Fumble ends Ferris’ playoff run

Ferris football finally couldn’t find a way.

A team that always managed to handle everything thrown at it no matter the circumstances this season, was undone by the cruelest twist of fate.

The Saxons (12-1), knocking on visiting Bothell’s goal line, lost a fumble with 17 seconds remaining to lose its only game this year, 14-7 Saturday in the State 4A football semifinals at Albi Stadium.

Bothell had scored to break a long-standing tie with 3:36 left in the fourth quarter, but Ferris had moved 76 yards and was just a yard away from forcing overtime.

Quarterback Jeff Minnerly completed eight passes on the drive, including one on a marvelous fourth-down diving grab by Shawn Stockton.

But on first down he lost the handle on the snap, linebacker Rami Salha fell on the ball and dashed the Saxons’ dreams of a date in next weekend’s Gridiron Classic title game.

Ferris coach Jim Sharkey was visibly distraught afterward.

“It’s going to be a hard pill to swallow,” he said. “These are two good football teams. They made one more play than us, I guess.”

Sharkey said earlier in the week turnovers would decide the game between two similar teams, and he proved prophetic.

The Cougars (13-0) struggled through a mistake-plagued first half, an interception leading directly to Ferris’ touchdown, and the Saxons returned the favor in the second half, turning the ball over three times.

“We had two turnovers and five penalties in the first quarter,” said Bothell coach Tom Bainter. “I felt if we could protect the football and not make mistakes, we’d be fine. They turned the ball over in the second half and kind of evened things out – none more big than that last one, obviously.”

Their final total offense totals were similar and neither could mount much of a running attack, although the visiting Cougars were scarily efficient during a 75-yard drive for a day’s initial score.

In a game witnessed by 3,817 on a frigid Spokane afternoon, Bothel quarterback Johnny Hekker threw key completions of 34 and 24 yards to backs Cory Burk and Patrick Otterbech, the latter on third down. He also hit for 26 on a wide-open backside screen that prolonged the scoring march.

Bothell’s defense, led by the omnipresent Otterbech, clamped down on the Saxons passing game. Minnerly’s first pass completion did not come until 2:22 remained in the first quarter.

“We played ‘cover two’ and wanted to show some pressure,” said Bainter. “We didn’t want to give up big plays.”

But the Cougars were beset by 79 yards worth of penalties and turned the ball over on a fumble to Stockton and Beau Brett’s interception thanks to a wicked hit on Hekker by Elliott Bosch as he released the ball.

Brett’s interception set up the Saxons at the Bothell 16 before quarter’s end. Minnerly hit Jared Karstetter for the tying TD 5 seconds into the second period.

The Saxons took the tie into intermission, then came out and put together an impressive 15-play drive that consumed 8 minutes. Bothell escaped when Dexter Belling narrowly missed a 34-yard field goal.

Ferris got the ball on Brett’s fumble recovery near midfield early in the fourth quarter, only to turn it back over four plays later.

And if Hekker’s arm proved valuable, his foot was even more so, with a 37-yard punt that pinned Ferris back at its 4. Bothell had good field position at the Saxon 45 when it got the ball back. Hekker immediately hit Burk on a quick out that he took 28 yards, and four plays later, the Cougars had the lead.

There was no quit in the Saxons, who used 20 plays to position themselves for the tie. It simply wasn’t meant to be.

“Unfortunately for them and fortunately for us there was the fumbled snap down there,” said Bainter. “I didn’t want to play overtime.”

Afterward, Sharkey applauded the Ferris season.

“I’m just proud of the kids and the way they played all year,” he said. “They played their hearts out today.”