Sunday, November 4, 2007 - Page updated at 02:06 AM
4A Football | Postseason brings out beast in No. 2 Bothell
By Tom Wyrwich
Seattle Times staff reporter
BOTHELL — By halftime, when Bothell had more points than Gig Harbor had total yards, it was clear.
The second-ranked Cougars saved their best for the playoffs.
Yet after Bothell's 35-0 preliminary-playoff victory Saturday night at Pop Keeney Stadium, running back Jonathan Kirchner had something ominous to say for the rest of the Class 4A football field.
"With bigger games," Kirchner said, "we'll be better."
Even Bothell coach Tom Bainter had a hard time figuring out how. The Cougars (10-0) controlled everything — the ball, the clock, and the line of scrimmage. They gained 426 yards to Gig Harbor's 59. Gig Harbor (6-4) only managed six plays in the first quarter and none in the fourth. Bothell held the Tides to only 15 total yards and no first downs in the first half.
"Take away a couple interceptions, and it might be a perfect game," Bainter said.
Bothell will host Central Kitsap next weekend in the first-round of the 4A state playoffs.
After the game, Bothell's joy mingled with concern. Trey Burwick, the fullback whose blocks helped pave the way for Bothell's 252 rushing yards, was on crutches after a suffering a left ankle injury in the third quarter.
"We need a miracle — that Tre's OK," Bainter said.
Burwick, who's only 5 feet 9 but deceptively strong, exemplified how the smaller Cougars ran all over the bigger Tides. Gig Harbor had eight players 240 pounds or larger; Bothell had only one. But with quick cuts and strong blocks, the Cougars kept moving.
"We will take speed over size any day," Bainter said. Then he grinned, adding, "And we have to, because that's what we have."
Bothell came out running. The Cougars had 177 first-half rushing yards on 25 carries.
"They're big, but they didn't move too well," Bainter said. "We just got there faster."
All those runs set up three first-half touchdown passes by Bothell quarterback Johnny Hekker, who finished with 174 passing yards.
Kirchner, who didn't start and wore a club-like cast on his right arm because of a broken thumb, came in when a hard hit sidelined sophomore Patrick Ottorbech. Kirchner ran for 106 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown.
Other game
Woodinville 37, Heritage 14
At McKenzie Stadium in Vancouver, Jordan Todesco ran for 172 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts, and the Falcons (7-3) pulled away from the Timberwolves (7-3) in the second half. Peter Roberts ran for a TD and passed for 188 yards and another score for Woodinville, which outscored Heritage 21-0 after halftime.
Woodinville will travel to Spokane to face No. 1-ranked Ferris next weekend in the first-round of the Class 4A state playoffs. Ferris edged Moses Lake 28-27 Saturday.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Prep Notebook | Bothell's Burwick out
By Seattle Times staff
Top-ranked Bothell will not have senior Trey Burwick, its starting fullback and linebacker, for the rest of the Class 4A football playoffs.
Burwick broke his left fibula in the third quarter of Bothell's 35-0 victory against Gig Harbor last Saturday. With 13 touchdowns this season, he was the second-leading scorer in KingCo 4A.
"He's so valuable to our running and passing game and defense," Bothell coach Tom Bainter said. "He's a huge loss."
Jake Munro will take Burwick's spot at fullback. Rami Salha will start at middle linebacker. Bothell plays No. 8 Central Kitsap at 7 p.m. Saturday night at Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell.