In a driving rainstorm the Bellevue Wolverines defense rose to the occasion in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs.
The Wolverines cruised to a 49-15 win against the Kennedy Catholic Lancers on Nov. 13 at Bellevue High School, clinching a berth in the Class 3A state quarterfinals. Bellevue led Kennedy Catholic 42-0 at halftime. The Wolverines swarming defense surrendered a meager two first downs and forced six Kennedy Catholic punts in the first half of play. Bellevue’s backup players played the majority of the second half.
Wolverines’ cornerback Isaiah Gilchrist, a University of Washington commit who scored on a 46-yard punt return for a touchdown with 10:17 left in the first quarter giving his team a 7-0 lead, said his squad prides itself on being ferocious on the defensive side of the ball.
“We like to pride ourselves on defense and special teams. That is what especially wins games for us. It is exciting for us because we get to fly around, hit people and have fun,” Gilchrist said.
Bellevue wide receiver/defensive back Tyson Penn, who scored on a 13-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown as well as a 40-yard touchdown catch on a fade route in the first quarter giving the Wolverines a 21-0 lead, said they were determined to start off strong in the first round of the state playoffs.
“We had a rough week at practice so we came out with a little bit to prove. We just came out with a chip on our shoulder and executed everything right. There is a couple of things we need to fix up but other than that we played really well,” Penn said.
Bellevue senior quarterback Justus Rogers connected with Isaiah Ifanse on a 28-yard touchdown pass, giving Bellevue a 28-0 lead with 9:05 left in the first half. Thomas Leisy rumbled for a 23-yard touchdown run and Ercle Terrell evaded a bevy of tacklers on a 77-yard marathon touchdown run to close out the second quarter, extending Bellevue’s lead to 42-0. Ifanse scored the final Wolverine touchdown of the night on a 57-yard touchdown scamper with 7:29 left in the third quarter.
The win was bittersweet for Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff, as he defeated one of his most esteemed mentors in his final game on the sidelines. Kennedy Catholic head coach Bob Bourgette, who has been the Lancers coach for the past four decades, coached his final game of his storybook career on the gridiron against Bellevue.
“Bob Bourgette has been around for so long. He is a great guy and is a guy I consider to be one of my mentors. Having this be his last game is tough but I’m really happy we are moving on (to the quarterfinals),” Goncharoff said. “It is survive and move on right now. That is it.”
Penn concurred with Goncharoff’s sentiment.
“We know them (Kennedy Catholic) pretty well. They are a great team and they came out and played their hardest. It kind of sucks to watch their season come to an end but it is the only way ours could keep going,” Penn said.
The Wolverines will face Glacier Peak in the Class 3A quarterfinals on Nov. 21 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Snohomish. Bellevue defeated Glacier Peak 24-6 on Oct. 2 in Snohomish.
“We’re ready for the next team up,” Penn said. “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. It is more of a one day, one game at a time for us.”
Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com
