3 takeaways: Steilacoom in driver’s seat for 2A SPSL title after 14-7 win over Enumclaw
Nothing came easy for either offense when Steilacoom travelled east to face Enumclaw in a 2A South Puget Sound League football game on Friday night.
It was an old-school defensive battle and two scores winded up being enough to win. Tied 7-7 in the fourth quarter, Steilacoom scored the game-winning touchdown on a De’Andre Napier 26-yard run and hung on to win, 14-7. Here’s what we learned from Steilacoom’s win.
THAT WAS ALMOST CERTAINLY THE 2A SPSL TITLE GAME
Yes, there are still games to be played this season, but these were the top two teams in the league coming into the game, both sporting 3-0 marks in 2A SPSL play. The winner would have a clear path to a league title, which is what Steilacoom is now looking at after the win.
This isn’t the same team that advanced to the Class 2A state championship game this year. The stars from that team have since graduated. But this year’s Steilacoom group wanted to prove that this is still a top program.
“I think it’s huge,” said Steilacoom coach Kyle Haller. :A lot of guys have been waiting for their shot. We have 26 seniors this year, which is crazy. A lot of guys have just been waiting. They’re stepping up every single day.”
Steilacoom has now won 15 consecutive league games in the 2A SPSL.
STEILACOOM’S DEFENSE KEEPS GETTING THE JOB DONE
A week earlier, Steilacoom shut out White River, winning 14-0. This week: Another suffocating defensive effort against Enumclaw.
Enumclaw isn’t secretive about its gameplan: It wants to run between the tackles, over and over and over again, until the defense eventually breaks down. Steilacoom didn’t back down from that challenge, holding Enumclaw to under 150 rushing yards on the night and forcing two interceptions from quarterback Malcolm Harper.
“We made some adjustments with our d-line rotation, just going heavy inside, just knowing they were going to try to run it down our throats,” Haller said. “That’s what they do and they’re good at it. So it’s really just a test of will.”
Steilacoom’s interior line proved up to the task, highlighted by the play of 6-foot-2, 320-pounder Sam Stowers, who was blowing plays up all night. On its on 20-yard line shortly before halftime, Enumclaw had a 4th-and-inches and opted to go for it.
The Hornets tried a QB sneak and Stowers was having none of it, pushing the offensive lineman into the backfield and wrecking the play. That play has become par for the course for the reigning 2A SPSL co-defensive lineman of the year.
“In the situation, I just had a gut feeling,” Stowers said. “I just followed it. I just focused in and thought about what they’re thinking, too. They’re tired.”
Steilacoom would capitalize on that risky decision that didn’t pay off for Enumclaw. Jaycion Cain found the end zone six plays later for the game’s opening score, a one-yard rush to give Steilacoom the lead heading into the break.
Stowers’ sophomore season was cut short because of a broken leg. His junior season was the shortened spring season. He’s just now getting a chance to show what he can do over the course of a full season, fully healthy.
“Sam is a very special talent,” Haller said. “Somebody is going to be really lucky to land him when he finally gets some offers. It hasn’t happened yet. Hopefully that can ramp up for him a bit. … He’s super versatile.”
Linebacker Austin Kinney said the team’s mental toughness earned them the win.
“I am so proud of everybody,” he said. “Everybody pulled through when we needed it. There were some big plays that they made, but when it counted, there was a mental barrier that we won. We did not let them through us. No, we did not. They scored once but those were unlucky plays for us. They had some fakes and some good stuff, but when it mattered, we shut them down. I’m really happy for this team.”
STEILACOOM’S RUNNING BACK TANDEM PROVES EFFECTIVE
Steilacoom featured a two-back look in the win, with Jaycion Cain and De’Andre Napier alternating carries. Napier rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Cain rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
Napier’s best moments came late in the game. Enumclaw had just scored, leveling the game at 7-7 with 8 minutes, 52 seconds left to play. Napier returned the ensuing kickoff 49 yards to the Enumclaw 34 yard line. Then, on the third drive of the series, he ran for 26-yard touchdown run in what turned out to be the game-winning score.
“It was just a team win,” Napier said. “We just wanted it more, that’s all there was to it. As a team, we just played well. We’re going all the way to state.”
The jam-packed crowd at Pete’s Pool got plenty loud after Enumclaw tied the game in the fourth quarter. Just moments later, Napier’s sequence quieted it.
“The fact they kind of took that momentum back late in the game like that, our guys were still in a good place and good headspace,” Haller said. “No one was getting done or anything. The kickoff return was huge. It quieted the crowd and our guys were fired up about it.”
This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 11:58 PM.
