Could things get much better in the world of Plateau prep football?
Two teams, both undefeated, squaring off in the final week of the regular season with a North Puget Sound League 3A championship on the line.
That’s the scenario as Enumclaw and White River meet Friday night in the annual Battle of the Bridge. The 7 p.m. game will take place at the Enumclaw Expo Center.
The teams have much in common: each has defeated the same seven NPSL 3A foes, each had a bit of trouble getting past third-place Federal Way, both have posted points in abundance and both have displayed stingy defenses.
Looking strictly at cold, hard numbers, both look mighty impressive. Enumclaw has put 385 points on the scoreboard on the way to an 8-0 record while White River has put 337 on the board, also in eight contests. Defensively, White River has posted four shutouts and EHS has three to its credit.
Here’s how each kept their winning streaks alive a week ago.
ENUMCLAW
The EHS crew had a bit of an odd week, playing an afternoon game on a Saturday. Additionally, it wasn’t just a nonleague contest, but a game against a foe from east of the Cascades.
On the Expo Center turf, Enumclaw defeated the visitors from Eastmont High (East Wenatchee) 33-28. The victory came courtesy of a big final quarter that had the Hornets putting 19 points on the board to erase a 28-14 deficit.
The final 12 minutes included a 25-yard rushing touchdown by Paxton Patterson, a 15-yard scoring strike from Gavin Trachte to Kage Kuro and a 9-yard TD toss from Trachte to Cameron Donovan.
Earlier, Enumclaw had scored on a short, second-quarter run by Maddox Hendrickson and third-period, 28-yard burst by Cole Chiechi.
WHITE RIVER
Playing in heavy rain that kept things a bit off-kilter, White River managed a 15-0 victory over the visiting Decatur Gators.
The Hornets took the lead thanks to a short TD run by Blake Bargelt in the third quarter and a Palmer Beus extra-point kick, then sealed the win when quarterback Chaz Strickland took off for a seven-yard run in the final frame.
The final points came on a two-point conversion.
