Bellevue and Washington stun Trinity and Texas

SEATTLE -  Of all the milestones and special moments that the Bellevue Wolverines have experienced, this one was pretty special.A mob scene on the field at Seattle Memorial Stadium, and yet it was only the 2012 season opener.

“It was surreal. I felt like it was in slow motion,” Bellevue senior linebacker Nathan Derider said.

Derider sealed Bellevue's 31-24 overtime thriller over Trinity (Euless) Thursday night with an interception that sent fans out of their seats.

It gave Bellevue yet another victory over an out-of-state opponent with national football prowess, and reaffirmed the Wolverines place amongst the country’s best programs.

Bellevue, ranked No. 5 in the nation by MaxPreps, improved to 7-2 against elite teams outside of Washington state.

“Some people rank them No. 5,” said Euless Trinity coach Steve Lineweaver, whose program is no stranger to national acclaim. “I think they’re that good.”

Butch Goncharoff wanted his Bellevue team to start fast to create some distance between the Wolverines and Trojans, and that’s exactly what happened.

Bellevue’s speedy backs of Bishard "Budda" Baker and Myles Jack gave Euless Trinity’s defense fits and led to the Wolverines building a 14-3 first quarter lead.

Baker, a junior being recruited nationally, set up Bellevue’s first touchdown by bolting 30 yards on a screen play.
Jack, who has committed to UCLA, broke loose for a 66-yard touchdown gallop on the third play of the second half to try to put Euless Trinity away. That gave Bellevue a 21-9 lead.

But then Euless Trinity, a much larger team than Bellevue, dug down and began to dominate the line of scrimmage.

“We just couldn’t get them off the field,” Goncharoff said.

Kenneth Gonzales scored on an 11-yard run to move Trinity Euless within striking distance.

After Ryan Bordner kicked a 28-yard field goal to create an eight-point cushion for Bellevue, the stage was set for Trojans quarterback Matt Hawkins to do some heroics.

Hawkins led Trinity Euless’ methodical power offense 72 yards for a touchdown on a 3-yard run by Remel Newton with 4:35 to play, then tied the game with a two-point conversion pass to Samiuela Tevi, who made a great one-hand grab. 

But before Bellevue worked its magic in overtime, Jack did some damage in the final minutes, sacking Hawkins hard on a blitz to take him out of the game.

“It made him a little dizzy,” Lineweaver said.

“I lined up on the receiver to disguise the blitz, and the offensive tackle was just eyeing the defensive end so I knew it was wide open,” Jack said.

After Baker scored on a 14-yard touchdown on Bellevue’s opening scoring try of overtime, the task fell on junior quarterback Christian Hammack to answer the challenge.

Instead, Derider dug his gloves into Hammack’s pass and the Bellevue celebration began.

“I almost cried,” Jack said. “That was the happiest moment of my life up to date."

Euless Trinity, 5A Division I state champions three times since 2005, left an impression on Goncharoff.

“When we went to play Katy (in 2009) I didn’t believe in the Friday Night Lights and all that,” Goncharoff said. “It’s real. We’re kind of like the little brother here in the Northwest. It’s cool to beat them. But credit goes to them. They never quit.”