Leonard Wolfork got something rare in football: a second chance. And this time he made sure no one caught him.

The Bellevue senior lineman recovered his second fumble of the night in the third quarter and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown that sealed a homecoming win for Bellevue (8-0 overall, 5-0 KingCo) on Oct. 24. The 24-7 win over league rival Liberty also clinched a KingCo 3A title for the Wolverines.

Wolfork recovered his first fumble in the first quarter and returned it 30 yards to the Liberty six-yard line before he was caught from behind by a Liberty player. The second time, no one came close.

“I was looking over my shoulders with each step,” Wolfork said. “I just wanted to make sure no one caught me this time.”

Wolfork was playing in just his third game of the season because of injuries to his hip flexor and groin earlier in the season, but he was right in the middle of two plays that helped decide an otherwise closely-fought game.

The Patriots (6-2, 4-1) held the Wolverines’ rushing attack in check early in the game until Wolfork’s recovery and run gave Bellevue a short field to work with. Running back Eric Nelson charged into the end zone from two yards out just two plays later, giving Bellevue a 7-0 lead after Houston Hubert’s extra point kick.

Nelson rushed 19 times, 17 in the first half, for 90 yards. Liberty did a valiant job against Bellevue’s Wing-T offense and held the team to 195 rushing yards, well under its season average.

Liberty couldn’t move the ball consistently against Bellevue’s defense as quarterback Trey Wheeler struggled in the first half. He missed on all seven of his pass attempts, lost one fumble and threw an interception to Bellevue senior Jamal Atofau – who committed to attend Washington State University the day before the game. But Liberty coach Steve Valach never lost faith in his quarterback.

“I went into the locker room at half time and said, ‘Number seven, you’re my guy. We’re going to keep playing our game and keep throwing.’” Valach said.

Wheeler came out on the Patriots’ first drive in the second half and looked like a new player. He connected on four passes and led his team on a 58-yard drive. But the drive stalled and Atofau blocked a 38-yard field goal attempt, leaving the Patriots empty handed.

Then it was the Wolverine’s air attack that stung Liberty in the third quarter. After pounding Liberty by running the ball, quarterback Tommy Castle connected with wide receiver Brayden Van Ackeren for a 69-yard touchdown on a post route.

Liberty scored a fourth quarter touchdown when Wheeler hit John Kirksey for 27 yards. The sophomore passed for 172 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Senior Joseph Yea led Liberty in rushing, with nine attempts for 56 yards. Richard Crespo caught seven passes for 119 yards.

Castle rushed five times for 14 yards and completed one of three passes for 69 yards and touchdown. Junior Will Fields came into the game in the fourth quarter with fresh legs and rushed eight times for 33 yards.

Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff said a few injuries and missed blocks hampered the Wolverine’s rushing attack.

“We knew what they would run to stop us,” Goncharoff said. “They just executed out there. But we got it done in the end.”

Bellevue’s final regular season game is against Interlake (5-3, 2-3) on Oct. 31. By virtue of Mount Si’s victory over Juanita on Oct. 24, Bellevue, Mount Si and Liberty will advance to the district playoffs.

Adam McFadden can be reached at 425-255-3484, ext. 5054 or at amcfadden@rentonreporter.com.

Other games

Interlake 64,

Mount Rainier 28

The Saints clinched its first playoff berth in nearly 20 years in a 64-28 homecoming victory over Mount Rainier.

Brett Kirschner rushed for four touchdowns and Matt Malos threw four touchdown passes as Interlake (5-3, 2-3) snapped a two-game losing streak. With the victory, the Saints earned enough wins to play in the 2A state playoffs.

The Rams of the Seamount League fell to 4-4 overall with the loss.

Mercer Island 27,

Sammamish 10

The Islanders earned their first conference win of the season with a 27-10 win over Sammamish on Mercer Island.

Bryce Borer hauled in two touchdown receptions for the Islanders (3-5, 1-4), helping to send Sammamish (0-8, 0-6) to another loss.

Issaquah 42,

Newport 6

Issaquah led only 14-0 at halftime, but scored 21 points in the third quarter in a 42-6 drubbing of Newport.

Issaquah (7-1, 4-1 KingCo 4A) running back Grant Gellatly scored three rushing touchdowns and Evan Peterson hauled in two touchdown receptions from quarterback Joey Bradley as the Eagles rebounded from a 38-0 loss to Skyline a week ago.

Taylor Wyman added a 62-yard rushing touchdown for Issaquah in the fourth quarter.

