Heraldnet.com
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2009 12:57 pm
LocalNorthwestNation & WorldPoliticsSpecial ReportsPhotosColumnistsMultimedia 
Blog
Double Team
UPDATE: Live at the Tacoma Dome: Archbishop Murphy (11-1) vs. Lynden (11-1) in the 2A state football semifinals
Podcasts:

High School Football
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Twitter Updates
    Latest gallery

    Archbishop Murphy Football Nov. 28
    November 28. 2009 (14 photos)
    [More Herald photos]
     
    WEEK IN REVIEW
    Saturday
    Fire rips through Everett paintball arena
    Everett building rules may be loosened
    Contest inspired by ‘Biggest Loser' helps...
    Friday
    Trooper rear-ended by suspected drunk driver no...
    Democrats split over choice for Snohomish Count...
    Thanksgiving tradition flourishes at Everett ch...
    Thursday


    Truck crash near Marysville ties up northbound ...
    When taggers strike in Everett, city picks up t...
    Kids talk turkey: What Thanksgiving is all about
    Wednesday
    County law could change to allow guns in parks
    Boy, 16, admits role in Sultan slaying of teen
    Swift buses ready for fast lane
    Tuesday


    Father guilty of manslaughter in girl's death
    Snohomish County budget passes, with a caveat
    Soldier with ties to Marysville killed in Afgha...
    Monday


    Economy may silence Everett Symphony's season
    Inmates with mental illness bring extra costs t...
    Help with heating bills late to arrive this year
    Sunday


    Nurse seeks help healing hidden wounds of wars
    Count drags on long after the election's over
    Groups work to help those in uniform
     

    ADVERTISEMENT

    High Schools   Print This Article  Email This Page  Subscribe Now! facebook digg reddit del.icio.us fark stumble

    Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald  (click to enlarge)
    Archbishop Murphy’s Keola Wilkins leaves Mount Baker defenders in his wake on a first-quarter run. The Wildcats rushed for a total of 369 yards Friday.
     
    ADVERTISEMENT

     
    HIGH SCHOOL SCORES AND SCHEDULES:
    By sport:
    By date:
    By school:    • Stadium map
    By league:
    STANDINGS:
    CONTACT THE HERALD
    Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.)
    E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com
    Kevin Brown, Sports Editor
    kbrown@heraldnet.com
     
    Published: Saturday, November 7, 2009

    Archbishop Murphy grinds its way to state

    The Wildcats’ running game, defense punish Mount Baker in 28-0 victory

    SNOHOMISH — Archbishop Murphy is headed back to the 2A state tournament for the second consecutive year after the Wildcats chewed up Mount Baker’s defensive line with a punishing ground game in a 28-0 win in a 2A District 1 playoff game Friday night at Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium.

    The Wildcats (9-1 overall) battered Mount Baker (5-5) with attrition and superior depth at running back — seven players combined for 46 rushes for 369 yards and three touchdowns.

    “We knew we had to come out and play physical to compete and that’s what we did,” said Archbishop Murphy senior running back Alex Martinez, who scored on a 1-yard dive in the second quarter and finished the game with 89 yards on 13 carries.

    Martinez also threw an inconsequential interception on a half-back pass with 18 seconds to play in the second quarter.

    Perhaps more impressive, and more important to the Wildcats players and coaches, was the defensive shutout.

    “I like the shutout (more than the strong running attack), personally, because we’ve been struggling defensively lately, giving up plays that we shouldn’t have and I think we played a really solid game defensively and I’m proud of our team,” Martinez said.

    Senior Jacob Clark grabbed two interceptions and the Wildcats defense held Mount Baker to just 137 rushing yards and nine first downs. The Mountaineers were forced to punt five times.

    “I was really pleased with the defense,” Archbishop Murphy head coach Dave Ward said. “They didn’t allow any big plays ... I think the shutout is a big deal because it give the defense some pride in a great effort.”

    The Mountaineers were without senior starting running back David Kashubin (894 rushing yards, nine touchdowns) due to a sprained ankle suffered in last week’s win over Squalicum. Also out of the lineup was Mount Baker’s starting offensive center with a broken thumb suffered a day earlier in practice, but head coach Ron Lepper didn’t use missing players for an excuse.

    “I thought we were in position a couple of times to make some plays and we missed the tackles and they were able to capitalize on that,” Lepper said.

