Emotions ran high, nerves were racked and Bothell High deposed top-ranked Skyline High with a thrilling 25-20 victory last Thursday night in front of an estimated 8,000 fans at Pop Keeney Field.
The No. 2 Cougars (9-0) — bound to be No. 1 in this week’s state poll — claimed the 4A Kingco title behind a pair of Luke Proulx touchdowns, including the game-winner from 5 yards out with 1:04 remaining in the game.
“Oh, perfectly executed by our line. It was a balance play, so they were reaching their guys … all I had to do was run 5 yards, dive in the end zone and it was good,” Proulx said. “I just got up and my teammates were there … You don’t know what’s going on, you just know something good happened.”
Bothell will host Stanwood (4-5), the No. 3 Wesco North team, in the qualifying round to state at 7 p.m. this Friday at Pop Keeney.
Bothell quarterback Mitchell Muller had a major hand in the offensive show against Skyline with three touchdown passes to Proulx (70 yards), Michael Hartvigson (16 yards) and John Sullivan (48 yards).
Muller spoke of the key to Bothell’s success: “Our hard work and dedication we’ve had in the offseason. This last week — great preparation.” Beating Skyline (7-2) was “awesome,” Muller said, using that word four times in his postgame interview.
Bothell took a 13-0 lead on Hartvigson’s score with 2:24 left in the first quarter, only to see Skyline claw back and take a 20-19 advantage with 8:28 remaining in the fourth quarter. But the Cougars persevered and notched the victory.
Cougar coach Tom Bainter was proud of his team: “They just don’t quit, they didn’t quit tonight, they don’t quit ever.
“We knew that they would be a physical force to run against, and they were,” he added. “But you know, if you can break one and pop one, get one outside every now and again, it keeps them honest for the rest of the game.”
Added Bothell lineman Chase Golka: “We kept driving on them, they kept driving on us. We had our ups and downs and so did they. We came out on top, so it was a fun night.”
Each team had four turnovers and Skyline outgained Bothell 341 to 297 yards, but the Cougars held on in the end with a defensive stand with 1:02 left in the game.
Bothell lineman Robert Bond said the Cougars were anticipating the Skyline game all season and was glad to participate in the victory by helping break open holes for Proulx to run through and give Muller time to unleash TD passes.
“It was definitely intense. The crowds were going, thankfully we had the crowd on our side,” Bond said. “It was definitely just a hard-hitting, in-the-trenches football.”
With one Skyline victory under their belt, Proulx and the Cougars know they could face the Spartans again in the playoffs. Bring it on, Proulx says, because emotional games like that against talented teams are what football is all about.
“I think it’s just all us being hungry to be the best every year,” he said, noting that he becomes consumed with football at times. “A lot of nerves (before the game), it’s hard to concentrate at school. Today, I found myself just thinking about it.”
It was much of the same for Bothell fans Jeremy Ruef and Dakota Warner, who showed up for the game early and settled in for a shootout between the state’s top two teams.
“It’s gonna be a great game, I’m really excited,” said Ruef, a student at the Attic private school.
Added Warner, a Skyview Junior High student: “I’m done with my homework, so I might as well be here. Everybody was talking about, everybody wanted to come out and see the game and see Bothell try to take on Skyline.”
Consider it done.
