Bears Hope They Saved The Best For Last CV Meets South Kitsap For State Championship
For the past month, Central Valley’s seniors entered each football playoff game knowing it might be their last.
“Our motto the whole time was, ‘Don’t let this be your last game, let it be your best.”’ said Bears coach Rick Giampietri.
This Saturday night in the Tacoma Dome, CV plays in the finale of Gridiron Classic, the six-game state championships. The final game of the 1997 football season will truly be the seniors’ final game.
“Hopefully,” said Giampietri, “it will also be our best.”
The Bears, who meet South Kitsap for the 4A championship, are only the second school from the Greater Spokane League ever to play for a state title.
They got there with a dazzling defensive performance to beat Puyallup 10-0 in last Saturday’s semifinal.
The Vikings had been unbeaten in 12 games and scored more than 50 points in half of those.
Against the Bears, Puyallup managed just 129 yards of total offense. The three big plays Puyallup had were followed by three even bigger turnovers.
Following a 46-yard completion, Wil Beck forced a fumble that Garret Graham scooped up and legged 76 yards for the deciding secondquarter touchdown.
In the third quarter, starting at CV’s 36 following a pass interference call, Nate McFarlane intercepted Luke Huard’s pass.
“I’m not sure that wasn’t a product of our defensive pressure,” said Giampietri.
Then in the fourth quarter, when it finally appeared Puyallup might break through, Ryan Nelson forced a fumble on a pass catch deep in CV territory and Zac Scott recovered the ball.
“Ryan’s hit was huge. His helmet was right on the football,” said Giampietri. “I don’t know if he did it on purpose.”
It was, said CV football players past who were in attendance at Joe Albi Stadium to witness their alma mater make history, a wonderfully conceived game plan and exciting game. They couldn’t fault the conservative offense that avoided mistakes and allowed the defense to do its thing.
The Bear defensive front of Marc Hinckley, Colin White, Brandon Bouge and Beck kept incredible pressure on Huard. Linebackers Graham, Patrick Libey and Courtney Brown pitched in. Corners McFarlane and Scott dogged Puyallup’s talented receivers.
“Once we got the 10-point lead,” said Giampietri, “we basically tried not to lose it.”
These are exciting and hectic times for athletes and coaches alike.
Giampietri hasn’t slept all week and has been barraged by phone calls from the media and well-wishers.
On Tuesday, Andy Gutman stopped by CV to offer his congratulations. Gutman had played for Giampietri when he was an assistant at Lewis and Clark in 1978, the year the Tigers reached the semifinals before losing in overtime 3-0.
That team included Ray Cattage who played at the University of Washington, and Dan and Pat Lynch who played at Washington State.
“It was a real heartbreak,” Gutman told CV players. “I think about it often. But it was a thrill to get there.”
For the players, it took a few hours for Saturday’s accomplishment to sink in.
“It didn’t until I got home,” said offensive tackle Chris Sullivan. “I couldn’t believe it.”
Even if they do lose, these Bears stand on the threshold of the heretofore unreachable. Only Gonzaga Prep, with five finals appearances, has gotten this far from the GSL.
“It’s always been our goal, but it’s also a dream come true,” said Graham. “Now this is our last game and we’ll approach it like that.”
By giving it their best.
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