‘Biggest game of our life’: Anacortes soars to 2A title over Tumwater, 60-30
Under the lights at Husky Stadium — and in the biggest game of his young playing career — Brock Beaner would not be denied.
A feature tailback and safety valued in every phase, there’s a reason why Anacortes coaches consider Beaner one of the state’s top all-purpose football players. Against Tumwater, one of the premier 2A programs, Beaner was the unstoppable force — scampering for three rush touchdowns and returning a blocked punt for a fourth.
By night’s end, Anacortes became the first team in state history to score 60 points in a 2A title game. And Beaner was the star, regardless of where he lined up.
This was Brock’s game. He lifted his Seahawks to a convincing 2A state title over Tumwater, 60-30, on Saturday night at Husky Stadium.
“Our offense, I think, is the best offense in the state,” Beaner told The News Tribune. “We knew we could score. At the end of the day, we knew what we were capable of.
“This is the most important thing in our life. Biggest game of our life.”
It’s quite the comeback story: In 2019, low turnout prevented Anacortes from fielding a varsity program. Just 20 freshmen arrived for the team’s first practices, and Anacortes opted to compete at the junior varsity level. In 2020, the pandemic erased postseason play.
Now, in just their third season since the program’s revival, the Seahawks are state champions.
“We just put in the work,” Beaner said. “Everyone says, ‘we were a JV team three years ago.’ But this is expected for us. ... We knew what we were capable of. We like being the underdogs.”
“Those 20 freshmen turned into 40 freshmen and sophomores, which turned into 60 that next year,” Anacortes head coach Travis Anderson said. “And they just built it, put in the work. There are some great athletes out there.”
Anacortes QB Rex Larson was equally impressive, unfazed by Tumwater’s pass rush and poised enough in the pocket before ensuing hits to make pinpoint throws to outside receivers. He completed 26 of 34 passes for 346 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers.
Beaner was the perfect complement, averaging over six yards per carry and helping Anacortes pick up yards by the chunk. He took 21 carries for 135 yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Seahawks receivers feasted in man coverage, and Larson proved unafraid to let his top pass-catchers go up and get anything lofted their way. Anacortes WR Rylin Lang secured five receptions for a team-high 143 yards and two touchdowns; WR Landon Schafer posted six receptions for 78 for yards and a score.
But not before Beaner converted two rush touchdowns in the first half and added his third on a blocked punt return. For all but the opening minutes, Tumwater played from behind.
“Tip your cap to those guys... they have really, really good skill players,” Tumwater head coach Willy Garrow said. “(Larson) throws a great ball, and those kids made plays.”
The T-Birds scored on their opening possession for an instant lead. RB Cash Short dashed 26 yards untouched down the left sideline for the first touchdown and an early lead in Saturday’s title game — but Tumwater wouldn’t score again until the third quarter.
It soon became the Brock Beaner show. His two- and five-yard rushing scores in the first half put Anacortes ahead, and the Seahawks never looked back.
Tumwater’s three-and-out on the ensuing drive turned disastrous. A punt from deep in their own territory was blocked by Brady Beaner, scooped up by brother Brock and into the end zone for an instant special teams touchdown. In a flash, it was 20-6.
“Those things are tough to overcome in a championship game against a great opponent,” Garrow said.
Larson hit Lang and Schafer for touchdowns in the second quarter before Anacortes trotted to Husky Stadium’s visiting locker rooms with a dominant, 34-6 advantage.
Then began a second-half shootout, as Tumwater’s uncharacteristically quiet offense hit a groove.
The T-Birds recovered an onside kick to begin the second half, and quickly answered on a two-yard rushing score by Short, his second of the game.
Anacortes wanted no part of a comeback. The cream of the 2A crop traded five total touchdowns in the third quarter before the Seahawks extended their lead for good.
Tumwater’s momentum disappeared when, on an incomprehensible 3rd and 39, Anacortes’ Larson delivered a 47-yard touchdown strike to Lang on a deep heave.
The T-Birds managed another pair of touchdowns in the second half on an 18-yard scamper by Peyton Davis and 35-yard reception by Brady Bryant. Too little, too late.
“I thought the kids really played hard in the second half and battled their guts out to make a game of it,” Garrow said. “Just super proud of them, proud of the effort.”
Beaner burst up the middle in the game’s final minutes for a 26-yard touchdown run, his fourth.
The all-purpose Beaner brothers combined for six total touchdowns Saturday: Brock totaled four, and Brady added a rushing and receiving score apiece, plus his blocked punt.
Brady, a two-way receiver-safety, logged an Anacortes-best nine tackles and two tackles for loss.
Better yet for the Seahawks? They’re both juniors — and Anacortes already has their sights set on a repeat next fall.
Winning students, coaches, and players alike chanted: “Run it back!”
Brock agrees.
“Let’s keep it going,” he said. “We’re going back-to-back next year.”
This story was originally published December 2, 2023 at 7:43 PM.
