Here's my unedited game story:

BY DOUG PACEY
doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com

Ready for the rematch?

Issaquah is.

The tenth-ranked Eagles ended Central Kitsap’s run through the Class 4A state playoffs with a 31-13 semifinal victory Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome, launching Issaquah into the state finals against rival and top-ranked Skyline.

“We know what we’re getting,” Bennett said. “There aren’t a lot of secrets between the two schools. The kids have grown up together.”

The two Issaquah School District high schools will face off at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Tacoma Dome. It is the first time that two teams from the same school district will play for the 4A finals.

The Spartans of Sammamish got the best of Issaquah six weeks ago when the teams were ranked first and second in the 4A, thumping the Eagles, 38-0.

“We were embarrassed,” Bennettt said. “But that was a long time ago.”

If Issaquah (11-2) plays against the Skyline the way it did against
Central Kitsap, the Eagles have a chance at the upset.

Issaquah jumped the Cougars (9-4) from the opening kickoff and never let up.

Eagles Kicker Gavin Schumaker launched a pooch kick and teammate Kyle Hansen recovered the ball on the Central Kitsap 28-yard line. Six plays later, quarterback Joey Bradley threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ross Zuhl.

“They opened up the game by getting that kickoff,” Cougars coach Mark Keel said, “and we were playing from behind after that.”

Issaquah got another boost when on third-and-goal at the 20, Bradley found running back Grant Gellatly on a wheel route and the junior ran untouched into the end zone, giving the Eagles a 21-7 lead with six seconds left in the second quarter.

“That’s huge right there,” said Bradley, who completed 13 of 18 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. “It gave us such a boost going into the locker room.”

Leading 24-13 in the fourth quarter, Issaquah defensive back Brennan Miller delivered the back-breaker. He intercepted quarterback Jason Simonis at the Central Kitsap 35-yard line and returned the ball to the 4. Three plays later, Bradley scored on a 1-yard sneak, giving the Eagles a 31-13 lead with 5:52 left to play.

“That interception, that might have been the play of the game,” Bennett said. “They converted that crazy fourth down and scored a touchdown and got the ball back. But that interception ended it.”

The “crazy fourth down” play came in the final seconds of the third quarter. Facing, fourth-and-16 at the Issaquah 37-yard line, Simonis threw a Hail Mary. The ball was tipped before coming down into the arms of receiver Allen Hewey at the 2. Running back Howie McDonald scored on the next play, but the extra point was blocked, making it 24-13.

The Cougars’ first touchdown came when the Eagles bit on a fake and Simonis fired a 49-yard touchdown to a wide open Christian Wesley in the second quarter.

Issaquah bottled up the McDonald, the Narrows League MVP, holding him to 76 yards on 18 carries. Central Kitsap was held to 193 yards of total offense.

Issaquah will play for the state championship for the first time since 1980. The Eagles lost the 4A finals to Mount Tahoma, 21-3, that year.

Skyline 24, Ferris 21: The Spartans’ survived their biggest test yet, coming from behind to win Saturday at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane.

Trailing fourth-ranked Ferris 21-17, No. 1 Skyline took the lead late in the third quarter when receiver Gine Simone caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Jake Heaps, who completed 20 of 35 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns. Saxons quarterback Connor Halliday was 20 of 31 for 229 yards and was picked off three times.

Skyline (13-0) won the 3A championship last season.

Facing third-and-goal at the 20-yard line, QB Joey Bradley hit RB Grant Gellatly coming out of the backfield and Gellatly cruised into the end with 6 seconds left in the first half.

Central Kitsap answers Issaquah with a long touchdown.

The Eagles defense bit on QB Jason Simonis' play-action fake and Simonis launched a bomb to receiver Christian Wesley, who was uncovered behind the secondary.

Issaquah scores first as QB Joey Bradley threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ross Zuhl in the end zone.

The Eagles kicked off, but got the ball when Kyle Hansen recovered the pooched kick at the Cougars' 28-yard line.

Third-ranked Lynden held off No. 2 Archbishop Murphy on Saturday morning in the Tacoma Dome.

Senior Blair Bomber opened the game with an 80-yard touchdown catch from David Gaylord on the first play from scrimmage. Bomber finished with seven catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. He also intercepted a pass and blocked an extra point.

Lynden will meet either No. 1 Prosser or Burlington-Edison next week in the finals

Here's an interview with Bomber.

One minute after throwing an interception, the Lions picked off a pass of their own.

This time it was Lynden DB Eric Conner, who gives the Lions a first down at the ATM 45 with 4:41 left in the game.

It's looking bleak for ATM.

Archbishop Murphy drove 88 yards in 14 plays, getting a 10-yard touchdown run from running back CJ Milburn with 9:45 left in the game. But Lynden's Blair Bomber blocked the extra point attempt.

ATM is driving and has the ball at the Lynden 47-yard line. But will they be able to stop the Lions' offense if they score?

ATM had been stuffing the ball down the Lions' throats on the opening drive of the third quarter. But on first down at the Lynden 12, defensive back Blair Bomber dove in front of receiver JD Melton and intercepted quarter Jake Downs' pass.

Lynden leads 21-7 with 6:45 left in the third quarter.

Some halftime stats:

Lynden
Passing: 9-16-0-189
Rushing: 16-44
Total offense: 233 yards
Plays: 32

ATM
Passing: 3-8-0-51
Rushing: 11-71
Total offense: 122 yards
Plays: 19

No. 3 Lynden leads No. 2 ATM, 21-7.

Lynden just had one of the most luck-infused possession I've ever seen. Consider:

-- Facing fourth-and-2 at their own 34, Lynden lines up to punt. The snap sails over punter Ryan Hastings' head. He scrambles to pick up the ball and while trying to escape ATM defenders, he sees an open Jace Baxter-Bowen, who picks up 19 yards and a first down.

-- Facing fourth-and-18 at their own 42, Lynden punts. But ATM's Jake Clark fumbled the punt and Lynden recovers at the 18.

-- Five plays later, the Lions scored when Ryan Hastings completed a 1-yard pass to Blair Bomber.

ATM just blew up a Lynden screen, with CJ Milburn leveling David Gaylord as he caught the ball for a 4-yard loss. The Lions have fourth-and-11 at their own 24 and are punting.

Archbishop Murphy answers with a 47-yard touchdown run from CJ Milburn.

This one looks like it could be high schoring.

Lynden is clicking on all cylinders.

Quarterback Ryan Hastings rolled to his right and threw across his body to an open David Gaylord in the flat and Gaylord took the pass 25 yards into the end zone.

Gaylord and Hastings share quarterbacking duties for the Lions, who lost 26-15 to ATM in Week 1.

ATM is forced to punt after stalling at midfield. It could have been worse for the Wildcats -- Lynden DB Eric Conner dropped a would-be interception that would have been returned for a touchdown,

The Lions have struck first and in a big way.

Blair Bomber beat two defenders deep and hauled in an 80-yard touchdown pass from quarterback David Gaylord on the first play of the game.

Archbishop has won the toss and deferred. Lynden will receive the kick in the first half.