Everywhere the Graham-Kapowsin Eagles turned Friday night, it seemed Union High star Trent Cowan was waiting.
It’s a lasting memory G-K coaches and players will replay the entire offseason.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound do-everything Cowan intercepted three passes, caught seven for 106 yards and a touchdown and kicked a 21-yard field goal, leading the Titans to a 39-22 victory over the No. 7 Eagles at Art Crate Field in a Class 4A district playoff game.
“He’s a stud; he’s an absolute stud,” Union coach Cale Piland said of Cowan. “It doesn’t matter where we put him. … The best way I can describe him is that he’s a football player. We roll with him.”
Cowan made his presence felt early, picking off quarterback Brady Austin on the G-K 35-yard line midway through the first quarter. It took Union five plays to cash in, getting a 1-yard run from James Munson to take a 7-2 lead.
Cowan terrorized the Eagles again in the second quarter, picking off Austin at the Titans’ 21 and returning it to the G-K 2-yard line.
Leon Siofele scored on a 2-yard run one play later, pushing the lead to 14-2.
Graham-Kapowsin (8-2) did finish one drive in the first half with a score, as Austin connected with Dylan Campbell on an 11-yard touchdown pass 4 minutes, 41 seconds before the break.
But Cowan wasn’t done, this time snaring a 34-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Nolan Henry with 17 seconds to go in the half.
“Anything to help the team win,” said Cowan, who’s contemplating a scholarship offer from the University of Idaho. “That’s my job. It’s just a big win. I want to ride this as long as I can.”
In addition to Cowan’s three interceptions in the first half, the Titans recovered a G-K fumble on their own 1-yard line on the Eagles’ opening drive of the game.
“We shot ourselves in the foot early with some turnovers, and a physical team took it to us a little bit,” G-K coach Eric Kurle said. “We have to finish drives, not turn the ball over and give them a short field.”
After nursing a 21-9 at the lead at halftime, Union (7-3) scored on Leon Siofele’s 23-yard touchdown reception from Henry, who threw for 184 yards.
But the Eagles battled back, trimming the score to 28-22 midway through the third quarter on Teague James’ 16-yard touchdown run. James rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.
On the ensuing kickoff, however, Munson emerged from a scrum and rumbled 77 yards for a touchdown.
“That really hurt us in the second half,” Kurle said. “Everyone was around it and we couldn’t make the play.”
The Titans will play at Gonzaga Prep in the first round of the state playoffs.
“I’m just really proud of our kids, they persevered and battled all night,” Piland said. “Getting a road playoff win is not an easy thing to do, especially when it’s a team as well coached and good as Graham-Kapowsin. It’s a big win for us.”
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