Football notebook | Bellevue's prolific wing-T is next test for Bothell
Bothell has been searching through the past eight months to find where it went wrong before a 24-13 opening loss to Issaquah, the Cougars'...
By Tom Wyrwich
Seattle Times staff reporter
JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Bothell coach Tom Bainter said his Cougars lost their season opener to Issaquah because they were outworked in the offseason.
Top Ticket (this weekend's big games)
Kentwood vs. Auburn | Friday, 7 p.m., Auburn Memorial Stadium | Prediction: Auburn, 21-17"Young and Relentless" is not a soap opera. It's the 2008 script for the sophomore-loaded Trojans.
Eastside Catholic at Archbishop Murphy | Friday, 7 p.m. | Prediction: Eastside Catholic, 24-14
Showdown of Catholic schools is so good, the Vatican may ask for the videotape. Crusaders' speed prevails.
Snohomish at Marysville-Pilchuck | Friday, 7 p.m., Quil Ceda Stadium (Marysville) | Prediction: Snohomish, 28-20
Tomahawk chop? More likely, Tomahawks might get chopped. Panthers' ground game too good.
Bothell at Bellevue | Friday, 7 p.m. | Prediction: Bellevue, 27-20
Who needs quarterbacks? Wolverines and Cougars boast two of the area's best running games.
BOTHELL -- Bothell has been searching through the past eight months to find where it went wrong before a 24-13 opening loss to Issaquah, the Cougars' first regular-season loss in more than two years.
"The lessons are: we are not entitled to anything," coach Tom Bainter said. "You cannot just show up and put on a uniform and win a game. Issaquah beat us from December of last year on."
"That first loss surprised everyone," Bothell senior Patrick Ottorbech said. "I think everyone showed up thinking we were going to win like we always do. After we lost, I think it set us back on the horse."
The Cougars got a good look at this week's opponent, Bellevue, when the coaches traveled to Portland on Saturday to see the Wolverines beat Central Catholic of Portland 41-13.
So, while trying to regroup, Bothell also has to figure out how to stop Bellevue's wing-T offense, which ran for 377 yards against Central Catholic.
Since 2003, teams facing Bellevue's wing-T for the first time are 1-18, with only Prosser winning in the 2005 state playoffs. In those 19 games, Bellevue averaged 367 rushing yards.
By scrimmaging against Bellevue two of the past three springs, Bothell might have a small advantage on those other teams.
"It's as close to a machine as you will see," Bainter said of the Wolverines' attack. "The hardest thing to do is emulate their offense with our scout guys."
On the cover of the scouting report Bainter passed out to each Cougars player this week, he plastered the word "Discipline" in large letters across the top.
"If you're not disciplined, you can be better than them and look silly," Bainter said.