How often are two States going to send their best to play each other and span the distance of thousands of miles to do so?
Not very often.
And on Thursday this past week those of us lucky enough to be at Memorial Stadium and Leon H Brigham Field were treated to a battle of super powers on the National Scale as Two Top 100 Nationally rated teams played it out for all to see.
The Euless-Trinity Trojans came into Seattle ranked #77 in the Nation and the Bellevue Wolverines #8 in the Rivals.com poll of Top 100 teams. And many felt Bellevue was going to be too fast for the massive Trojans.
But prior to the game there was chatter and an overall perception that this Bellevue squad was somehow not going to measure up. Most of that thinking coming from the Dalles-Ft. Worth area and after all… this was Texas Football coming to the tiny Northwest.
Any doubts about where Bellevue and the Pacific Northwest brand of football stack up went out the door early in the game as the Wolverines moved the ball and scored after shutting down the Trojans who featured the biggest Offensive Line we have ever seen on a High School squad. At last count there were 25 players on the Trinity Roster who were over 250 pounds.
Budda Baker (Bishard Baker) took a nice screen pass 30 yards for the opening score showcasing why so many schools are trying to get in on this speed merchant. Baker showcased every skill conceivable on the football field during this game.
Super recruit and UCLA commit Myles Jack broke off the second TD for the Wolverines on a huge run and the home team took the early lead 14-3.
Jack (6'2"-218 lbs.) took the ball 66 yards to pay dirt in the opening minutes of the second half to build the Wolverines lead to 21-9.
Trinity dug in and the offense began to methodically attack the Bellevue middle taking long drives up the field and finally scoring behind an 11 yard run by Kenneth Gonzales. That pulled them close.
The Wolverines responded by moving the ball up the field far enough for Ryan Bordner to drill a 28 yard field. That would prove crucial and gave the Wolverines an 8 point lead.
The Trojans answered again digging in behind that gargantuan line and moved the ball upfield under the excellent leadership of QB Matt Hawkins. Remel Newton ground in a 3 yard TD run after a brutal battle of big hits with the Wolverines unleashing everything they had in the arsenal.
The game was 24-22 and the Trojans went to air to their massive Tight End Samiuela Tevi who grabbed the ball one handed like it was a baseball and scored the extra-point to tie the game 24 all.
Before the clock ran out the teams each battled up and down the field and Myles Jack uncorked one of the biggest hits we have seen in a while blitzing Hawkins and knocking him out of the game; a hit that would prove crucial in the end.
The game finished regulation tied and went into OT and the Kansas plan. The Wolverines took the ball first and turned to Baker who proved too fast again breaking to daylight around the left side and the score to give Bellevue the 31-24 lead.
In came the Trojans led by back up QB Christian Hammack who let loose a pass that started out great but ended in the steelie hands of Bellevue stud Nathan Derider; a Senior Linebacker.
The game ended with a rush onto the field by the Bellevue fans and families who came out in force. Having won 9 State Titles in 11 years in Washington's 3 A Division it is hard to get them fired up sometimes. But this win was special because with it the Wolverines moved to 7-2 all time in Out of State Battles and dropped a giant from the Lone Star State.
It was a celebration worth remembering under the shadow of the iconic Space Needle and the Glow of the Friday Night Lights. Final Score 31-24.
Enjoy our Pics from the big game and look for follow up stories and analysis in the next three days.
