Quarterback Braden Foley’s passes started it and finished it for Bothell High in the Cougars’ 42-21 victory over Union High tonight at Pop Keeney Stadium.

In a 4A bi-district playoff game, Foley hooked up with Dylan Hanley on a 5-yard pass to give the Cougs a 7-0 lead with four minutes left in the first quarter. In the fourth quarter, Foley connected with Wendell Galvan for 53 yards and Brad Monson for 11 yards on two more TDs to close out the win.

Bothell (8-2) will next play in the state playoffs against Kentwood (10-0) at 7 p.m. Friday at French Field in Kent.

Bothell coach Tom Bainter said the key to victory was, “Going toe to toe for 15 rounds. We knew it was gonna be like a boxing match and we got the most punches in. We beat a really great football team by three touchdowns.”

Added safety Taven Shumaker, one of Bothell’s hard hitters on the night: “Preparation all week has been huge.”

Foley also tossed a 59-yard TD pass to Trent Sewell, and Luke Proulx — who fumbled twice — found the end zone on runs of 1 and 14 yards for Bothell to raise his TD amount to 22 on the season. Foley now has 18 TD passes this season.

On Proulx’s performance, Bainter added: “He’s a kid with an AC separation who is giving his all. A lot of kids wouldn’t even play. He’s a great kid and I’m proud of him.”

“We came out here tonight to execute a game plan: (We) wanted to out-physical Union, they’re a big physical team,” Proulx said. “(We) came out here and pounded the ball and put some points on the board and (things) ended up well for us.”

Bothell led 28-7 after Proulx’s 14-yard jaunt in the third quarter, but Union (7-3) scored twice to cut the lead to 28-21 before Bothell’s final two scores.

— Alex Gosselin, Tony Quintos and Andy Nystrom contributed to this report.