Ian Case scored the only touchdown for Newport (4-4, 2-3) on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Leonard Wolfork got something rare in football: a second chance. And this time he made sure no one caught him.

The Bellevue senior lineman recovered his second fumble of the night in the third quarter and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown that sealed a homecoming win for Bellevue (8-0 overall, 5-0 KingCo) on Oct. 24. The 24-7 win over league rival Liberty also clinched a KingCo 3A title for the Wolverines.

Wolfork recovered his first fumble in the first quarter and returned it 30 yards to the Liberty six-yard line before he was caught from behind by a Liberty player. The second time, no one came close.

“I was looking over my shoulders with each step,” Wolfork said. “I just wanted to make sure no one caught me this time.”

Wolfork was playing in just his third game of the season because of injuries to his hip flexor and groin earlier in the season, but he was right in the middle of two plays that helped decide an otherwise closely-fought game.

The Patriots (6-2, 4-1) held the Wolverines’ rushing attack in check early in the game until Wolfork’s recovery and run gave Bellevue a short field to work with. Running back Eric Nelson charged into the end zone from two yards out just two plays later, giving Bellevue a 7-0 lead after Houston Hubert’s extra point kick.

Nelson rushed 19 times, 17 in the first half, for 90 yards. Liberty did a valiant job against Bellevue’s Wing-T offense and held the team to 195 rushing yards, well under its season average.

Liberty couldn’t move the ball consistently against Bellevue’s defense as quarterback Trey Wheeler struggled in the first half. He missed on all seven of his pass attempts, lost one fumble and threw an interception to Bellevue senior Jamal Atofau – who committed to attend Washington State University the day before the game. But Liberty coach Steve Valach never lost faith in his quarterback.

“I went into the locker room at half time and said, ‘Number seven, you’re my guy. We’re going to keep playing our game and keep throwing.’” Valach said.

Wheeler came out on the Patriots’ first drive in the second half and looked like a new player. He connected on four passes and led his team on a 58-yard drive. But the drive stalled and Atofau blocked a 38-yard field goal attempt, leaving the Patriots empty handed.

Then it was the Wolverine’s air attack that stung Liberty in the third quarter. After pounding Liberty by running the ball, quarterback Tommy Castle connected with wide receiver Brayden Van Ackeren for a 69-yard touchdown on a post route.

Liberty scored a fourth quarter touchdown when Wheeler hit John Kirksey for 27 yards. The sophomore passed for 172 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Senior Joseph Yea led Liberty in rushing, with nine attempts for 56 yards. Richard Crespo caught seven passes for 119 yards.

Castle rushed five times for 14 yards and completed one of three passes for 69 yards and touchdown. Junior Will Fields came into the game in the fourth quarter with fresh legs and rushed eight times for 33 yards.

Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff said a few injuries and missed blocks hampered the Wolverine’s rushing attack.

“We knew what they would run to stop us,” Goncharoff said. “They just executed out there. But we got it done in the end.”

Bellevue’s final regular season game is against Interlake (5-3, 2-3) on Oct. 31. By virtue of Mount Si’s victory over Juanita on Oct. 24, Bellevue, Mount Si and Liberty will advance to the district playoffs.

Adam McFadden can be reached at 425-255-3484, ext. 5054 or at amcfadden@rentonreporter.com.

Other games

Interlake 64,

Mount Rainier 28

The Saints clinched its first playoff berth in nearly 20 years in a 64-28 homecoming victory over Mount Rainier.

Brett Kirschner rushed for four touchdowns and Matt Malos threw four touchdown passes as Interlake (5-3, 2-3) snapped a two-game losing streak. With the victory, the Saints earned enough wins to play in the 2A state playoffs.

The Rams of the Seamount League fell to 4-4 overall with the loss.

Mercer Island 27,

Sammamish 10

The Islanders earned their first conference win of the season with a 27-10 win over Sammamish on Mercer Island.

Bryce Borer hauled in two touchdown receptions for the Islanders (3-5, 1-4), helping to send Sammamish (0-8, 0-6) to another loss.

Issaquah 42,

Newport 6

Issaquah led only 14-0 at halftime, but scored 21 points in the third quarter in a 42-6 drubbing of Newport.

Issaquah (7-1, 4-1 KingCo 4A) running back Grant Gellatly scored three rushing touchdowns and Evan Peterson hauled in two touchdown receptions from quarterback Joey Bradley as the Eagles rebounded from a 38-0 loss to Skyline a week ago.

Taylor Wyman added a 62-yard rushing touchdown for Issaquah in the fourth quarter.

Ian Case scored the only touchdown for Newport (4-4, 2-3) on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter.