The Bellevue Wolverines football team may have registered a convincing 38-0 victory against the Sumner Spartans in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs on Nov. 14, but that doesn’t mean they were satisfied with their performance. Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff and his staff’s expectations never waver despite piling up victories.
“We didn’t play that well. The scoreboard indicated we did and at times we did some good things but it was not good enough to get where we want to go. We have to get a lot better. It all starts in practice this week,” Goncharoff said.
Bellevue wide receiver/defensive back Tyren Sams relishes playing for a coaching staff that expects the best from each and every player on a daily basis.
“It’s all about practice. Butch (Goncharoff) always talks about hard work and effort. That is what he cares about. He tells us to go out there and try our hardest. That’s how we do it,” Sams said.
Bellevue dominated the line of scrimmage against Sumner on both sides of the ball. Sam Richmond, Ercle Terrell and Justus Rogers scored rushing touchdowns for Bellevue. Rogers connected with Josh Satterlee on a 41-yard touchdown pass and Tyson Penn on a 4-yard touchdown pass as well. Rogers credited the Bellevue offensive and defensive line’s for doing their jobs to the maximum of their abilities.
“They are so important to both sides of the ball. They are what makes everything work first and foremost. We had so many key blocks tonight,” Rogers said. “When I scored on my 25-yard touchdown run I thought I was about to get tackled but then Henry Roberts (UW-bound offensive lineman) just opened up a huge hole. It opened up like the Red Sea. It was just a great game overall. We’re just playing our game and are playing Bellevue football.”
The Wolverines (11-0) will host the Peninsula Seahawks in the Class 3A quarterfinals at 7 p.m. on Nov 21 in Bellevue. Sumner head coach Keith Ross said Bellevue executed as well as any high school football team he’s ever seen. The Spartans finished the 2014 season with an overall record of 6-5.
“There’s a reason why they only have lost one game in the past 10 years. They are even more dynamite in person then they are on film. You can’t get a grasp of their size and athleticism on film. They are very impressive,” Ross said. “We’re a program on the rise and if you’re going to learn from anyone, you might as well learn from Bellevue. It was a good experience.”
Sumner senior wide receiver Triston Wedington said his team gave it everything they had against the powerful Wolverines.
“We kept running plays 100-percent and didn’t give up one time. Coming out here and playing a top-10 team in the nation is just amazing. It’s a tough loss, but the journey we had to get to where we played Bellevue was unbelievable.”
Wedington said he will miss playing for Ross.
“The way he coaches the game is different from any other coach that is out there. He gives the team so much energy. We feed off of that and go out and play our hardest,” Wedington said. “One thing he always talks about the most is family. We know he loves us.”
Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com
