4 takeaways from No. 1 Graham-Kapowsin’s 49-7 state win over Kentwood
It’s been building to this state tournament for a long time for Graham-Kapowsin. After rolling through the spring season undefeated, the Eagles have been biding their time, waiting for this opportunity. Graham-Kapowsin, the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A state tournament, opened its state championship pursuit with a 49-7 with over No. 16 Kentwood on Friday night at Art Crate Field. Here’s what we learned from the win.
GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN SHUTS THE DOOR QUICKLY
Here’s how the game started:
- Graham-Kapowsin’s defenses forces a Kentwood three-and-out.
- Zack Lee 49-yard run.
- Joshua Wood 22-yard touchdown pass to Vinicio Hansen.
- Graham-Kapowsin’s Garrett Ott intercepts Kentwood quarterback Renat Mamikonyan Jr.
- Joshua Wood 22-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Savaiinaea.
Just like that, Graham-Kapowsin led 14-0, scoring two touchdowns on just three offensive plays.
“I think it’s just us being ready for the opportunity and knowing it’s playoffs, everything resets,” said senior receiver Julian Mason. “So we just need to show everyone why we’re the No. 1 seed going into this. We’re just taking pride in just trying to execute every single play we do 100 percent to know this is what we practice it for, just preparing for it. So when it comes gametime, we’re just trying to execute it 100 percent.”
Graham-Kapowsin coach Eric Kurle, in what can only be described as an understatement, said it was a “good start” to the game.
“Our kids executed really well tonight, both sides of the ball.”
G-K DEFENSE WAS LIGHTS OUT
Boefre Kurle pulled Graham-Kapowsin’s starters early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles had held Kentwood to 23 total rushing yards and six total passing yards. Credit goes mostly to G-K’s defensive line, which gave Kentwood absolutely nothing in the run game and kept pressure on Mamikonyan Jr.
“For us, we come out playing hard,” said UW commit Vega Ioane, a 6-foot-4, 320-pound lineman. “We come out setting the tone for the whole defense and we let our defensive backs and linebackers make their plays while we make ours. We just play as a team.”
Like a rising tide lifting all boats, having a dominant defensive line helps every defensive unit.
“I think it’s true in every level of football,” said Graham-Kapowsin coach Eric Kurle. “A d-line can control so many things. It allows you to do more things in the back end. It allows you to get into coverage. If you can get pressure with four, stop the run with four, maybe drop a linebacker down in there with Jalen (Davenport) — really, we’ve been able to do it in a four-one box a lot, so it’s been nice with our front four and Jalen.”
A NEARLY FLAWLESS GAME FROM EAGLES’ QUARTERBACK JOSHUA WOOD
How’s this for efficient: Graham-Kapowsin QB Joshua Wood completed 12-of-13 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns in the win.
Granted, it wasn’t the most challenging game of his career. He was mostly throwing to (very) open receivers and had ample time to go through his progressions. But still, it was yet another example of the high-level play the Eastern Washington commit has put on display all season.
“All I gotta say is, that QB right there is the best QB in the state, man,” Ioane said. “He does what he needs to do, he carries the team, he leads our team the way we need to be.”
Mason, who has been a close friend of Wood’s since the two were six years old, said it’s as much preparation as it is natural talent.
“Honestly, behind the scenes, he’s putting in so much work, getting notes on the DB’s, knowing what they’re going to do, knowing the coverages that they’re going to play,” Mason said. “Him already knowing that, when he’s out there reading it, he’s just knowing what to do. We’ve got class (together). I see him all the time in class, I’ll peek over in class, he’s on HUDL, he has his little notebook and he’ll take notes. He’ll come up to me (and say) ‘Hey Juice, remember this, remember what we’re doing on that play.’”
GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN WAS ANTSY FOR THIS TOURNAMENT TO START
The Eagles went undefeated during the shortened, league-only season in the spring. There was no state tournament, because of the coronavirus pandemic. So these players have been waiting a while for this opportunity.
“We were definitely hurt not getting the chance our junior year to show what we’ve been working hard for,” Mason said. “What we’re doing now, we’re playing for the seniors last year, those dudes that didn’t get the opportunity to have playoffs. We’re playing for them.”
It can be easy to look ahead — especially in a first-round blowout game — when you have state title aspirations. But G-K’s players are trying to soak it all in.
“Surprisingly, we’re just taking it patient, week by week,” Mason said. “We know once we get to that state championship, after, it’s just over. So we’re just enjoying every moment we get together as seniors, because we know after this year, everyone is doing their own thing, their own career path. So we’re just enjoying every moment we’ve got together. That’s why I just say enjoy every moment and the journey together.”
This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 11:57 PM.
