It’s rematch time, and Bothell High’s Luke Proulx had a feeling this would happen all along.
“They’re a great football team and I hope to play them again,” the Cougar running back said following his team’s 25-20 4A Kingco championship victory over then-top-ranked Skyline Oct. 29 in front of 8,000 fans at Pop Keeney Field.
This time — 7 p.m. Saturday at the Tacoma Dome, to be exact — Bothell (12-0) is the No. 1-ranked team in the state up against No. 2 Skyline (10-2) in the state semifinals.
And Proulx, who suffered a shoulder injury in last Friday’s 30-9 win over Issaquah in the quarters, and his Cougar crew are raring to go.
“I think we’re fortunately healthy for this time of the year,” Bothell coach Tom Bainter said in a Seattle Times blog session with Skyline coach Mat Taylor on Wednesday. “We’ve got a couple of bangs here or there, but all of our starters will be ready to play. It includes Luke Proulx and his shoulder.”
Added Taylor in a separate interview on Tuesday: “I’m really excited to get indoors. That’s the best part of it all — we’ve had awful weather the last six weeks.
“We’re fairly banged up, most teams are this time of year,” he added. “I expect all of the kids to play.”
Skyline, which defeated Curtis, 49-14, in the quarters last weekend, has won four state titles, two each in both the 3A and 4A classifications. Bothell has been to the 4A title game twice and lost each time in 2006 and 2007.
“Looking at a team like Skyline, that’s a good carrot out there that you can strive to get to,” Proulx said, but stressed Bothell’s game plan, “It’s just to be the greatest team we have.”
Last time the two teams met, both coughed up four turnovers and Skyline outgained Bothell 341 to 297 yards. Bothell led 13-0 with 2:24 left in the first quarter, but Skyline forged ahead, 20-19, with 8:28 remaining in the game.
Proulx scored on a 5-yard run with 1:04 left to secure the win.
So what will be the key to winning in the semifinals and earning a spot in the Dec. 5 final?
“Whatever team grasps that motivation early will be the tale of the tape,” Taylor said. “Our kids have been very driven the last three weeks.”
Added Bainter: “I think it’s going to be important to play the game within your means. What I mean by that is just one play at a time and doing your assignment. Can’t get caught up in the emotion of the game.”
Taylor noted that both teams will bring big crowds despite the Apple Cup being held on the same day in Seattle. It should be one thriller of a game, he added.
“You’ve gotta put your whole heart into it,” Taylor said. “There’s a lot of excitement. You don’t want to second guess yourself and your time commitment.
“This is a fun time of year.”
