After a slow start, the Todd Beamer Titans football team got on track in the second half and buried Emerald Ridge, 42-7, Saturday night at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.
The game was the South Puget Sound League South Division openers for the two teams, both of which finished near the bottom of the division last year. But Beamer was undoubtedly the better squad Saturday night on both sides of the ball. The Titans, however, struggled in the first half of play, especially taking care of the ball.
Beamer turned the ball over a total of five times during the game, including three interceptions and two fumbles. But Emerald Ridge was never really able to take advantage of the Titans’ miscues thanks, in large part, to Beamer’s hard-hitting defense.
Emerald Ridge did get on the board first Saturday after tallying the first touchdown of the game. But the Titans reeled off the next 42 points to blow away the Jaguars.
Emerald Ridge’s only score of the night came during the first quarter when Clay Wilcox recovered a Beamer fumble in the endzone after the Titans’ snap sailed over the punter’s head.
But it was all Beamer from there. Senior quarterback TJ Esekielu had a solid game on the ground. Esekielu finished with a pair of electric touchdown runs during the Titans’ 28-point third quarter. He scored on runs of 17 and 20 yards to break a 7-7 halftime tie.
Beamer’s lone first-half touchdown came on a 6-yard run from senior tailback Terrance Salazar in the second quarter. Salazar also scored from 25 yards out in the third quarter to put the Titans up 28-7.
Beamer’s final two scores of the game came on a highlight-reel, one-handed interception from senior linebacker Nicky Fuallaau and a 42-yard run from senior speedster Dominique Maxie. Fuallaau’s touchdown came from 12 yards out.
The Titans will face their first big test of the season Friday night when they travel to Graham to take on the Bethel Braves. Bethel will be hungry to get back on track after they were beaten up by the Permian (Tex.) Panthers in their opener, 39-21. The Braves travelled to West Texas on Sept. 2 to take on the football program that was featured in the movie and best-selling book, “Friday Night Lights.”
Bethel played last weeks game in front of close to 20,000 fans at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Tex. The Braves racked up 548 yards of total offense against the six-time Texas state champions, but turned the ball over five times. The 548 yards is more than any team has ever had against Permian.
Beamer 42, Emerald Ridge 7 (Saturday)
Em Ridge 7 0 0 0 — 7
Beamer 0 7 28 7 — 42
ER — Clay Wilcox recovery in endzone (Luke Logan kick)
Beamer — Terrance Salazar 6 run (Nick Bod kick)
Beamer — TJ Esekielu 17 run (Bod kick)
Beamer — Esekielu 20 run (Bod kick)
Beamer — Salazar 25 run (Bod kick)
Beamer — Nicky Fuallaau 12 interception return (Bod kick)
Beamer — Dominique Maxie 42 run (Bod kick)