    Archbishop Murphy running backs Clark and Blake Torres used their speed to get around the ends for big gains. Clark finished with 77 yards on eight rushes and Torres had 84 yards on eight carries, including two touchdowns.

    “We just didn’t get where we needed to be a couple times,” Lepper said of trying to contain Archbishop Murphy’s outside running game.

    Torres capped a five-play, 88-yard opening drive with a 33-yard touchdown run for the Wildcats with 5 minutes, 43 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

    The speedy 6-foot senior added another score, a 4-yard run, with 8:54 remaining in the third quarter.

    Martinez, Archbishop Murphy’s inside runner along with Keola Wilkins (53 rushing yards, four carries), took a lot of the focus in the first half as the Mountaineers tried to contain the Wildcats rushers.

    “They were shutting us down in between the tackles on a lot of plays,” said Martinez, whose second quarter touchdown was his 10th of the season. “I was getting a little frustrated because I kept getting stopped, but that opened up our outside plays for our other backs.”

    For Mount Baker, running back Levi Wigg had 47 yards on six carries, Nick Jacoby had 30 yards on 13 carries and Kurtis Zender finished with 38 yards on 13 carries. The Mountaineers managed just 3.9 yards per carry, while Archbishop Murphy finished with an average of eight yards per carry.

    “I think the confidence is there (heading into the playoffs),” Ward, Archbishop Murphy’s second-year coach said of the Wildcats, who are now 5-1 and outscoring opponents 231-43 in 2A district qualifying games while reaching the state tournament five out of the last six seasons. “We just have to continue to move the momentum in the right direction.”

    The Wildcats play against an opponent yet to be determined at 7 p.m. Friday at Frank Goddard Stadium in Mukilteo in the first round of the 2A state tournament.

    At Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium

    Mt. Baker 0 0 0 0 — 0

    A. Murphy 7 7 7 7 — 28

    A. Murphy—Torres 33 run (Briede kick)

    A. Murphy—A. Martinez 1 run (Briede kick)

    A. Murphy—Torres 4 run (Briede kick)

    A. Murphy—Schireman 13 pass from VanderWel (Briede kick)

    Records—Mt. Baker 5-5 overall. Archbishop Murphy 9-1.

    READER COMMENTS
    Be the first to comment.
    You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet.

    To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click hereLog out

    1. I-5 crash injures Washington State Patrol trooper
    2. Map of Everett in 1893 a gift to Northwest Neighborhood residents
    3. Marysville 's Electric Lights Parade goes dark
    4. Lynnwood couple’s fight ends in woman’s arrest
    5. Mill Creek church uses tattoos to teach
    6. Does today’s Huskies-Cougars Apple Cup or Sunday’s Seahawks-Rams NFL game merit your attention?
    7. Fire rips through Everett paintball arena
    8. Contest inspired by ‘Biggest Loser' helps Mill Creek neighbors
    9. Everett building rules may be loosened
    10. Brown paper bags for fans
    Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
    Ruling in the pool
    Holiday Lightings & Santa Sightings
    Archbishop Murphy takes title
    A season of performing arts
    Budget numbers have official fuming
    Wildcats move on to 2A semifinals
    Holiday Bazaars & Fairs Calendar
    Edmonds’ Westgate Chapel serves up hospitality for holiday
    Mavericks fall
    The Enterprise Online Newspaper


    $5 Off
    Stylecut

    $2 OFF
    at Box Office

    Over 1 Million Lights
    Lights of Christmas

    Nutcracker
    Family Packs Available

    $1 off French Dip
    $4.99 Burger Basket

    Always Free
    Transmission Diagnostic

    Buy 1 Dinner Entree
    Get 2nd 50% Off

    20% Off Dinner
    Up to $75 Value!

    Oil - Snohomish County
    Low Prices - Fill Now!

    Lube, Oil & Filter
    Buy 1 - Get 1 FREE

    25% off Bath & Groom
    New Customers

    Holiday Specials
    up to 25% off!

    Buy 1 Get 1 FREE
    Lube Oil Filter

    15% Off
    All Repairs!

    FREE 6 lb. Pad w/
    30yd Carpet Purchase

    75% OFF
    Many Items. Hurry!

    Holiday Getaway
    $99 dbl Occupancy
    TODAY'S TOP JOBS
     View All Top Jobs 
    Top Cars
    Top Homes

    ADVERTISEMENT