3 takeaways from Graham-Kapowsin’s 41-25 state tournament quarterfinal win over Bothell
The Graham-Kapowsin High School football team’s win over Bothell on Friday night at Art Crate Field might not quite feel like perfect revenge. Sure, it was the same two teams meeting in the Class 4A state tournament quarterfinals. Sure, Bothell was the most recent team to beat Graham-Kapowsin (the Eagles went undefeated during the shortened season last spring).
But that was two years ago, and oh yeah, there’s been a worldwide pandemic sandwiched between the two meetings. In covid years, that loss feels more like a decade ago.
That’s not to say Graham-Kapowsin, the top seed in this year’s state tournament, didn’t enjoy its 41-25 win over Bothell on Friday night.
“We were excited for this one,” said senior lineman Curtis Hill. “Our redemption game, the last team we lost to. We finally got to get back at them.”
Longtime Eagles’ coach Eric Kurle has to feel good about the win, too. The quarterfinal round hasn’t been kind to him over the years. Since 2007, Graham-Kapowsin has lost in the quarterfinals five times out of its seven total appearances. Just once, in 2014, have the Eagles advanced to the semifinals.
“It’s always great when you get to practice on Thanksgiving. The quarterfinals, I’ve got stuck there a lot of times in my career. I don’t like the quarters at all,” Kurle said, laughing.
Here’s what we learned from Graham-Kapowsin’s win.
NO NEED TO OVERTHINK IT — GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN TURNS TO RUN GAME
It’s tempting to want to get flashy with Eastern Washington commit Joshua Wood at QB, Idaho State commit Julian Mason at receiver and coveted Pac-12 recruit Andrew Savaiinaea at tight end. They’re some of the area’s most dynamic players, after all. They’ve been lights out all season. But with Bothell sitting back a bit in its zone defense and Wood throwing an interception in the first quarter, Graham-Kapowsin got back to its core identity: pounding the rock.
After that pick, Wood threw just six more passes the rest of the game. The Eagles racked up 341 rushing yards behind G-K’s bruising line, led by UW commit Vega Ioane and twin brothers Curtis and Hunter Hill.
“We just kind of leaned on our line and running backs and ran the ball,” Kurle said. “We just felt like we needed to control the ball in the second half, take the air out a little bit. We felt pretty good that we could get the chunks we needed running the ball. We just beat them up up front.”
That type of offensive approach is just fine with Curtis Hill.
“We go out and run the football every single game,” Hill said. “It’s just our first game where we’re not blowing the team out, so we have to run a little bit more. You pass the ball and try to get the stats against the weaker teams. But once we get down to it, running the ball is our core. Everyone helps, it’s a team thing.”
For the most of the night, it felt like Graham-Kapowsin could run the ball at will. There were a couple times went the Eagles went for a surprise pass play, and it didn’t work out.
“My young coaches, I have to say, ‘We don’t have to throw. We can run the ball. It’s OK,’” Kurle said. “But it’s tough. You’ve got great kids. You want to do different things and make things happen throwing the ball, play action — and we do that, but at times you’ve just to lay it down, go in I-(formation) and run the ball.
ZACK LEE HAS A BIG GAME
Lee, a senior running back, was the top beneficiary of Graham-Kapowsin’s run-hungry game plan. He rushed for 165 yards on 16 carries in the win.
“Just digging deep, being patient,” Lee said. “Our o-line, best in the state, in my opinion. We really had to dig deep. Pushing back, kept fighting, everyone was doing their part, we came together as a team, we got that dub. I had to thank my o-line. I wouldn’t be running the rock like that if it wasn’t for them.”
Kurle said Lee has always had natural running back traits. He has just needed to add some strength. He did that, dedicating himself to adding lower-body strength and power in the weight room over the offseason.
“He’s just dynamite,” Kurle said. “He reads things so well, he’s so quick with his feet. He’s a lot more powerful. A year ago I told him … ‘You’ve gotta put on 20 pounds of muscle, cause you’ve got the feet and quickness.’ And he did it, he worked hard in the weight room. He still can put some weight on. He’s got leg strength, lower half. He’s just special.”
2.5 SECONDS? THAT’S PLENTY OF TIME FOR JOSHUA WOOD
Just before halftime, Graham-Kapowsin had a fourth down from the Bothell 22-yard line with 2.5 seconds to go. Wood rolled out to his right, kept his eyes downfield and hit senior receiver Stephen Mars, who dove past the goal line for a touchdown as time expired.
It gave Graham-Kapowsin a 21-10 lead at half. And since the Eagles would be getting the ball to start the second half, it became a meaningful momentum shift.
“I saw an opening and rolled out,” Wood said.
Wood said he and Mars had actually talked about that specific route concept prior to the game.
“I told him, ‘If I’m rolling out right and that linebacker comes up, just go to the middle,’” Wood said. “I talk about it to all the receivers. When that happened, right when he curved, I knew when to throw it. So he turned and took off and ran.”
Zack Lee is used to seeing those types of plays from his quarterback.
“That was spectacular,” Lee said. “That’s what he’s all about. Pressure came, he stepped out of the pocket, ran out, just passed a beautiful dime.”
Wood made the most out of his limited passing attempts, completing 7-of-10 passes for 144 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 56 yards in the win.
Graham-Kapowsin will play the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 4 Kamiakin and No. 5 Camas in the state tournament semifinals.
This story was originally published November 20, 2021 at 12:15 AM.
