3 takeaways from Eatonville’s 35-6 win over Riverside in 1A state quarterfinals
For the first time since 2014, the Eatonville High School football team is back in the state tournament semifinal round, after beating Riverside on Saturday afternoon at Art Crate Field, 35-6 in the Class 1A quarterfinal round.
“It’s great,” said Eatonville coach Gavin Kralik. “After a tough couple years for everybody, it’s great for our school, community, our kids, the families. Very happy about that.”
Here’s what we learned from the Cruisers’ win.
EATONVILLE’S UP-TEMPO OFFENSE AND THE TWO-MINUTE DRILL ARE MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
Up 7-3 with just under a minute to go in the first half, Eatonville started its final offensive possession of the half on its own 29-yard line. For most programs, that’d mean a change in scheme or approach, or at the very least, a considerable uptick in urgency.
But the Cruisers didn’t have to change a thing. Eatonville run a dizzying, high-tempo offense that mixes both the run and pass well, so the Cruisers just ran their normal offense, marching down the field for a five-play, 71-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a 46-yard completion from quarterback Kevin Wulff to senior receiver Reilly Mcilraith on the drive’s opening play.
“Most defenses aren’t used to a fast-paced offense and that’s our advantage,” Wulff said.
Instead of going into halftime leading by four, Eatonville suddenly had a 14-3 advantage at the break. Mentally, it was a boost, after a slow start to the game.
“I think it was huge,” Kralik said. “Our kids made a lot of plays going down the field on that. I felt our offensive and defensive lines played really, really good today. Our quarterback wasn’t touched, in terms of pass protecting. He made some great throws.”
EATONVILLE’S DEFENSE BOTTLES UP RIVERSIDE’S RUSHING ATTACK
Eatonville held 6-foot-2 dual-threat quarterback Silas Ng in check all game. He finished with just 56 passing yards and 60 rushing yards. As a team, the Rams managed just 125 rushing yards on the game.
The defensive line played well, allowing senior linebacker Blain Hainly to do what he does best: fly to the football and make tackles. On a number of key occasions, Hainly dropped Riverside running backs in the backfield for losses.
“We watch so much film,” Hainly said. “Our d-coordinator is so good. Play by play, he knows what’s going to happen. He put us in the right plays at the right time every single time.”
Kralik said Hainly brings everything a coach could want to the football team.
“He’s a tremendous worker on the field, in the weight room, in the preparation of each game.” Kralik said. “He’s a really, really instinctual player. Smart, he asks a ton of questions.”
CRUISERS’ BALANCE KEEPS DEFENSES GUESSING
The tempo is a factor, but the run-pass balance is another reason Eatonville’s been one of the top 1A teams in the state this season.
Wulff completed 15-of-21 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Two of those touchdown passes went to junior Job Kralik, who is playing through a hand injury. Both his receptions went for touchdowns, and he added a touchdown on the ground. Mcilraith caught four passes for 81 yards. Jakob Lucht caught five passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Dylan Norman led the running backs with 92 yards on the ground, running effectively behind Eatonville’s powerful offensive line, led by 6-foot-6, 270-pound junior left tackle Kyle Cox.
Job Kralik had to give his old man a shoutout after the game.
“Gavin Kralik is a really solid play caller,” Job said. “He’s super, super smart, super wise with how to utilize people. He’s a really good x’s and o’s guy. It’s been five or six years of us installing all of this. It’s just getting to the point where it’s flowing now, really well.”
Gavin Kralik said Eatonville’s offensive gameplan varies depending on the opponent, but the versatility allows the Cruisers to attack any type of defense they come up against.
“From week to week, you have to look at matchups in order to do that,” he said. “Sometimes you’re running the ball more, sometimes you’re throwing it more. Your kids have to be unselfish and I feel like this is a very unselfish team.”
