Mistakes cost Eagles in 35-14 loss to Curtis

By CASEY OLSON

The Mirror

The Federal Way Eagles just made too many mistakes Friday night and it cost them. The 5-1 Curtis Vikings beat up the Eagles at Federal Way Memorial Stadium, 35-14. The loss dropped Federal Way to 3-3 in the South Puget Sound League South Division and was their second in a row. A week ago, the Eagles were manhandled by first-place Puyallup, 34-0. The Eagles opened the season with a loss to the 5-1 Rogers Rams.

The Curtis defense forced the Eagles into four turnovers, including an interception return for a touchdown in the first minute of the game. The Vikings went on to build a 14-0 lead halfway through the first quarter. Federal Way did battle back to pull to 14-6 at halftime.

But Brandon Blanks was too much in the second half of play. The Viking junior running back finished the night with four touchdowns, including three in the second half. Blanks had 83 yards on 22 carries and Viking quarterback Jordan Rasmussen was 13-of-16 passing for 173 yards and a touchdown.

Federal Way’s Lennie Williams, who earlier in the game blocked a field-goal attempt, returned an interception 75 yards in the fourth quarter for the Eagles’ second touchdown.

Federal Way was playing without its leading rusher Victor Williams, who was averaging well over 100 yards a game and ran for 268 in a win over Jefferson Sept. 23.

The Eagles still have an outside shot at one of the SPSL South’s three berths into the postseason, but will most likely have to win their last three games and hope for losses by Curtis, Rogers (5-1) or Puyallup (6-0).

Federal Way will take on the 1-5 Todd Beamer Titans at Federal Way Memorial Stadium Friday night and finish the season with Bethel (1-5) and Decatur (1-5).

Emerald Ridge 7, Jefferson 6 (Friday)

The Thomas Jefferson Raiders missed out on a big opportunity Friday night against the Emerald Ridge Jaguars, losing 7-6 at Sparks Stadium. The loss drops Jefferson to 2-4 in the SPSL South.

The Raiders seemed poised to tie the game after driving 80 yards in the final two minutes of the game. Quarterback Taylor Stark connected with senior Josh Hauck for a 9-yard touchdown pass, but TJ failed to convert the extra point. The Raider holder bobbled the possible game-tying snap.

The Jefferson defense played its best game in recent memory against Emerald Ridge (3-3). The Raiders held the Jaguars scoreless until senior running back Neko Doy tallied his 14th touchdown of the season with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to give Emerald Ridge the 7-0 lead. Doy finished the game with 124 yards on 24 carries.

After giving up 107 points in their first four games of the season, the TJ defense has allowed only 14 points in their last two, including a 34-7 win over Bethel Oct. 1.

The defense will have another tough test Friday night when they travel to Sparks Stadium to take on the fourth-ranked Puyallup Vikings. Puyallup is unbeaten and features an offense that is averaging over 33 points a game.

Rogers 31, Decatur 0 (Thursday)

For the second time in their last three games the Decatur Gators were shut out. Thursday night the Rogers Rams rolled over the Gators, 31-0, at Sparks Stadium. The win improved the Rams to 5-1 and dropped Decatur to 1-5.

The Gators’ offense just could never get anything going against the Rogers’ defense. Decatur was held to a three-and-out on nine of their 11 drives.

Rogers got three touchdown passes from Tyler Bowen and running back Zach Hulce had 90 yards and a touchdown.

The Rams blew the game open in the second half. Rogers led only 7-0 at halftime, but made it 14-0 on the first play of the second half when Bowen hit Brett McKechnie on a 69-yard touchdown pass. The Rams went on to score 17 third-quarter points.

The Gators will host the 3-3 Emerald Ridge Jaguars Thursday night at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.

Spanaway Lake 27, Beamer 14 (Thursday)

The Todd Beamer Titans fell to 1-5 in the SPSL South with a 27-14 loss to Spanaway Lake Thursday night at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.

Chase Dutcher threw two touchdown passes, including a backbreaker with 58 seconds to go in the first half as the Sentinels won an SPSL South contest at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.

Beamer’s Cole Bixenman ran for a score, tossed a touchdown strike and totaled 260 yards, including 99 on the ground.

Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com

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