It won’t get any more perfect

TACOMA – The numbers were memorable.

On the scoreboard: LaCrosse-Washtucna 56, Columbia (Hunters) 8.

On the Tigercats’ hands, raised in front of the cheering section at the Tacoma Dome: four fingers, symbolizing four consecutive State B-8 championships.

On the T-shirts handed out to the players Friday night: 48 straight, under the line “The Dome is Our Home.”

But what was really memorable to the group of 10 LaCrosse-Washtucna seniors who never lost a high school football game: “This is the best moment and the saddest moment of my life,” said one of those 10, 6-foot, 285-pound lineman Kellen Hays, who forced Columbia’s first fumble and recovered its second. “It’s sad. Like, when someone leaves a family and it breaks apart – sad like that. That’s what we are, a family. But we broke up on a win.”

Just like the previous 47 consecutive games.

“They were definitely focused and ready for this from the get-go,” said Tigercats coach Jeff Nelson, architect of the state record-tying win streak, first set by Toledo between 1965 and 1970. “It was definitely one of my worries, that we would take Hunters lightly. But nobody wanted to let those 10 seniors down.

“You know another (win) would be nice, but the most important thing was to get four (titles) in a row so these seniors could leave perfect.”

The perfect ending – and perfect high school career – was built up front, where the Tigercats (13-0) were like “men playing against boys,” according to Columbia coach Chuck Wyborney and it was obvious which the Lions (12-1) were. “They’ve got two linebackers who are going to play at the Division I level. You don’t see that at the B-8 level, ever.”

One of those backers, senior Matt Martin (6-3, 225) helped L-W limit Lions running back Miles St. John most of the night.

But St. John, who came in with 2,599 rushing yards, did break loose in the third quarter for a 62-yard scoring run before finishing with 127 yards on 22 carries.

“Our entire game plan was to make sure he didn’t run wild against us,” Nelson said, before being asked about the scoring run. “That’s 8-man football. If he only gets one, you’re OK.”

Especially when you start hot, a necessity in the first B-8 title game pitting undefeated teams since 1999.

After punting on their first possession, the Tigercats scored on their next four before intermission, with Martin gathering in the first, a 25-yard scoring toss from Jared Ayers-Stamper, the junior QB who finished 8 of 8 for 177 yards.

Martin caught seven of those for 148 yards and also ran back a third-quarter punt 66 yards for another score.

But two scores only made him second-best for L-W on the evening. The number to beat was four, as in Jeff Bafus’ scoring runs.

The 6-1, 235-pound senior was playing his third game at fullback and he powered his way to a 23-yard first-quarter score, a 13-yarder in the second and a 7-yarder in the third. All of that eased Nelson’s mind.

“It was nice to put it away early, unlike last year,” said Nelson, alluding to his Tigercats falling behind 12-0 to Columbia in the 2005 final before scoring the next 60 points.

“We were in complete control every down. We’re just so big and physical.

“Jeff is one of those big and physical guys. His playing fullback gives us a whole other dimension.”

As if the Tigercats needed it.

Bafus, who wears No. 65 because he was a lineman before moving back, helped spring Tyler Martin for 85 yards on 16 carries.

But that was 53 yards less than Bafus finished with, including the game-ender with 8:52 left in the fourth.

Leading 50-8 and deep in their territory, the Tigercats’ Bafus took a handoff, ran through two Lions – giving him at least a dozen broken tackles – and sprinted 74 yards to end it because of the 45-point B-8 mercy rule.

“All I could think about while I was running was ‘four in a row, four in a row,’ ” Bafus said, before pausing and laughing. “I was also thinking, I hope no one catches me.”

No one did, and now no one has caught the Tigercats since Inchelium won 38-28 in the semifinals of the 2001 tournament.

“We’ve had the same game plan since I’ve been here,” Bafus said. “We try to dominate up front and we hit everyone as hard as we can.”

It’s worked 48 times in a row.

“When Jeff was running, the crowd was screaming so loud it was unbelievable,” Hays said. “I’ll never forget it. What a great memory.”

3A: Ferndale 47, Prosser 12

University of Washington-bound Jake Locker and Ferndale turned what was supposed to be a close game into a rout.

The senior quarterback, who has committed to play his college football for the Huskies, accounted for four touchdowns, leading the Golden Eagles to a 47-12 victory over outmatched Prosser for the State 3A championship in the Tacoma Dome.

The game figured to be even between Ferndale (14-0) and Prosser (13-2) since the Mustangs knocked four-time defending 3A champion Bellevue out of the playoffs in a quarterfinal game.

Bellevue beat the Locker-led Golden Eagles 31-28 in last year’s championship game.