Two weeks into the season, Jefferson has made it clear that they should not be overlooked. Even in their Thursday loss to the Graham-Kapowsin Eagles, they looked strong.
In week one, it took a 20-point fourth quarter comeback and overtime for the Raiders to top the Puyallup Vikings 33-27.
On Thursday, they stepped onto Art Crate Field to take on the sixth-ranked Eagles. Last season, Thomas Jefferson lost 35-14 to Graham-Kaposwin. This year, they looked pretty equal them.
Jefferson began the game with a defensive stop near midfield. On fourth down, however, the Eagles’ punt bounced back into the Raiders returner and the Eagles recovered on the two. They punched it into the endzone on a two-yard run by running back Villami Hansen immediately after.
The Raiders offense moved the ball well all night, but just had trouble finishing drives. Turnovers ended a few of their most promising drives.
“I liked that we battled,” Jefferson head coach Jeff Zenisek said. “Last week against Puyallup, we battled to the end and here we battled all the way to the end. It was just frustrating we didn’t finish a drive. We got a drive going and we’d falter out. That hurts you, it takes the wind out of your sails. We just got to learn to finish what we we’re doing and we will. We’ve got that kind of character on the team.”
Jefferson’s only touchdown on the night came on defense when linebacker Justin Madden picked off Graham-Kapowsin quarterback Dylan Morris and raced 57 yards to the endzone in the first quarter. Jefferson took a 7-6 lead and held it until an Eagles field goal right before halftime gave them a 9-7 lead.
Graham-Kapowsin ranked 25 more plays than the Raiders in the half, but only moved the ball consistently on their final field goal drive.
Jefferson once again drove down the field to begin the second half. A botched field goal attempt once again kept them off the board.
That was as close as either team would come to scoring in the third quarter. The defenses took over and for a good portion of the game, Jefferson’s looked stronger.
The fourth quarter once again saw the Raiders drive down into the redzone only to come away with nothing. From Graham-Kapowsin’s 16 yard line, quarterback Mason Delacruz tried to find his favorite target on the day Tyson Sonnenfeld in the endzone. Instead, Eagles defender Aaron Wright matched him stride for stride and picked off the jump ball.
What followed was the Eagles’ most consistent drive since the first half. They managed to get to the Jefferson five yard line, but the Raiders pushed them back. On fourth and goal from the six, Jefferson forced Graham-Kapowsin’s Jeremiah Kekoa to fumble. It bounced out of the endzone for a touchback.
With just over eight minutes left, Jefferson still could get nothing going on offense. They punted once more to Graham-Kapowsin. The Eagles got into the redzone again and settled for another field goal to take a 12-7 lead with 2:39 left.
Jefferson’s next drive lasted only one play and was the most devastating blow of the game. Delacruz looked Sonnenfeld’s way once again on a slant route, but Graham-Kapowsin’s linebacker Ezra Bolten jumped in front of the pass for an interception and turned it into a touchdown.
The Eagles converted the two-point conversion to give them a 20-7 lead with just over two minutes left. Jefferson’s offense moved the ball once more, but it was too late.
“I’m never happy about a loss, but there’s a great learning here in this loss,” Zenisek said. “Our drive is there and our passion is there and that’s all that matters.”
Jefferson (1-1) travels to face the Kentwood Conquerors (1-1) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17 at French Field in their next game.
