Eatonville High quarterback Zach Fairhart knows the truth. Sometimes his passes zing. Others wobble through the air.
But it did not matter if they were spirals or ducks Saturday – they fortunately got to the intended target.
The Cruisers scored three third-quarter touchdowns – two on passes to receiver Caleb Keefer – and Eatonville ended No. 4 Cascade Christian’s reign atop the Nisqually League by shocking the Cruisers, 29-6, at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner.
Eatonville (7-1) won the Nisqually League Division 1 title, and will face Division 2 champion Charles Wright (7-0) on Friday for the league championship – and first-round bye to the Class 1A state playoffs – in University Place.
Cascade Christian (6-2), which saw its league title run end at five consecutive years, plays Cedar Park Christian in a winner-to-districts, loser-out game in Kirkland.
“This means a lot,” Fairhart said. “We worked since last year for this. We knew it would come down to Cascade Christian.”
Leading 9-6 at halftime, the Cruisers scored on their opening drive of the second half. Fairhart got Keefer, a 6-foot-4 junior, in single coverage and lofted a 24-yard pass on fourth-and-2 for a touchdown.
On the same series, Cascade Christian lost Nathan Roosendaal, its best player, to a shoulder injury. After that, the Cougars sputtered at both ends.
Fairhart made it 23-6 on a 1-yard run on Eatonville’s next drive with 5:16 to go in the third quarter. And after the Cougars went for it on fourth-and-short at their own 22 – and missed on a wide-open pass – Fairhart cashed in again on a wobbly 12-yard pass that Keefer hauled in for another score.
“The ball might not be the best,” Fairhart said, “but he comes down with it.”
The turnover battle was pivotal in the outcome – Eatonville feasted with three interceptions.
“We just kept executing,” Eatonville coach George Fairhart said. “They are a great team. We just … kept coming at them.”
As for the Cougars, not only is their season on the line next week, if they win, they will play at No. 1 King’s in the district playoffs.
“It’s the old Chuck Knox thing,” Cascade Christian coach Randy Davis said, “you play the hand you are dealt.”
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442 todd.milles@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/preps @ManyHatsMilles
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