The Tahoma High football team hasn’t stopped believing this season.
Not after falling to Auburn in the final minute during the fourth week of the season. Not after squandering a fourth-quarter lead and losing to Kent-Meridian two weeks ago. And not after falling in the final seconds to Auburn Riverside last week.
Friday night at French Field against Kentridge, Tahoma’s faith finally paid off. Twice.
Tahoma kicker David Stoecker booted a 47-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining to give the Bears a stunning 36-34 come-from-behind victory over the Chargers in a South Puget Sound League North Division game.
“I just had to believe in my line, my snapper and my holder,” said Stoecker, who was mobbed at midfield by his teammates after the kick.
It was the longest field goal of Stoecker’s life.
“I’ve done it in practice,” he assured.
Of course, that was without the pressure. Without a jam-packed stadium of fans screaming at the top of their lungs. But what made Stoecker’s game-winning boot all the more impressive was the fact that he did it twice. He connected from 42 yards out with 12 seconds left only to have the “winning kick” negated by an illegal procedure penalty that backed it up five yards.
The penalty wiped out the Tahoma kicker’s first attempt, along with a lengthy celebration by the Bears on – and off – the field.
Seconds later …
“He goes out there and nails it again,” exclaimed generally mild-mannered Tahoma coach Tony Davis. “He works at it every day at practice.”
The kick and the win gave the Bears a small sigh of relief on what has been an otherwise difficult season. Multiple times this year, Tahoma has been ahead late in a game only to fall short in the end.
Friday night, despite a monster performance by Kentridge running back Cameron McKernan, the tide turned for the Bears.
“It has been such a tough year because we’ve been on the other side so many times,” Davis said. “And we just keep coming back, week after week. It chokes you up a little bit.”
McKernan rushed for 289 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. He also added two receptions for 93 yards, including an 86-yard touchdown catch.
McKernan took the loss with class.
“Every loss is tough, but tonight it hurts a little extra,” he said. “(But) that was a nice kick by (Stoecker), congratulations to him. He put his leg into it.”
Tahoma (1-6 in league, 2-6 overall) entered the fourth quarter with a 33-28 lead only to watch the Chargers (4-3, 4-4) move in front 34-33 with 1:01 remaining on a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Travis McGuire.
Another last-second Tahoma loss appeared imminent.
Tahoma quarterback Dallin Munk, however, had other plans in mind as the Bears regained possession at their own 16-yard line with 57 seconds remaining. Munk connected on 5 of his next 6 passes – three to Brody Lundquist and two more to Jason Smith – to get the Bears down to Kentridge’s 25-yard line and set up Stoecker’s game-ending heroics.
“I don’t know if (the kick) was a school record, but it sure worked tonight,” Davis said.
Stoecker’s kick ended Kentridge’s two-game winning streak. Despite the loss, however, the Chargers had already secured one of the five playoff berths from the North a day earlier, when Kent-Meridian lost to Auburn 28-14. Kentridge will take either the No. 4 or No. 5 playoff berth from the North, depending on next week’s results. The Chargers are currently tied with Auburn Riverside for fourth place in the division.
Kentridge finished with 484 yards of total offense, 382 of which came from McKernan. Tahoma finished with 345 yards of total offense. Smith led the Tahoma offense, pulling in five catches for 84 yards, including a pair of touchdown receptions. Smith also added a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
It’s the first time since 2006 that Tahoma has beaten Kentridge.
Tahoma 36, Kentridge 34
Tahoma 0 21 12 3 — 36
Kentridge 0 21 7 6 — 34
Second quarter
KR: Cameron McKernan 86-yard pass from Travis McGuire (Wes Concepcion kick) 11:49
T: Jason Smith 97 kickoff return (David Stoecker kick) 11:32
T: Smith 47 pass from Dallin Munk (Stoecker kick) 9:20
KR: Donovan Ward 1 run (Concepcion kick) 6:38
KR: McKernan 72 run (Concepcion kick) 2:58
Third quarter
T: Beau Riggs 5 run (kick blocked) 8:08
KR: McKernan 22 run (Concepcion kick) 3:48
T: Riggs 5 run (run failed) 1:35
Fourth quarter
KR: McGuire 1 run (run fails) 1:01
T: Stoecker 47 FG .08
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