Steilacoom defense makes statement, shuts out Lynden in 2A state semifinals win
Earlier this week, as No. 2 Steilacoom High School prepared for its anticipated rematch with No. 3 Lynden, Judah Jackson accurately predicted how this Class 2A state semifinals game would play out.
“I think we’ll crush them in every possible way,” Jackson said before practice Tuesday. “I think we’ll be able to squeeze down their line to the point where they can’t get through us.
“We’re very strong up front, and we’re not afraid of a powerful runner.”
With the sophomore defensive lineman — and reigning 2A SPSL Mountain defensive player of the year — leading the charge Saturday afternoon, the Sentinels did completely, in every way, dismantle Lynden’s offense Saturday afternoon at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.
Back in Week 3, the Lions piled up 455 rushing yards against the Sentinels. This time, the Sentinels limited them to 91. During that same nonleague game in September, Lynden hung a season-high 56 points on Steilacoom’s defense. This time around, the Sentinels allowed zero.
It was a stunning defensive performance, and ultimately one that lifted Steilacoom to a decisive, 42-0, win that also sends the program its first championship appearance in history.
Mission accomplished for a defense looking to avenge its earlier loss to the Lions?
“Yes, I think so,” Jackson said. “With such a high-scoring game, and with them getting nothing on us, I think that’s incredible. I think that’s a really good performance by us.
“We worked so hard in those weeks after that defeat. ... We knew what they were going to do. We knew what we were expecting. And then we just punched them in the mouth.”
Lynden (9-3) entered the week averaging 31.5 points per game. The Lions hadn’t been shut out since early in the 2015 season and hadn’t been shut out in the state playoffs since 1979.
But, Steilacoom (11-2) swiftly put an end to all of that.
“Everything is mentality,” Steilacoom defensive lineman Robert Lingenfelter said. “We’re coming out strong ... and we just have to put pressure on them every play. We did that.”
The Sentinels gained firm control early in the first half, eventually got their offense into a sustainable rhythm, and played lockdown defense throughout the contest.
Emeka Egbuka and D.J. Fryar both picked off Lynden quarterback Baylor Ayres, Logan Brady and R.J. Brewster each recovered fumbles for the Sentinels, and Steilacoom forced two punts and two turnovers on downs.
Lynden crossed midfield just four times during the game, gained only eight first downs, and finished with a modest 204 yards of total offense. The Lions averaged just 2.8 yards per carry, and 4.1 yards per pass, completing just 8-of-25 attempts.
“Our defensive coordinator Mike Martin did a really good job game-planning this week,” Steilacoom coach Colby Davies said. “You can see it. ... The kids just did a really good job of prepping for this and understanding what we wanted them to do and then going out and executing it. We’re a way more physical team now than we were Week 3.”
Lynden rushed for negative yardage or no gain on 11 of its 33 attempts. Steven DiLorenzo — who set a school record with 320 yards in the last meeting — was limited to just 12 yards on nine carries, and Brock Heppner led the way with 10 carries for 37 yards.
Ayers finished 6-of-18 passing for 92 yards and the two interceptions, and Heppner 2-of-7 for 21 yards.
“It was a whole different game,” Steilacoom running back Rasun Williams said. “It was great to see how everyone developed, and how we all came out at the end of the season put it all out here.”
After rushing for a season-low 21 yards against Lynden last time, Williams gashed the Lions for 183 yards on 24 touches, and scored the final of Steilacoom’s six touchdowns on a 9-yard scamper midway through the fourth quarter to trigger the running clock.
Egbuka, a five-star recruit, had a hand in four of Steilacoom’s touchdowns. He rushed for two scores out of the Wildcat formation for 3 and 5 yards, and caught a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Chance McDonald.
The first, a 7-yard slant, gave Steilacoom a lead it never lost in the first quarter. The second, Egbuka again showed why he is one of the state’s top athletes. He hauled in a short pass from McDonald, juked three defenders on the outside, cut back in, secured a bobble after a defender got a hand on the ball, slipped through three more defenders and evaded a last-ditch ankle tackle before stepping into the end zone for a 43-yard score.
Egbuka finished with 87 receiving yards on five catches, the two receiving touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. He also had a first-half interception that ended Lynden’s third drive just outside of the red zone, and a 51-yard punt that pinned the Lions at their own 17 trailing 21-0 just before the half.
“He’s an amazing talent, an amazing leader, he plays his heart out and he’s so diverse in his skill set,” Davies said. “He’s the kid that’s going to take a punt to the house. He’s going to guard your best receiver and pick it off and take that (option) away. He’s going to run the ball, catch the ball.
“There’s nothing he can’t do. Special talent. Glad we get to coach him.”
McDonald was efficient finishing 12-of-22 passing for 190 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also connected with Brady for a 13-yard score in the first half. Brady finished with three catches for 46 yards and the fumble recovery.
And more pitched in as the Sentinels tallied 402 yards of total offense.
“It’s so big,” Egbuka said. “It’s a great statement for us. Little Steilacoom making it to the state championship. It was more about proving to ourselves we could beat this team, and we not only did that, but we kind of dominated this game. I’m just really happy to have the victory.”
Steilacoom will play top-seeded Tumwater (13-0) at 4 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup for the 2A state title. The T-Birds routed two-time defending 2A champion Hockinson, 55-7, in Saturday’s other semifinal.
Next week’s meeting between the two local programs will be just the sixth all-South Sound state championship game in history, and first since Kentwood topped Capital in the 4A title game in 2002.
“All of the seniors are just freaking out in there,” Jackson said as the Sentinels celebrated their semifinals win. “We’re the happiest we’ve ever been. This is crazy.
“We just beat the third seed and we’re going on to play the first. We’re super excited. We know they’re a good team and we’re going to prepare for that this week. We’re super excited to go to practice on Monday.”
This story was originally published November 30, 2019 at 7:37 PM.
