3 takeaways: Puyallup dominates on both sides of ball in 42-7 rout of Bellarmine Prep
They found themselves with an early deficit. Then the Puyallup Vikings found a different gear on both sides of the ball.
The result was a runaway victory to close out the regular season, 42-7, over host Bellarmine Prep on a shivering Friday night. With the win, Puyallup earns the South Puget Sound League’s No. 3 seed to the Week 10 preliminary round of the playoffs that will be held next weekend, Nov. 4-6.
Playoff Waiting Game
Unlike in previous seasons, the 22 west side Class 4A teams don’t yet know who they will play in that round. Those 11 game matchups will be determined by a seeding committee on Sunday.
Bellarmine, the No. 4 seed out of the SPSL after the loss Friday, also is waiting.
“It’s been a little strange,” Lions coach Brian Jensen said. “We do know that we have a playoff game next week. And we’ll be at home, we’ve been told that much.”
The top four berths from the SPSL are set to host Week 10 games.
Puyallup Can Get Defensive
The Vikings trailed this one 7-0 with 8 minutes, 47 seconds left in the first quarter. Puyallup had run five total plays in two possessions, and turned the ball over on a fumble at its own 22-yard line.
But it was only after a shanked punt by the Vikings that Gage Hicks grabbed on one bounce at the Puyallup 18 and returned for the game’s first touchdown that the Lions (5-3) scored to take that lead. Puyallup went on to outgain Bellarmine in the first half, 321-106 in total offense.
That offensive dominance staked the Vikings to a 35-7 lead at the half. Bellarmine failed to score on any offensive drive all night.
“We felt like we had some answers for what they wanted to do,” Puyallup coach Brian Grout said. “Our defensive unit has been playing really well.”
Bellarmine did make one foray deep into Puyallup territory midway through the third quarter. The Lions put together a 15-play drive and moved from their own 13-yard line to the Viking 2.
But quarterback Payton Faker, back on the field for the first time since suffering an injury against Graham-Kapowsin three weeks earlier, was pressured and hit as he let go of the ball on fourth down. The ball sailed high and out of the back of the end zone, turning the ball back to Puyallup.
Vikings Sail on Ground or In Air
Puyallup split their scoring plays, 4-2. Led by Ryan Cramer’s three rushing scores, the Vikings put it in the end zone four times on the ground.
Jordan Dwyer, however, added touchdown receptions of 76 yards from starting QB Micah Balzarini and a late 4-yard scoring reception from Kaden Rolfsness. Dwyer finished the game with eight catches for 158 yards and those two scores.
Cramer carried the load on the ground, rushing for 120 yards on 17 attempts.
“Our line is just great,” Cramer said. “They really got their assignments in. I gotta buy them some donuts or something next week.”
There at least will be a next week, for both teams. They just have to wait 12 hours or so to find out who and when they’ll play.
This story was originally published October 31, 2021 at 7:55 AM.