Kingco Football -- Leszczynski's Three Tds Help Juanita Win Opener

KIRKLAND - Dan Leszczynski scored three touchdowns and outrushed his all-league counterpart, Justin Johnson, to lead the Juanita Rebels past Bellevue 35-19 in a KingCo Conference football opener.

Leading 14-13 midway through the second quarter last night, Juanita recovered an errant punt snap at the Wolverines' 3-yard line. Three plays later, Leszczynski scored his second touchdown.

An interception by Matt Elmer, the Rebels' third, set up the clinching score, a 3-yard run by Leszczynski.

"After that, Bellevue just kind of folded," Juanita assistant coach Steve Bennett said.

Leszczynski gained 138 yards on 25 carries. Bellevue's Johnson had 103 yards in 19 attempts.

Juanita kicker Dan Johnson played a major role, hitting all five points after touchdown and booming his first five kickoffs into the end zone, where Johnson had no chance to return them.

Jagger Gestesson and Airibin Justin also had interceptions for Juanita. Linebacker Ryan Seekins' 12 tackles led the Rebels.

Quarterback Jason Lee completed four of six passes for 85 yards and scored on touchdown runs from 1 and 3 yards.

Bellevue's Owen Biddle carried the ball 10 times for 98 yards.

At Eastlake 45, Sammamish 14 - It didn't take much to get Eastlake senior running back Tyler Benson's wheels turning. Benson scored on an 85-yard run the first time he touched the ball and ran 80 yards for a score on his second touch.

"His speed is rather deceiving," Eastlake Coach Dale Cote said. `It's what we expect from Ty."

Benson was held in check after his early outburst. He gained only 17 yards on his next six carries.

But Benson's 26-yard fumble return for a touchdown was the turning point in the game, Cote said. That defensive score capped Eastlake's 21-point outburst in the second quarter and put the Wolves ahead 28-7 at halftime.

Leo White led Sammamish rushers with 114 yards on 17 carries, including an 80-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

"We definitely had big plays," Cote said. "But that's what high-school football is all about."

Mercer Island 12, at Lake Washington 6 - Mercer Island sat on a lead and dominated the clock in the second half. The Islanders rushed for 108 yards in the third quarter on their way to 264 in the game.

Chris Willich's 68-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave Mercer Island's ball-control offense the cushion it needed.

"That's kind of been our forte, to use the clock," M.I. Coach Dick Nicholl said.

The Islanders rushed 30 times in the second half while Lake Washington had only eight carries.

"In the second half we were never really able to generate any offense," Lake Washington Coach Ron Sidenquist said.

In the second quarter, Dan Ahlers' 5-yard run put the Islanders ahead 6-0 before Andy Sandbo scored from 3 yards for the Kangaroos.