MARYSVILLE Although junior wide receiver Levi Cartas caught two touchdown passes, it was the running game that moved the chains for M-P in their 31-13 win over Everett Sept. 14.
With the success of the run, M-P quarterback Denay Stell rarely bothered to pass, going 3-for-6 for 70 yards. All three of his completions were to Cartas.
The Seagulls flailed against the run, giving up 327 yards on the ground. Junior running back Caleb Posey found the end zone first. Then, with about five minutes left in the first half, Stell found Cartas for the first of their two touchdowns for a 14-0 game.
It looked like Everett would be shutout of the first half when the Seagull offense put together a nice aerial drive. With six seconds left on the clock, Seagull quarterback Brice Herrick snuck into the end zone on a 1-yard carry.
The Tomahawks came back from halftime with a lot of energy. Midway through the third quarter, Stell found a wide-open Cartas again for a 21-7 game and their second TD.
Head coach Brandon Carson credited Cartas speed for his ability to make two touchdowns out of three receptions.
Levi has got good speed and does a pretty good job catching the ball. Once he gets behind the secondary, no ones going to catch him, Carson said.
Cartas touchdown was followed not long after by another M-P drive. Stell, who led the Tomahawk rushing game with 139 yards, crossed almost half the field on a keeper with about 5:30 left in the third quarter. The team marched down to the red zone, but were held to a field goal by junior Elwood Sevon.
Once again, Everett rallied via their passing game, and junior Seagull receiver Jake Frauenholtz Herricks favorite target all night came down with the ball for another touchdown. The reception was only good for six points though, as senior Justin Freeman and junior Andy Abadam came up with a big block on the extra point. Several times, Herrick connected with well-covered receivers, earning the respect of the M-P coach.
I tip my hat to their quarterback. He threw it better than we expected and really threaded the needle, Carson said.
Posey touchdowns bookended the night. With just over a minute left in the game and just a few feet from the goal line, number 21 pushed through the Everett defense for the final score.
After the game, Carson talked about his goals in balancing the running and passing game.
Well throw when we need to, he said. Denay gets better throwing and our play-action fakes open things up for us.
But, he added, Were going to establish the run first, no doubt about it.