Bellevue (12-0) Vs. Shadle Park (11-1)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30
Where: Joe Albi Stadium, Spokane
What’s at stake
A spot in the 3A state title game against either O’Dea or Eastside Catholic. For Bellevue, a state record unbeaten streak that dates to 2010, a run of five consecutive 3A state championships, a 20-game state tournament winning streak and a perfect 11-0 mark all-time in state title games, including the 4A state title in 1983.
How they got here
Bellevue dominated a pair of 4A state tournament teams in Skyline (45-7) and Bothell (49-6) before another flawless run through 3A and 2A KingCo foes during conference play. The Wolverines played only three games within 30 points and none within 24 during the regular season, before beating Ferndale 44-0 to open the postseason.
Bellevue beat Glacier Peak 48-6 and Peninsula 48-27 the past two weeks.
Shadle Park fell to 4A Ferris 38-14 in the second game of the season for its only loss, running through the Greater Spokane League.
The Highlanders took down Kennewick 48-7 before beating Mount Spokane for a second time on the season, 27-7 and then Kamiakin 34-16 last week in the quarterfinals.
Different roles, semi-final success for dueling quarterbacks
When Bellevue meets Shadle Park Saturday at Joe Albi Stadium in the 3A state football semi-finals, one quarterback will take the field as the featured weapon in a wide-open attack, sporting gaudy statistics and with a name that conjures Super Bowl imagery.
That quarterback is not Bellevue senior Tim Haehl.
Highlanders’ junior Brett Rypien has the pedigree; his uncle and Shadle Park alum Mark was the MVP of Super Bowl XXVI for the Washington Redskins after his time as a Washington State Cougar.
He has the statistics, more than 3,200 yards through the air and a host of his uncle’s former conference records, including an eight touchdown performance in a win over Mount Spokane.
But what Haehl has earned during his prep career and throughout a perfect final season as a Wolverine isn’t so bad either.
Fifty-four wins without a single loss during his three-plus years at the school, more 3A state title hardware and Tacoma Dome triumphs than most programs’ entire histories and most importantly, a chance to finish it all as the caretaker to one of the area’s prep institutions: the Bellevue offense.
“It’s definitely been fun to get out there and throw the ball around and run some too,” he said. “You have to be a leader; there is no doubt about that.”
The Wolverines have continued to put up plenty of points themselves in 2013, despite losing running back Myles Jack and quarterback Jack Meggs to graduation. Only two teams have held Bellevue under 40 and they are averaging more than 46 points per game in three postseason blowouts.
As usual, it is a bevy of weapons doing the damage for the Wolverines on the ground.
Senior standout Budda Baker has done his share on the ground and as a pass catcher, as well as in the return game while Max and Sam Richmond have provided ample threats as well.
Head coach Butch Goncharoff said the leadership of Haehl that stands out, as the senior signal-caller has operated within the flow of the offense and made plays when called upon.
“We lost a lot of good players, 17 starters,” Goncharoff said. “He stepped in and started early in the weight room and never let it go. I think he’s done a great job.”
The next job is always the most important on Wolverine Way, and this week that means a Black Friday trip to Spokane to play a 1 p.m. Saturday game at Joe Albi Stadium.
A win keeps the possibility of 56-0 alive, while a loss is almost inconceivable for a senior quarterback who has known nothing but success as a prep.
“We’ve been prepared to win the state championship all along,” he said. “That would be picture perfect.”
