Bellevue had 11 different running backs run the ball for a total of 342 rushing yards as the Wolverines romped Sedro-Woolley 48-10 Saturday night at Bellevue High School.
With the win, Bellevue returns to the state tournament and will host Lindbergh High School of Renton next week in the round of 16 teams.
Bellevue (10-0) took advantage of a tired Cubs team who had played three games in the last ten days. Sedro-Wolley defeated Lynnwood 66-6 on Oct. 30 before playing only four days later in a must-win game to reach the round of 32 teams. The Cubs beat Everett 17-14 in that game and had to take on Bellevue, and its tiring wing-T offense, a mere four days after that.
“Anytime you play Thursday-Tuesday-Saturday like they did you want to set the tempo,” said Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff. “The kids reacted really well tonight.”
The Wolverines scored on their first two drives of the game and held a 14-0 lead before seven minutes had expired in the game, as Freddie Levine and Eric Nelson both scored first quarter touchdowns.
“It’s just important to come out and set a tone for the whole game,” Nelson said. “If you come out flat and you don’t have it, it’s just not good.”
David Nguyen’s 38-yard run gave the Wolverines a 21-0 lead and Nelson added another score on a 1-yard run to push Bellevue’s lead to 28-0 at the half. The Cubs (7-5) only managed 54 yards in the first half.
Bellevue was aided by the return of several key players from injury including Nelson, Nguyen and his older brother Peter, who had missed the past five games with a sprained knee. Also returning were lineman Nick Moyer, Leonard Wolfork, Hank Thayer, Joe Willingham and Julius Moore.
“It’s good…all the stars are back,” said David Nguyen. “We have a lot of depth.”
Bellevue showcased a bit of a passing offense in the third quarter, as Cam Warren went a perfect 6-for-6 for 90 yards in the game and set up Bellevue with a first-and-goal at the Sedro-Woolley 1-yard ine on the Wolverines opening drive of the second half.
“Cam’s smart,” Goncharoff said. “You look at his height (5-foot-9) and he passes really well.”
Levine scored his second touchdown of the night on the following play.
The Cubs finally broke through with a Cody Trout 26-yard field goal on their next possesion.
Sean Coley and Joey Mangialardi each scored fourth quarter touchdowns to give Bellevue a 48-3 lead before Sedro-Woolley junior quarterback Derek Garcia scored on a 3-yard run for the Cubs only touchdown.
The Cubs were led by senior running back Cody Pohren, who rushed for 107 yards on 17 carries, albeit 63 of those yards came on a long fourth-quarter run well after Bellevue had pulled its starting players.
Bellevue returns to the state tournament for the eighth-time since 2000. The Wolverines have won five of the last seven 3A state championships.
