Newport’s bid to take the final crossover playoff spot in the Crest Division fell short last night, as the Knights lost to Eastlake 14-7 in the second and deciding mini-game at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland.
The Knights, missing leading rusher Louie Jachim due to an injury in the final regular season game against Issaquah, could not convert a fourth-and-two on the Eastlake 41-yard line on their final drive of the game with just over a minute left.
“They poured their hearts out out there,” said Newport coach Mike Miller after the game. “A great, absolutely wonderful effort by a lot of guys.”
Newport, who beat Redmond 6-0 in the first game of the three-way playoff, jumped on the board first against Eastlake after Alex Kairis forced Wolves running back Cam Hunt to fumble on the third play of the game. Ross Quarre, shifting from quarterback to running back to fill in for Jachim, scored on a 33-yard touchdown run to give Newport a 7-0 lead on their first play from scrimmage.
It was the first play for Quarre after taking a huge hit on a punt against Redmond with just over seven minutes left to play.
“He told me that as long as he was walking, he was going to be out there,” Miller said. “He’s been a warrior all year long.”
The Wolves (5-3, 2-3 KingCo 4A) would fumble again on their next drive, but Newport failed to convert, giving Eastlake the ball on their own 12-yard line. The Wolves promptly drove 82 yards on 10 plays, and scored when quarterback Kelby McCorkle hit Hunt on an 8-yard pass to the right flat and Hunt went into the end zone untouched.
“On that first play, where they scored, I think all of our hearts just sank,” Hunt said. “We really had to pick it up.”
Hunt struck again on Eastlake’s second possession of the second half, breaking loose to score on a 36-yard touchdown run to put Eastlake ahead 14-7.
“He’s an explosive player,” said Wolves coach Gene Dales. “He’s got an awful lot of talent. Getting him out in the open field is always kind of fun to watch.”
After a Newport (4-4, 2-3) punt, the Wolves put themselves in position to seal the win, driving all the way down to the Newport 1-yard line before a series of false start and delay of game penalties forced Eastlake to attempt a 27-yard field goal on fourth-and-goal. Kicker Devon DeAlteris’ attempt went wide-right, and the Knights had one final chance to even the score, taking over with just 1:31 left to play.
“These guys haven’t given up all year long,” Miller said. “There’s just no give up in any of these guys.”
The Knights drove to the Eastlake 41-yard line when freshman quarterback Isaac Dotson’s pass attempt on fourth-and-two to James Dupar was broken up Eastlake cornerback Daniel Jackstadt. The Wolves needed only to take two knees to end the game.
Eastlake will face Crown Division No. 2 Inglemoor at noon Saturday at Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell in a loser-out game. The Knights play Roosevelt the same day in a crossover game at 5 p.m. at Seattle Memorial Stadium.
“When you have it so close, and it’s right there…it’s just tough to swallow,” Miller said.
Newport 6, Redmond 0
The Knights won the opening game of the three-team tiebreaker, 6-0 over Redmond. The Knight’s scored the only touchdown of the game with 9:12 left in the first half when Quarre broke free for a 22-yard touchdown run.
Redmond (2-6, 2-3) committed five turnovers – two on fumbles, and three on downs. They will face Lake Washington in a crossover game Friday.
