SEATTLE — A fourth-quarter scoop and score gave Tumwater life late on Saturday in Seattle, but the T-Birds lost the 2A State Championship 35-20 to Archbishop Murphy..
Early on, it looked like the Wildcats were going to roll to a state title. After forcing a three-and-out to start the game, they marched right down the field to take a 7-0 lead, and they made it 14-0 shortly after Tumwater turned the ball over on downs on its next drive.
The T-Birds settled in, getting a couple stops on defense before Jaxon Budd hit Wyatt Chase for a 12-yard touchdown to cap a 17-play scoring drive just before the break.
On AM’s first drive of the second half, Ethan Bello came away with an interception in the end zone to prevent the Wildcats from adding on to their lead, but the Wildcats were able to tack on anyway with a touchdown late in the third.
Early in the fourth, Archbishop Murphy pushed their lead to 21 with a scoop and score.
Tumwater responded, as Budd hit Evan Baxter with a 36-yard touchdown pass, and the T-Birds recovered the ensuing onside kick. With ten minutes remaining, the T-Birds still had 10 minutes to come up with two scores, but they went four-and-out on the possession.
The Thunderbirds got a scoop and score of their own though and another turnover on downs later in the quarter. The 86-yard return from Mason Houskeeper put Tumwater back within eight, but a Jack Sievers receiving touchdown put the Wildcats up 15 with less than three minutes to play.
Full story to come.
