BLHS FOOTBALL: Trio of nailbiters turn into close-call wins

Published 4:17 pm Monday, September 19, 2011

Following a trio of nail-biting victories,  Bonney Lake High football coach Chad Barrett may be developing a touch of gray.

Friday night at Timberline High’s South Sound Stadium in Lacey, it happened again. After Bonney Lake amassed a 20-0 first period advantage, the Trailblazers battled back to make it a barnburner by game’s end and only a stubborn Panther defense prevented THS from coming all the way back in the heart-pounding 33-28 encounter.

As the game began to take shape, it seemed as though the visiting squad may have an easy go of it, as Timberline was shooting itself in the foot and turned over the ball three times in the first quarter, leading to a trio of Panther touchdowns. After Bonney Lake kicker Cameron Goenner legged through two of his extra point attempts, the big cats had bounded to a 20-0 upper hand.

BLHS running back E.J. Harris tacked on his third and fourth rushing touchdowns in the second period and the Panthers were out front 33-14 at intermission.

Bonney Lake had the Timberline defense on its heels in the first half as it seemed to deviate from its customary aerial barrage and instead, had rolled up more than 100 yards on the ground.

The Blazer defense got stingy in the second half, holding Panthers scoreless for the remainder of the game.

Timberline stormed back to tally another tandem of touchdowns in the third quarter and it looked as though the Trailblazers might just pull one out of the fire. Going into the final 12 minutes of play the scoreboard read 33-28 with Bonney Lake clinging to a slim lead, but the momentum favored the home team.

It was a stand-off in the fourth quarter, as the two squads exchanged body punches like a couple of pugilists in a prize fight, but it was Bonney Lake’s defense that ruled the night.

“I was really pleased with the way our guys hung in there for the win,” Barrett said. “They are looking better and smarter with each passing week. When a team can repeatedly pull off wins with all that pressure, that to me is what separates an average squad from a well-rounded unit that is maturing and coming into its own.”

Bonney Lake will next play at 7 p.m. Friday at Sunset Chev Stadium, when it hosts Lincoln High of the Narrows League. Lincoln visits the Panthers still riding the crest of an emotional tidal wave, generated by the 50-21 bludgeoning it unleashed on Enumclaw last week.