Junior Cruisers

The Junior Cruiser line dominated the Gold Team throughout Sunday's game.  Here they provide pass protection for quarterback #10 JD Olson.  (photo by Donny O'Brien)

Pee Wee Team Takes Third in LYAA League Championships

 
     The Eatonville Junior Cruisers Football team saved their best game of the LYAA season for last. Falling to the Lakewood Purple team 26-0 on Saturday night the Junior Cruisers found themselves in the 3rd/4th place game Sunday against the Lakewood Gold Team.

     Eatonville marched the field 55 yards on their opening drive for the first score of the game. Eric Rose punched the ball in from the three-yard-line to put the Junior Cruisers on the board. The PAT run failed. Lakewood would answer on their next series to take a 7-6 lead. The Gold Team would score again on their next possession of the first quarter. The Junior Cruiser defense stopped the PAT attempt.

     With key defensive players out with injuries from the Saturday night game the Eatonville defense gave up a third touchdown in the second quarter and went into the half down 19-6.
      "The boys were really down at half-time. We (the coaches) told them they were doing well and if we held them defensively and scored two touchdowns and two extra points we could win this game," said EPW coach Donny O'Brien.  Team captain Curtis Stivens who had sprained his ankle in the game the night before and sat out the first half, could barely walk. "He told me he wanted to try and play in the second half. I let him try one play but he just couldn't run on it. However, the team saw his determination and will to win and from that point on we were a different team."
     Following an Aaron Edwards interception the Junior Cruisers next possession began on the Lakewood 25-yard-line. With a renewed sense of purpose the Eatonville line began to hammer away at the Gold Team. Seven plays later Rose swept the left end from the nine-yard line for his second score of the game. Rose added the PAT run.

     Continuing to dominate the second half the Junior Cruiser defense stopped Lakewood in four downs. After a 70-yard drive that ate up most of the second quarter, Rose capped the drive from the seven-yard-line to tie the game. Rose added the PAT run and Eatonville took the lead. Rose would finish the day with 127 yards in 24 carries with three touchdowns and two extra points. With a little over four minutes to play Lakewood began their final attack.  Five plays into the drive Rose intercepted a Lakewood pass. Eatonville engineered a nine-play 55-yard-drive in less than three minutes.

      With just 12 seconds remaining JD Olson on a bootleg right found his way into the end zone to put the Junior Cruisers up 19-26. The PAT run failed. Lakewood had one last chance but couldn't get a handle on a deep bouncing kickoff. Trying to get organized with just seconds to play the Gold Team weren't able to get a play off before time ran out.
      Having notable games for the Junior Cruisers were, Levi Smith, Jeremy Leonard, Aaron Edwards, Robbie Phibbs, Jake Logan, Derrick Young, Anthony Kast, Steven Hass, Drakari Mills, Matt Van Eaton, Eric West, Joey Patterson, Olson and Rose.
     The Junior Cruisers face the League Champion Bethel Braves Wednesday night at Art Crate Field during the half time of the Bethel High School game. The Bethel game starts at 7 p.m.
     Saturday night The Junior Cruisers meet the Rainier Huskies at Eatonville High School's B.W. Lyon Field in the 2nd annual Tom O'Brien Memorial Ice Cream Bowl. The JV team will also face the Huskies 5th grade team in the Aaron Pointer Sportsmanship Bowl. The Sportsmanship Bowl will kick off at 5 p.m. and the Ice Cream bowl will kick off at 7 p.m.    

"Pity the poor kids who grow up in a big city. They miss the little things that made growing up in a small town, ah, so wonderful."
~Tom Morrow