Saints season ends with loss to Archbishop Murphy | Prep Football

By Joel Willits • November 20, 2010 6:41 pm
Saints WR Scotty Gehlhausen (11) turns defender as Wildcat defender Alex Galgano (27) intercepts a ball in the endzone during the first half at Interlake on Saturday. Archbishop Murphy won 58-13.
Saints WR Scotty Gehlhausen (11) turns defender as Wildcat defender Alex Galgano (27) intercepts a ball in the endzone during the first half at Interlake on Saturday. Archbishop Murphy won 58-13.

The Interlake Saints run through the Class 2A playoffs came to an abrubt end Saturday when they ran into a bad combination against the state’s top-ranked team.

Interlake didn’t bring their best game. Archbishop Murphy did.

The No.1 Wildcats (12-0) ran all over the Saints, rushing for more than 550 yards on the way to a 58-13 win.

“You have to play your best football game against a team like that to have a chance at winning,” said Interlake coach Jason Rimkus. “We fought hard as a team and just didn’t have anything left in the tank.”

Archbishop Murphy sophomore Alex Galgano scored three touchdowns in the first quarter – a quarter that saw the Wildcats score 35 points. Junior running back Alex Kramer rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown on just four carries in that frame.

“I think Archbishop Murphy is definitely one of the best teams in 2A and I’m rooting for them to go all the way,” Rimkus said. “They were very, very good.”

The Saints (4-9) had scored at least 47 points in three straight games but Archbishop Murphy kept Interlake’s offense in check. Jordan Todd rushed for just 60 yards on 15 carries for Interlake. He also returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown.

Senior quarterback Matt Malos passed for 156 yards and a 20-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Jackson in the first quarter. He also threw three interceptions.

“All the seniors, they’ve endured so much change, all the hills and valleys,” Rimkus said. “They left a mark on me with their resilience, their effort and their smiles.”

The loss ended a run for the Saints that saw the team win a play-in game against North Mason and beat Clover Park and Port Angeles to reach the state quarterfinals for just the second time in school history.

After a turbulent 1-8 regular season in his first season at the helm, Rimkus said he’s pleased with the progress he saw from his team from their first game – a 70-14 loss to Newport – to the final game against Archbishop Murphy.

“We started out as individuals and ended as a team,” Rimkus said. “They came together. I’ve never been as emotional after a game as I was Saturday, and it’s not because we lost. That family will never be together again.”