Tumwater standout Easton Trakel hobbled by hamstring, but returns for 2A state championship game
Easton Trakel put the Tumwater High School football team on the scoreboard against Prosser on Saturday with his 42-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
If this had been a regular-season game, the senior said he likely would have been stuck on the sideline, where he spent most of the season. But because it was the 2A state championship game — who cares about that torn hamstring that limited him to three prior appearances.
“It’s the state championship, last game of my high school career — got to give everything I got,” Trakel said.
“I prayed for (the chance to play Saturday) and wished for it. I mean, I can’t believe I got hurt my senior season, but I’m blessed to be able to play with my teammates one last time.”
Not that Prosser wasn’t prepared.
“He’s too good of a player not to play,” Prosser coach Corey Ingvalson said.
The first- half scoring play was Trakel’s third touchdown of the season. This after he had 15 rushing TDs, 1,051 rushing yards and 1,631 all-purpose yards as an All-Area running back last year.
He was limited to passing plays in Saturday’s 22-15 loss to Prosser in the Tacoma Dome because he said the cuts he would make while running the ball would hurt too much. Even on passing routes, he was clearly hobbled.
Trakel beat a defensive back down the right sideline near the end zone in the third quarter, but the pass was barely overthrown. Trakel gingerly walked off the field.
“If I stretch it too far, it just shoots up my leg. It’s like I’ve got a ball right now in my hamstring,” Trakel said.
On the next play, quarterback Noah Andrews threw the same route to Griffin Shea, but the deep pass was intercepted in the end zone.
Trakel and Tumwater’s senior class reached the state championship game three of their four years with the Thunderbirds. The only time they didn’t was last season, when Tumwater lost to Sedro-Woolley in the state semifinals.
Trakel left in the third quarter of that 28-27 loss to Sedro-Woolley, following a 27-yard catch, with a left ankle injury.
Trakel tore the hamstring heading into the season opener.
Tumwater coach Sid Otton said he saw a more mature player in the state title showdown.
“He’s such an outstanding player, and I thought he matured a lot this year,” Otton said. “Just to get in his last game and get that touchdown — he wanted to win. He wanted to win just like the rest of us.”
Said Trakel: “This was my senior season after a big sophomore and junior year. Things happen for a reason. I’m just blessed to be able to play and put on a Tumwater jersey.”
This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Tumwater standout Easton Trakel hobbled by hamstring, but returns for 2A state championship game."