Prep football roundup: Puyallup High nabs first win of 2015
Puyallup High quarterback Nathaniel Holcomb is feeling at ease right about now. Especially after he led his Vikings to their first victory, a 35-25 win over city rival Emerald Ridge on Friday at Sparks Stadium.
The junior quarterback had this game in week four circled at the start of the season. Last year when Holcomb faced the Jaguars, one hit gave him a concussion and took him out for the rest of his promising sophomore season.
This game mattered to Holcomb, as getting through this week meant progression for him and the Puyallup (1-3, 1-1 league) passing game. Yet that wasn’t on this quarterback’s mind once the whistle blew.
“I got past ER, our rival, and we got the win,” he said. “It feels good to get past this game with the win.”
With Emerald Ridge (0-4, 0-2) leading 17-14 at the half, Holcomb went to his best friend for help: receiver Tyler Torgerson.
On two occasions Holcomb found Torgerson deep over the middle, and on both throws, the receiver hauled them in for touchdowns.
“When you’re 0-3, you just go out there play the best you can and play for your brothers,” Torgerson said. “Just leave everything on the table.”
The first deep throw of the second half saw Holcomb toss a perfectly placed ball 49 yards over the middle to Torgerson, who easily caught it in stride into the end zone. The second score was shorter — 29 yards — but Torgerson was able to haul in the pass before scampering in for the Puyallup’s final touchdown.
“Second half, it was our O-line as they really stepped it up in the second half. It opened up the running game,” Holcomb said.
And of those two touchdowns?
“I told coach (Gary Jeffers) that Tyler could beat them over the top,” Holcomb said.
Those two touchdowns wouldn’t have happened if not for Puyallup’s ground game. Running back Taje Davis was a beast as the senior plowed through Emerald Ridge’s line to the tune of 134 yards and two scores on 24 carries.
“I just imagined going 0-4 on the season and being the worst team in Puyallup,” Davis said of his motivation. “It was a message we wanted to send.”
Torgerson had five catches for 101 yards while Holcomb (10 of 16) finished with 143 passing yards. Emerald Ridge’s Logan Skoda went 17 for 39 with 243 yards while Andrew Boston hauled in seven receptions for 149 yards.
Sumner shuts down rival Auburn Mountainview
Last Thursday at then 3A No. 10-ranked Sumner’s (4-0, 2-0 league) practice, all coach Keith Ross emphasized was not to let fourth-ranked Auburn Mountainview’s (3-1, 1-1) Gresch Jansen beat them.
“If you see (the quarterback) in the open field, you’re going to have to make a play — you’re going to have to limit him from doing something with his legs,” Ross said to his five defensive players watching the first-unit offense work.
One of those players listening to Ross was middle linebacker Ben Wilson. Unknown 24 hours before Friday night’s game at Sunset Chev Stadium was how much Wilson took in from Ross’ words.
“It was a big game, and Auburn Mountainview is a very good team ... we just had to play hard,” Wilson said.
With Sumner leading Mountainview 17-12 late in the second quarter, Wilson saw Jansen roll out, so the linebacker attacked. The result was not what he was expecting.
“I tackled him and I was on the ground thinking the play was over,” Wilson admitted. “Then I see Niko (Kolby Nikolaisen) fly right by me … I knew something must have happened.”
What happened was Wilson forced the ball out of Jansen’s hands, right into the waiting arms of Nikolaisen, who ran it back for a 69-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 24-12 at the half.
“It somethings that you don’t really teach as it just happens,” Nikolaisen said of his second consecutive week of returning a fumble recovery for a score. “(Ben) tackled him and the ball came loose. Gresch kneed it right into my arms and the rest is history.”
The play broke the Lions’ back and secured the Spartans’ domination and upset over the 3A SPSL favorites.
“We took away (Jansen’s) passing routes, and (forced) him to rush 17 times — he doesn’t want to rush 17 times,” Ross said. “No, I did not think we would have this much control over their offense, but I knew we were better than last year.”
Sumner now shares the league’s top spot with Lakes (4-0, 2-0) as Mountainview falls to fourth. Sumner will travel to Peninsula on Thursday (Oct. 1) to play the Seahawks at Roy Anderson Field.
Bonney Lake 15, Enumclaw 14
The Panthers narrowly pulled out the win over the Hornets at the Enumclaw Expo Center, however, the 3A South Puget Sound League had not recognized the results in the league standings as of Monday. An unofficial scorer reported the game results.
Bethel 34, Rogers 7
For the second consecutive week, the Rams struggled to put up points against a strong opponent as the Braves easily cruised to a double-digit victory at Art Crate Stadium. Rogers (1-3, 0-1 league) will try to get back on track as it hosts Emerald Ridge on Friday at Sparks Stadium.
Cascade Christian 35, Lindbergh 21
The Cougars’ ground game dominated behind backs Zach Bartolome and Madden Tobeck at Renton Memorial Stadium. Cascade Christian (3-1) will host Hazen on Saturday at Sunset Chev Stadium.
This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 4:13 PM with the headline "Prep football roundup: Puyallup High nabs first win of 2015."