Staff Report
MaxPreps.com
LAKEWOOD, Wash. – It took just five minutes of game action Monday night at Harry Lang Stadium to realize that there would be no outward signs of distraction for the Bellevue High School football team after a Friday night bus wreck put its meeting with Capital on hold through the weekend.
The Wolverines gashed early and cruised into Saturday’s Class 3A championship game with a 28-6 win over Capital.
Bellevue, under the direction of head coach Butch Goncharoff, has captured five 3A state titles over the past seven years and won 38 of 40 games dating back to 2006. The program will be favored again this weekend against Union of Vancouver, a school that opened its doors less than 16 months ago.
Early on Monday night, Capital’s defense struggled to find the ball carriers in Bellevue’s Wing-T attack. With 7:04 remaining in the first quarter, Wolverine backs Peter Nguyen and Jamal Atofau had already found the end zone on short runs to build a way-too-easy 14-0 lead.
Atofau, a Washington State verbal commitment, added another touchdown in the second quarter and put Bellevue on the verge of blowing things wide open.
Visibly struggling with injuries that have cost him much of the season, Nguyen battled his way to 162 yards on 10 carries. He also set up Bellevue’s second score with an electric 47-yard punt return.
The Wolverines continued to chip away in the second half and Sean Coley extended the lead to 28-0 in the third quarter with a 4-yard touchdown run. Coley was one of eight Bellevue players to carry the ball.
Bellevue’s achievement was put in serious jeopardy last Friday as a bus carrying 38 players and other team personnel to the Tacoma Dome overturned on Interstate 5. Aside from a concussion, all passengers avoided serious injuries.
WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington/Les Schwab Tires Football Championships
Tacoma Dome – Friday, Saturday
Class 4A: Skyline (13-0) vs. Issaquah (11-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Class 3A: Bellevue (13-0) vs. Union (13-0), Saturday, 4 p.m.
Class 2A: Lynden (11-2) vs. Prosser (13-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Class 1A: Cascade Christian (12-1) vs. Cashmere (12-0), Saturday, 10 a.m.
Class 2B: Napavine (11-2) vs. Asotin (12-1), Friday, 4 p.m.
Class 1B: Wishkah Valley (10-1) vs. LaCrosse-Washtucna-Kahlotus (12-0), Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
