Bellevue overwhelms Mount Si in 3A football playoffs
November 16, 2009
By Dan Catchpole
Mount Si coach Charlie Kinnune knew his team had to stop Bellevue’s big plays if the Wildcats were going to have a chance to make it to past the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.
But from beginning to end, the top-ranked Wolverines controlled the game at Bellevue Memorial Stadium. Senior running back Sean Coley scored on a 64-yard run on the game’s opening play.
Bellevue combined a fast, deceptive offense with a swarming defense to overwhelm Mount Si 49-17 on the cold, crisp night.
“We made some big plays,” Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff said. “A lot of guys touched the ball and a lot of guys had success.”
Bellevue won the two team’s first meeting in September, 28-14, thanks in part to a 78-yard touchdown pass and a 34-yard touchdown run.
It was more of the same for the Wolverines this time around. During the first half, they moved the ball efficiently and relentlessly on their way to 28 points in the first quarter and another 14 in the second.
Mount Si could only manage a field goal in response.
On Bellevue’s second possession, senior quarterback Joe Joe Conner ran 50 yards on a screen pass to set up junior running back Joey Mangialardi’s one-yard touchdown run.
Coley then intercepted a bubble pass from Wildcat quarterback Ian Ilgenfritz, and returned it for a 42-yard touchdown run. Mangialardi notched his second scoring run to push the score to 28-0 in the first quarter. Mount Si had run seven plays.
“We couldn’t stop their big play,” Kinnune said. “We struggled defending them. Most people will.”
The Wolverines lived up to their reputation for being disciplined and focused throughout the night, picking off three interceptions and recovering one fumble.
Mangialardi added his third touchdown in the second quarter on a 45-yard run. He finished with 80 yards on eight carries, all in the first half.
“That was the best first half we’ve had all year,” he said.
It was the ninth time this season that the Wolverines’ defense limited an opponent to 17 or fewer points. Their only two losses this season were to out-of-state opponents, Katy (Texas) and Grant (Sacramento, Calif.).
“I can’t believe that there is anyone in this league that can beat them right now,” Kinnune said. “I’ve been around a long time, and that’s a pretty good team.”
Bellevue (9-2) will play at Glacier Peak 7 p.m. Nov. 21.
Material from The Seattle Times was used in this report.
Dan Catchpole: 425-392-6434, ext. 246 or editor@snovalleystar.com.
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