Bothell wins 4A Washington State Championship with perfect 14-0 season | Prep football

The Bothell High School football team’s motto this year was “One Town, One Team, One Dream.” They can now add “One State Title” to all of those t-shirts and banners from this season.

The Cougars won the WIAA 4A Washington State Championship, 24-14, against Chiawana High School of Pasco Saturday at the Tacoma Dome, completing a perfect 14-0 season.

“There was a lot of work and dedication put into this and it couldn’t feel better to be the first ones to do this in our school’s history,” said Bothell quarterback Ross Bowers. “It feels good to get this for the staff. We love these guys like dads.”

0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%

00:00

But there was one play that exemplified how much the Cougars wanted perfection in 2014.

With a 17-7 lead and time running out during the third quarter, Bothell held the ball on the five-yard line with a fourth-and-goal. Bowers dropped back to pass. Not able to find any wide receivers, the University of California-bound quarterback broke from the pocket and ran with reckless abandon for the end zone. Sprinting to his left, Bowers had one Riverhawk defender to beat and decided to go up – instead of around. Leaping into the air, the defender hit Bowers hard, spinning him around and into a front flip. Somehow the Cougar quarterback landed on his feet and held on to the football for the touchdown, igniting the Cougar crowd.

“At halftime I told him don’t run the ball any more, throw it away. Quit taking sacks,” Bainter said. “Then he leaves the pocket and I am thinking throw it away. I am looking down field and I said ‘run the ball!’ …His mom is a gymnastics coach and he has spent hours on the trampoline. We have to give her credit for the flip.”

The run was an example of the big-play action throughout a game that had nine plays from scrimmage of more than 20 yards.

The Cougars picked up two quick first downs on the opening drive of the game before junior running back Caleb Meyer took the ball up the middle and cut to his left. With the offensive line pushing Chiawana back, Meyer broke a tackle and rumbled 33 yards down to the two-yard line. Meyer scored the first points of the game two plays later from one-yard out, giving Bothell a quick 7-0 lead.

The first time Chiawana’s offensive took the field it resulted in a three-and-out, as Bothell’s defense looked dominant. An incomplete pass on a fake punt gave Bothell the ball on the Riverhawks’ 41-yard line. But Bothell could not find consistency on its next drive, settling for a 36-yard field goal from Steven Weedin and a 10-0 lead.

The Riverhawks threatened to score during their second possession, as a 33-yard run from scrimmage was only stopped by Cougars Dale Goong and Jesse Sims, preventing a touchdown. The play gave Chiawana the ball inside the Bothell 20-yard line. But pressure on third down from the Cougar defensive line forced Chiawana’s quarterback to throw a pass to the end zone that was intercepted by Goong.

“I kind of lost it in the lights at first,” said Gong, who finished with five tackles. “But then I saw it right into my chest. All I was worried about was catching it.”

Bothell drove the ball all the way to the Chiawana eight-yard line when disaster struck. Bowers dropped back to pass and good coverage allowed the defensive line of the Riverhawks enough time to get through to the quarterback. A violent hit on Bowers forced the ball loose and gave Chiawana the ball on the 29-yard line. The Riverhawks would move the ball deep into Bothell territory but a missed 32-yard field goal left Chiawana scoreless.

Bowers would get revenge for the big hit two plays later, throwing deep to receiver Dayzell Wilson who came back for the pass and then broke two tackles to pick up 65 yards.

“Me and Ross practice that back-shoulder pass all the time and he told me he was going to do that on the sideline because they were so quick,” Wilson said.

But Bothell would miss a 46-yard field goal as the first half came to an end.

Chiawana started the second half with the ball but a 16-yard punt on fourth down gave Bothell possession in Riverhawks’ territory. A big 24-yard run by Meyer gave the Cougars the ball inside the Chiawana red zone. Three plays later, Bowers found Wilson for a nine-yard touchdown pass and the 17-0 lead.

Chiawana did not give in. A big kick return gave the team the ball on its own 49-yard line. An 11-play drive, including a 22-yard pass on fourth down, culminated with a one-yard touchdown run and cut the lead to 17-7.

Meyer began Bothell’s next drive with a 27-yard run from scrimmage and a Bowers-to-Wilson connection for 24 yards put Bothell at Chiawana’s six-yard line. But the drive would end in spectacular fashion three plays later, as Bowers flipped into the end zone.

The Riverhawks battled back and scored on their next possession, cutting the lead to 24-14 but failed to capitalize after forcing a turnover on downs.

A big 20-yard run by Damani St. John-Watkins on third down with less than three minutes left helped to run out the clock on Chiawana’s season.

Bowers finished the game 17-of-19 passing for 216 yards and one touchdown. Wilson finished with 121-yards receiving and one touchdown.

Both Meyers St. John-Watkins finished with 105-yards rushing and Meyers had one rushing touchdown.

Both running backs were thrust into a larger role on the team after star running back and defensive back Sam McPherson went down with an injury during the final game of the regular season.

“Not much really changed,” Meyer said. “Our team has a saying ‘next man up’ and that was all it was.”

Tyle Wharf and Shawn Munro were the team leader in tackles with six each and Cole Ford had two sacks and five tackles.

Bothell completes the season with three shutouts, allowing just 9.7 points per game while scoring an average of 44.3 points per game.

Bainter and Bowers shared a long embrace on the 50-yard line after the game.

“Ross moved into our area in the fifth grade and we would pick him up from school,” Bainter said. “He is just a like a son to us, all these guys are.”

This was the first time since 2007 the Cougars played in the state finals.