State 1B football: Maguire Isaak piles up record numbers in Almira/Coulee-Hartline’s title win

TACOMA – Maguire Isaak was responsible for so many points Friday afternoon at the Tacoma Dome, he doesn’t have a favorite play.

“I don’t remember, honestly,” the junior Almira/Coulee-Hartline quarterback said after a record-setting performance while leading his Warriors to the State 1B football title over Sunnyside Christian with an 84-60 decision that wasn’t as close as it appeared.

Isaak accounted for 80 of those points, including eight passing touchdowns and four rushing scores. That’s a state 8-man football championship game record, as were the 84 points ACH scored, the teams’ combined 144 points and Isaak’s 611 yards of total offense.

“Whatever it takes, right?” said ACH coach Brandon Walsh, who led the Warriors to their third state title. “My defensive coordinator had multiple strokes on the sideline giving up all those points.

“That’s quite an accomplishment if we set that (scoring) record. That doesn’t happen very often. It’s cool.”

The Warriors (12-2) were looking to avenge a season-opening loss to the Knights (13-1), one in which they held a 20-12 lead at halftime before losing 34-20.

So it would make sense if they weren’t entirely comfortable with their 34-22 halftime lead Friday.

But once Isaak uncorked a 91-yard quarterback keeper for a score late in the third quarter for a 64-30 lead, all fears were eased.

Backed up against their goal line after recovering a fumble on their 2-yard line, Walsh went conservative.

“I called three middle runs to get us some breathing space,” Walsh said, “and then (Isaak) broke two tackles and took it 91.”

The 91-yard run was a capstone for Isaak’s impressive performance. He finished with 243 rushing yards on 26 carries, and he completed 21 of 41 passes for 368 yards.

Senior running back Parker Zappone was on the receiving end of four of Isaak’s eight passing touchdowns. He finished with 188 receiving yards on six catches, and he had 103 rushing yards on 18 carries.

Isaak grew up in the ACH football program, starting as a water boy in first grade and staying involved since. He played a bit part when his older cousin, Dallas Isaak, led the Warriors to a state title in 2015.

“It’s just been a dream to win a state championship as a quarterback,” Isaak said. “It’s just special being on the field.”

This year’s Warriors expected to win the state title, unlike the 2015 title team that had won two games the season before.

“We set those kind of goals Day One,” Walsh said. “I’m proud of them in a different kind of way.”