broke 2,000 yards in the Warriors’ 37-17 victory against Snohomish last Saturday.
“If we’re going to control Heard, we have to get to him at the line of scrimmage,” Dales said.
Heard had a minor knee strain but has been practicing this week.
“He’s perfectly healthy,” said E-W coach John Gradwohl.
New kid on block
helps Skyline win
There was concern at Skyline last week when 6-foot-7, 280-pound left tackle Tom Swanson went down with a foot injury. With Lakes defensive end Kavario Middleton awaiting, the Spartans went with a sophomore, Jase Butorac, to protect quarterback Jake Heaps’ blind side.
Middleton, the state’s top-ranked defensive end recruit, got past Butorac a few times but Butorac never allowed Heaps to get sacked in the Spartans’ 39-20 first-round Class 3A victory against the Lancers.
“He played, we thought, really, really well,” Skyline coach Steve Gervais said of Butorac. “He did a great job.”
Swanson can’t return for two weeks. If the Spartans make it to the state championship game, it will be with Butorac on the line. Heaps has no problem with that.
“He played great against one of the top team in the state,” Heaps said.
G-K getting rush
from Ratteray
Chris Ratteray got a late start this season, so he hopes to make it last as long as he can.
He missed Graham-Kapowsin’s first five games because he was academically ineligible, failing to earn enough credits last spring to qualify, according to coach Eric Kurle. Ratteray did not play football last year, but rushed for 181 yards and three touchdowns in five games at Jefferson his sophomore year.
At 6-2 and 260, Ratteray wound up on the defensive line at G-K, but kept pestering Kurle for some carries.
“He kept working on us and we finally let him carry the ball in a game and he just blossomed,” Kurle said.
Ratteray has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the Eagles’ two playoff wins and scored three touchdowns last week against South Kitsap. This, for a team that already features Marcel Smith, who has more than 2,500 yards.
Graham-Kapowsin plays Ferris Saturday in Spokane.
All in the family
at Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce coach Howard Lutton is in no hurry to see this football season end, for more than the usual reasons.
The Cardinals from Parkland are in the 3A quarterfinals for the first time since 1982, when they lost the championship game to Arlington. They play Ferndale Friday night.
Lutton has lauded his group of exceptional seniors all season, but admits he has special affection for one: Max Lutton, his son.
“It’s been incredible,” Howard said. “How special is it? For a dad, you couldn’t ask for a better present.”
Notes
• Skyline quarterback Jake Heaps, a sophomore, already has his first scholarship offer. He received it this week from Brigham Young.
• Meadowdale sophomore running back Naji Moore-Taylor, who had five touchdowns in the Mavericks’ 40-19 playoff win over Auburn Riverside, is the adopted son of Meadowdale girls basketball coach Dan Taylor.
• Meadowdale was without sophomore running back and kicker Sam Werner last week in a 20-19 win over Evergreen. He was out with a strained thigh. He’s questionable for Friday’s quarterfinal game against O’Dea.
• Snohomish will dedicate the Dick Armstrong statue Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Nearly $45,000 has been raised to fund it. Armstrong, who coached the Panthers for 32 years, had 272 career wins and 243 at Snohomish, including two state titles. He died in 1999.
• Lynden’s 28-6 first-round Class 2A win over Centralia was the 142nd of Curt Kramme’s coaching career, breaking the school record set by Rollie De Koster.
Times staff reporter Sandy Ringer and freelancer Zach Landres-Schnur contributed to this report.