Offensive Opposites Attract -- Throwin' Puyallup Vs. Runnin' Bruins For State AAA Title

-- EVERETT

Rainwater came down in such volume that it seemed to bounce off the pavement surrounding the football stadium, but the teenagers seemed impervious.

Here they were, the Cascade Bruins, still wearing football pads during the time of jingle bells, when most of their high-school colleagues retired their gear shortly after the jack-o-lanterns were laid to rest.

While classmates have already started their basketball, wrestling, swimming and gymnastics schedules, the Bruins have been bussing to Mariner High School's Frank Goddard Memorial Stadium to practice football on an artificial carpet so sodden it pools around their cleats.

They've been out in the elements for a very good reason: Tomorrow they will live out every high-school football player's dream and play for the state championship.

"Everybody is so excited around here - the teachers, the students, everybody," said Jordi LePiane, an all-conference lineman. "Everyone is so primed for this game that I could forget about being good all this week - they'd overlook anything."

Cascade (11-1) plays Puyallup (12-1) at 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Kingdome in the state Class AAA championship game. The game will be televised by KOMO (Channel 4).

The game completes a five-championship program for Kingbowl XV.

Puyallup was ranked No. 3 in The Times final state rankings; Cascade was listed fourth.

Senior Sean McGowan, LePiane's linemate, said the Bruins have tried to approach the game the same way they have approached the past dozen games.

"You try to do that, but it's hard," he said.

Having television cameras record practice sessions is not a common occurance in Everett.

"The guys give me a hard time about it - I get kidded about it," said Jerry Jensen, the Bruins' all-conference running back and the most requested interview subject.

The large number of requests for interviews with Coach Terry Ennis also is not an everyday happening.

"You've got that right," Ennis said. "But I'd rather be in a position to have to put up with it than not."

And this morning was the first time that the football team got out of class to attend a 9 a.m. practice at Seattle's Kingdome.

So what can you expect from tomorrow's football game?

Cascade and Puyallup represent opposite ends of offensive coaching strategy.

The Bruins prefer to maintain possession of the football by running, and running and running. It was not uncommon for Cascade to play a game this season without throwing a pass.

The Vikings prefer to throw the ball on any and every opportunity. The idea is to score quickly and often.

The last time Puyallup played in the Kingbowl, in 1987 against Gonzaga Prep, the game presented the same contrast between effective offensive concepts.

"We were hoping they would come in and run at us," Puyallup Coach Mike Huard said. "I was really curious about what would happen if they did.

"But for some reason, Gonzaga Prep pretty much scrapped their running game and went with a one-back, passing attack against us."

Huard said many teams have taken the same approach to the Vikings, who are led by a quarterback who has thrown for more than 2,000 yards, Darren Erath.

"They figure that, since we're going to throw the ball, they have to throw the ball," Huard said. "I'm not sure why they feel they have to do that, but I'm not going to complain when they give up what they do best to try and compete with us at what we do best."

If both teams follow form, Puyallup will look for the big play. Erath has a number of sure-handed receivers who are capable of breaking a big gainer.

And the Vikings are quite willing to manufacture a big play by dipping into an inventory of gadget plays.

Against Snohomish last week, Puyallup managed a touchdown on a fourth-down-and-eight flea-flicker.

Halfback Jahu Tolson took a hand-off from Erath and took off toward the right end of the Puyallup offensive line, as though on a routine sweep. But he stopped suddenly and threw back to the left to a wide-open Erath for the touchdown.

The quick-strike philosophy is designed to demoralize the opposition - especially after an opponent has fashioned a long, time-consuming drive.

Cascade is likely to continue with what has been so successful this season.

Fullback Jensen will pound frequently into the middle of the Puyallup defense on quick-hitting plays that allow the 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior to break tackles. That will force the Viking defensive backs to support the run defense by coming up to help tackle Jensen.

Halfback Ty Curley will stretch the Viking defense across the field by running an occasional sweep. That will prevent the Puyallup linebackers from cheating in to get a better shot at Jensen.

For variety, halfback Chad Staley will run the counter, which gets the defense moving in one direction, then runs opposite.

And just when the Puyallup secondary is convinced the Bruins are going to run all night long, quarterback Mark Lehner will look for receiver Dan Gilday for a big pass.