Aaa Champs Return To Title Game

Jake Sampson scored on a 16-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the winning TD as defending champion Curtis beat Tumwater 13-12 Friday night in a Class AAA state high school semifinal game in the Tacoma Dome.

Sampson’s run came on fourt-hand-1 with 10:52 to go in the contest.

Tumwater (11-1), which won the Class AAA title in 1993, moved the ball down the field on its next possession, but that drive stalled at the Curtis 35.

A 52-yard field goal attempt by John Burbidge fell well short with 1:58 left and Curtis ran out the clock.

The game featured five turnovers, including four on five plays in the second quarter. Both teams had TD passes nullified by penalties.

Curtis (12-1) which also won Class AAA state titles in 1989 and 1990, will play the winner of today’s other semifinal between South Kitsap (12-0) and Richland (10-2).

Class AA

Charles Kentfield rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns to lead Capital to a 35-14 victory over Stanwood in a semifinal game in the Tacoma Dome.

Kentfield rushed 25 times and scored on runs of 2, 1 and 46 yards as Capital (12-1) amassed 401 yards on the ground. Stanwood (10-2) was making its first playoff appearance since 1973 when it finished second.

The Cougars from Olympia will face the winner of today’s other semifinal between Rainier Beach (9-2) and West Valley of Yakima (10-0) at Kennewick.

Capital put away the game midway through the fourth quarter after Stanwood got within seven at 21-14.

Quarterback Darren Tinnerstet’s 2-yard run and extra point by Brian Reed capped a 16-play drive that ate up nearly 6-1/2 minutes.

The Cougars, making their sixth consecutive playoff appearance, dominated the first half and led 21-6.

Class A

Kyle Wallace’s 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down with 28 seconds left gave Toledo a 20-19 victory over Meridian in a semifinal in the Tacoma Dome.

Toledo (12-1) will take on the winner of today’s game pitting Cascade of Leavenworth (11-0) and Royal (11-0). Meridian finished at 11-1.

Meridian, from Whatcom County, took a 19-14 lead with 5:21 left in the third quarter when quarterback Jeff Kratzig scored on a 13-yard keeper. Ryan Bauthues made the extra point.

Toledo took the ball on its last possession at its own 25 and drove it 75 yards in 14 plays for the game-winning touchdown.

Class B-11

Senior Duncan Bagley rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown and Willapa Valley overcame a strong fourthquarter comeback by Morton to win a semifinal in the Tacoma Dome.

Willapa Valley (12-0) will play the winner of today’s matchup between DeSales (10-1) and Republic (11-0) at Albi Stadium.

Morton ended its season at 11-1.

Bagley’s 20-yard touchdown run with 27 seconds left in the third quarter, capped by Eric Clement’s third extra point of the game, put the Vikings up 21-0.

That helped keep Willapa Valley ahead as Morton rallied near the end of the game on two TD passes from Curt Storm to Jeremy Armstrong.

An 18-yard Storm-to-Armstrong connection made it 21-7 after Nick Steele’s PAT with 6:39 remaining. The two hooked up again on a 92-yard pass play with 1:38 left, but that was the Huskies’ last possession.