It was only fitting that Jake Heaps went out this way.
Jake Heaps, Skyline
File photo by Todd Shurtleff
Heaps, one of the nation's top-rated quarterbacks, led the Skyline Spartans to their third straight state title. Along the way, Heaps, who has committed to BYU, threw a Class 4A state championship game-record four touchdown passes.
It helped the Spartans (12-2) beat the Ferris Saxons 45-21 in the Tacoma Dome. Heaps ended his career 40-2 with three state championships.
"So many people are just lucky to win one," Heaps told the Seattle Times. "To win three, it's unbelievable."
Heaps was 15-of-25 passing for 254 yards. Three touchdowns passes went to Kasen Williams, another record for a title game.
"Me and Jake have been riding out since freshman year," Williams, a junior, told the Seattle Times. "I don't want it to end, but we're going out with a bang."
Ferris (10-4) was playing in the state title game for the first time in school history. The Saxons survived a three-way playoff to make the playoffs and got past the semifinals after losing the previous two years. Ferris took a 7-0 lead and held tough, but in the end Skyline was, well, Skyline.
The Spartans won the Class 3A state title in 2007 and moved up to the 4A classification the next year and won the next two state titles.
Class 3A: Bellevue continues dynasty
The Bellevue Wolverines (12-2) won their seventh state title in nine years, beating KingCo rival Liberty 23-17.
David Nguyen rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
"We played two of the best teams in the country to start the season," Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff told the Seattle Times. "We started out 0-2. We lost kids (to injuries). People were counting us out and we battled and kept it together."
Liberty (12-2) didn't go easily. The team, which won several dramatic playoff games, cut Bellevue's lead to two in the fourth quarter.
Class 2A: Lynden wins another state title
Lynden (13-1) won its second straight state title by beating West Valley (13-1) of Spokane 16-6. Brett Bajema sealed the win with a 2-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. Bajema rushed for 118 yards on 14 carries. He also scored the team's first touchdown on an 11-yard reception.
"Brett was the guy. When we needed something in the fourth quarter, he exploded through the line for some big plays," Lynden coach Curt Kramme told the Times.
Class 1A: Connell finally captures title
The Connell Eagles were in the Class 1A state title game for the third time in four years. This year, they finally took the championship trophy home.
Matt Hadley rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown as the Eagles (14-0) beat Cascade Christian (13-1) of Puyallup 28-7. It was the second state title of the decade for Connell, which won a Class 2A title in 2002. It was the second straight loss in the championship game for Cascade Christian.
Class 2B: Adna outlasts Colfax
Kyle Grosshans scored from 32 yards out on a fourth-and-two with 43 seconds remaining and intercepted the ball on the ensuing possession as Adna (13-0) held off Colfax 32-24.
Adna, which won its first state title in 20 years, led 26-3 before Colfax (12-1) rallied. Grosshans also passed for two touchdowns, and Anthony Tatum rushed for 119 yards and scored twice for Adna.
Class 1B: Hoppes sparks record day
Tri-Cities Prep quarterback Will Hoppes passed for 552 yards and 10 touchdowns as the Jaguars beat Lummi 80-40. Hoppes also scored on a 42-yard run.
Hoppes, who was 27-of-33, led the Jaguars to a record amount of points in a championship game. His 10 TDs were also a title-game record, as nobody had thrown more than seven. Antonio Ledesma (10-153-3) and Troy Redmann (10-280-6) both set records with their 10 catches. Redman's six TDs were another record.
Hoppes is the career eight-man passing leader, as he went over 10,000 yards in the game (and 13,000 total yards). He's No. 4 on the state list regardless of classification.
