SNOHOMISH — For most of two quarters, it was back-and-forth battle between the Lynnwood and Glacier Peak high school football teams.
For the final two quarters, it was all Glacier Peak.
The Grizzlies broke open a tight game with an explosive third period, scoring 17 unanswered points on the way to a 30-6 Wesco 3A victory over the visiting Royals in a showdown of unbeaten teams at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Glacier Peak’s defense came up with three turnovers — two interceptions and a recovered fumble — to set up short scoring drives in the third quarter. The first interception led to a field goal by place-kicker Spencer Pettit, and the second interception and the subsequent fumble set up touchdown drives of 45 and 4 yards.
“(The Royals) gave us a fight for four quarters,” Glacier Peak head coach Rory Rosenbach said. “They’re a good football team and they’re going to win some games. Coach (Keauntea) Bankhead is doing a great job, they’re on the right path and they’re going to keep getting better.
“But our kids battled and fought, and we were able to get a little lead in the second half and get a win,” Rosenbach said.
Glacier Peak scored on its opening possession, going 66 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. Wide receiver Matthew Darling covered the final 12 yards on an end sweep, giving the Grizzlies a 6-0 lead (a PAT pass failed) barely two minutes into the game.
Lynnwood went three-and-out on its first possession, but the Royals struck on their second with a march set up by their defense. After Glacier Peak reached the Lynnwood 11-yard line, the Royals put pressure on Grizzlies quarterback Brady Southard and his pass was intercepted at the 6-yard line by defensive back Carson Hoerner and returned to the Glacier Peak 47.
After three plays netted 8 yards, the Royals went on fourth-and-2, and running back Andrew Katzenberger shot through a seam in the middle of the line and rambled 39 yards for the tying touchdown (the PAT kick was blocked).
Glacier Peak got the go-ahead touchdown midway through the second period with an eight-play, 85-yard scoring drive. The final play was a 45-yard scoring pass from Southard to wide receiver Kyle Umperovitch, who got a big block from teammate Justin Guffey near the 30-yard line to spring Umperovitch clear down the right sideline.
Guffey, also a defensive back, had both interceptions in a span of four minutes to start the third quarter. That set up 10 quick points for the Grizzlies, and a bad Lynnwood snap over the head of quarterback Justin Cachopo was recovered by Glacier Peak’s Andrew McCoy, leading to the game’s final touchdown, a 4-yard dash around left end by Umperovitch later in the third period.
Glacier Peak’s defense, meanwhile, kept Lynnwood’s offense in check after halftime, only allowing the Royals to cross midfield on their final possession in the game’s final moments.
“Our defense has been great all season long,” Rosenbach said. “We gave up a few yards between the 30s, but they do a great job of bowing their neck when we get down close to the end zone.”
Though pleased to be 3-0, Rosenbach said his team still has areas it needs to improve.
“We have a lot of potential,” he said, “but we also have a long way to go. (Lynnwood) was a good football team, but I don’t think we played nearly as well as we’re capable of. So hopefully this serves as a reminder that we’ve got to keep getting better every single week.”
Glacier Peak’s Pettit had a chance to show off his strong right leg with field goal attempts of 56, 54 and 52 yards. All the kicks were just a few yards short, landing near the back of the end zone, but Pettit was good from 41 yards early in the third period.
At Veterans Memorial Stadium, Snohomish
Lynnwood 6 0 0 0 — 6
Glacier Peak 6 7 17 0 — 30
Glacier Peak—Matthew Darling 12 run (pass failed)
Lynnwood—Andrew Katzenberger 39 run (kick blocked)
Glacier Peak—Kyle Umperovitch 45 pass from Brady Southard (Spencer Pettit kick)
Glacier Peak—41 FG Spencer Pettit
Glacier Peak—Cole McFadden 18 run (Spencer Pettit kick)
Glacier Peak—Kyle Umperovitch 4 run (Spencer Pettit kick)
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