‘We all locked in’ — Graham-Kapowsin rallies to advance to 4A state semifinals
Graham-Kapowsin High School football will play in the Class 4A state semifinals next weekend for the third consecutive season.
But, it took three second-half touchdowns and a series of key defensive stops — including keeping No. 8 Gonzaga Prep out of the end zone in the closing seconds Saturday evening — to get there.
Trailing by a touchdown with one minute, 24 seconds to play, the visiting Bullpups started the game’s final drive at their own 1-yard line.
Five quick plays later, they were set up at their own 49 with 20.6 seconds to play. Graham-Kapowsin’s defense knocked down a pair of passes on first and second down, but on third, Gonzaga Prep quarterback Bodie Stafford found Jonah Keller over the middle for a 21-yard gain.
The Bullpups hurried to the line of scrimmage at the Graham-Kapowsin 30, and Stafford stopped the clock with 2.2 remaining. The Eagles took a quick timeout, their undefeated season on the line, and then their defense punched their return ticket to the final four.
Stafford snapped the ball, Eagles’ lineman Jonathan Haas beat a defender on the edge to get to the quarterback, and he and lineman Levi Turner wrapped up a sack to end a 20-14 thriller at Art Crate Field in Spanaway.
“Everybody just had to lock in,” Turner, this season’s 4A SPSL defensive lineman of the year, said of the final play. “ … We all locked in to our assignment, and we came out with the win.”
Earlier, it seemed top-seeded Graham-Kapowsin’s undefeated run might end in the quarterfinals.
The Eagles were quick to reach the red zone on the game’s opening drive, on a 49-yard completion from Daveon Superales to Malachi Durant on the first play, which set them up at the Gonzaga Prep 6.
Superales completed a pass to tight end Noah Fox-Flores on the next play, but Gonzaga Prep popped the ball out in the end zone, resulting in a touchback for the first of three consecutive Eagles turnovers.
Graham-Kapowsin’s next drive ended in another end zone turnover, this time on a diving interception by Bullpups defensive back Ryan Jackson.
Jackson ended the Eagles’ third series just outside of the red zone with a second interception on a tipped pass over the middle on fourth down.
Meanwhile, the Eagles’ offense kept Gonzaga Prep scoreless through three drives with two punts and a Mika Roberson interception, but the Bullpups broke through on their fourth series on a 5-yard keeper from Stafford to make it 7-0 with 4:24 left in the opening half.
Gonzaga Prep recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt, forced a punt on the Eagles’ next drive, and ended the half with a third interception, this time by Preston Yim near the sideline, to take the touchdown advantage into the break.
“It’s a situation we haven’t been in a lot this year,” Eagles coach Jeff Logan said of the early turnovers. “When adversity strikes, that’s how your character is built, and we talk about that all the time.”
The Bullpups reached the end zone once more, when Keller hauled in a short pass on third-and-7 on the opening series of the third quarter, and ran in for a 55-yard score to push the lead to 14-0.
Graham-Kapowsin was quick to respond, though. The Eagles were on the board a minute later, when a 47-yard pass from Superales to Durant set up a 2-yard scoring run from Alele Fa’apito-Leao.
Two quick three-and-outs from the Eagles’ defense on Gonzaga Prep’s next two drives set up the eventual game-tying score. Superales connected with Roberson on a 32-yard touchdown, and then Khris Norris on a two-point conversion pass to even the game at 14-14 with 59.6 seconds left in the third quarter.
Graham-Kapowsin safety Anthony Leigh ended the Bullpups’ ensuing drive with an interception. Four plays later, Eagles’ wide receiver Jabez Woods was in the end zone following a short pass from Superales he took 72 yards for what turned out to be the decisive score with 9:53 left.
“It was a seven-point lead for about three quarters there, so it just showed us that we had to just keep working, don’t let up off the gas pedal even if it gets hard,” Woods said.
Graham-Kapowsin’s defense made yet another big stop on the Bullpups’ next series, ending a 14-play drive with a turnover on downs at the 1-yard line with 4:48 to play.
“I feel like today really set the tone, really told people around the state we have a solid defense,” Woods said.
The Eagles’ next drive stalled near midfield, but Superales’ punt pinned Gonzaga Prep at the 1 for the final series, and the Eagles’ defense closed out the victory with the sack 10 plays later.
“I’ve been super impressed with the growth and just the fierce competitiveness that our kids show,” Logan said.
Stafford completed 9-of-21 passes for 175 yards and the touchdown, and added the rushing score. Nate Moinette paced the Bullpups in rushing with 30 carries for 133 yards, while Keller had four catches for 100 yards and the touchdown, and added eight carries for 38 yards. Gonzaga Prep collected 344 yards on offense.
Graham-Kapowsin totaled 503 yards of offense in the win, led by Superales, who was 24-of-37 for 399 yards and the two touchdowns and had 11 carries for 56 yards. Woods posted a game-high 169 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches, while Durant had five catches for 123 yards.
The Greater Spokane League champion Bullpups, who entered the contest on a nine-game winning streak, end the season at 10-2.
Graham-Kapowsin (12-0) advances to next weeks semifinals, and will host No. 4 Eastlake (11-0) on Saturday. The 4A KingCo champion Wolves edged Skyview, 17-14, in the quarterfinals to advance.
“I know we have the team, and I know we have the talent to go back to the semifinals, and even the championship, and win the championship,” Turner said. “The way our defense played tonight, and the way we overcame adversity tonight, it shows that we’re ready for the championship.”
This story was originally published November 18, 2023 at 8:09 PM.
