Rain brightens Mt Si’s night against Juanita
October 28, 2009
By Dan Catchpole
Wildcats running back Shelby Williams (left) looks for room as Mount Si’s offensive line holds back Juanita defenders. Photo by Calder Productions
Mount Si had a 12th player Oct. 23 when they faced off against Juanita in Kirkland – the rain. The night’s constant rain didn’t faze the Wildcat offense, which dominated the air and ground to roll over the Rebels, 42-6.The third and final playoff berth was up for grabs, and Mount Si’s win ensured that any tiebreaking game would be at home. The Wildcats also guaranteed a trip to the playoff’s qualifying round for the third time in four years.
The rain, like Mount Si, didn’t let up until the clock ran out in with Juanita in the red zone.
“We call it ‘Wildcat weather’,” Mount Si coach Charlie Kinnune said. “We’re coming into Washington weather, and we feel good about playing in adverse conditions.”
The Wildcats had 392 total offensive yards – 219 rushing and 173 passing – against a Juanita defense that was missing its best backfield defender, Kris Otterholt. The Rebels’ other top defender, Alex Minerich, was playing with an injured ankle.
Juanita managed only 231 – 182 rushing and 49 passing.
Mount Si ran their regular offense, but despite two touchdowns in the first quarter, some sloppy play kept them from scoring in the second quarter. Juanita managed a touchdown but missed the extra point.
“We’re a power offense that can throw the ball,” Kinnune said.
The Wildcats dominated the second half, scoring on all four possessions with unrelenting drives that chewed up the Rebels defense and ate up the clock.
Juanita’s offense never seemed to find any rhythm, despite racking up 2,158 total offensive yards this season to their opponents 496 yards. Of their total, they had 1,577 rushing yards and 581 passing yards.
Before the Juanita game, Mount Si had 2,390 total offensive yards – 1,047 rushing and 1,343 passing – compared to their opponents 2,157 total offensive yards.
The Wildcats opened the third quarter with a merciless 76-yard, 18-play drive to score. Senior running back Matt Bankston punished the Rebels, finding hole after hole in their line. Senior Donny Hendrickson rolled to the right, finding a clear path to the end zone, but a holding call moved the ball back to first down and 16 yards on Juanita’s 39 yard line. Quarterback Chris Clark launched a long throw to wide receiver Rossco Castagno in the end zone, but a Rebel defender knocked the ball down.
With rain coming down, Clark almost dropped the ball in a handoff to Bankston, who ran through the middle where he was hit by three defenders. Bent over backwards by the three hits, Bankston lay on the ground after the play, the rain hitting his face.
“I thought I was down and the play was over, and then got hit from behind,” he said after the game.
In the press box, cell phones were ringing as game organizers tried to figure out if the stadium’s gate was open in case an ambulance had to come in.
After several minutes, Bankston was able to walk off the field.
Having lost their key offensive player in the game to that point, the Wildcats also received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for comments made after the play, which pushed them back to third down and 33 yards to go.
The Wildcats quickly showed Juanita that they could keep dancing around and over the Rebels defenders.
Clark found Taylor Mitchell, who skirted around one defender to be pulled down by another defender, who received a penalty. That put the Wildcats at fourth down with three to go on the 22 yard line. Clark ran for first down.
First year player Shelby Williams, Bankston’s replacement, ran for five. Then Chaz Blair picked up a first down on two runs. Juanita’s defensive line twitched for an offsides call, which put the ball one and a half yards from the end zone. On first and goal, Blair pushed over the line to score. With the extra point, the score stood at 21-6.
Despite Bankston’s loss, the drive showed the Wildcats’ depth this year.
The entire game showcased how shallow Juanita’s bench is. Down its top defender and with another key defender playing hurt, it was unable to stop Mount Si’s methodical drives.
Juanita’s top offensive weapon, junior running back Jeremiah Laufasa played an atypically small role in the game. Despite accounting for nearly a third of the Rebels’ total rushing yards, Laufasa didn’t consistently get the ball, and when he did, was often shut down by the Wildcats.
Mount Si’s defense showed dogged tenacity on the field. Even when blocked, defenders were often able to get their arms into the lanes, at least slowing down Juanita’s carriers and allowing another second or two for a defender down field to get into position for a tackle.
Kinnune said he is feeling good about the playoffs and that the team is really clicking at the right time. It has been a learning year for many players, most of whom were not starters before this year. Nineteen of the 22 starters against Juanita had not started a varsity game before this year. Among those newcomers is Williams.
“I’m learning some of the basics and getting into it,” he said.
But he credited the offensive line with winning the game.
“They have a good defense, but we have a better line,” he said. “Our line just stepped it up.”
Kinnune feels confident taking his team into the playoffs and against No. 3-ranked Liberty next week.
“We are exactly where we hoped we would be,” he said after the game.
The post-season is “looking good for us,” Bankston said.
Before leaving with an injury, he racked up 104 yards on 21 carries, including one touchdown. Williams had nine carries for 86 total yards.
Clark had nine completions in 14 attempts for 172 passing yards, including a 46-yard touchdown pass to Rossco Castagno. The wide receiver had four receptions for 70 yards. Jordin Kinnune caught four passes for 89 yards.
Juanita has not made the playoffs since 1994. They were eyeing the postseason after a 4-0 start, but three subsequent losses means the Rebels’ chances are growing slimmer.
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