High-School Football -- Redmond Turns Out The Lights Vs. Woodinville

REDMOND - The bus ride from Pop Keeney stadium last season was unlike any E. J. Arnold has experienced after a loss.

It was not quiet. It was loud. And the yells and promises proclaimed that this season, Woodinville would not beat the Mustangs. Arnold and his classmates swore then, in the aftermath of their fifth loss in seven tries against their nemesis, that they would not finish their careers without a victory over the Falcons.

They won't. Arnold completed 10 of 16 passes for 242 yards and four touchdowns last night to help Redmond smash it's way into sole possession of first place in the KingCo 4A Conference with a 49-0 victory over the sixth-ranked Falcons.

That's the kind of performance the Mustangs talked about on the ride home last year, bitter and bummed after a last-second pass fell incomplete in the end zone. This time, the game was decided by the end of the third quarter, and it was the Falcons (3-1) who left bitter.

"That's what we wanted to do," Arnold said. "This game means everything. And I just had a feeling when I woke up this morning that we were going to dominate them."

They did. The lights went out an hour before kickoff, prompting thoughts of a possible postponement. That was the only way Woodinville could have gone home happy, because nothing went right for the Falcons once the game started.

Redmond (4-0) gained 504 total yards to Woodinville's 248. The Mustangs blocked a punt. They benefited from five Falcon turnovers - two inside Redmond's 10-yard line - and took advantage of three key injuries. Woodinville typically wins that way, but this was not its day.

It was Redmond's.

"It's the best game I've ever been to, ever played in," said Redmond defensive tackle Danny Major, who helped hold the Falcons scoreless for the first time since 1995. "To come out and put a game like that together, it's awesome."

Woodinville hasn't been beaten this badly this decade, though they were already beaten up before kickoff. Linebacker Derek Jackman, the league's fourth-leading tackler, who tore his ACL last week against Lake Washington. He was joined on crutches by starting defensive lineman Chris Robinson, who broke his ankle last week.

Then it got worse. Starting quarterback and defensive back Kris Billmaier left the game late in the first quarter with a severely sprained ankle. The Mustangs burned his replacement for two touchdowns in the second quarter, 35 yards to Tommy Bennyhoff and 54 yards to Brian Yarno, and led 13-0 at halftime.

The rout was on. Woodinville's mental hold over the Mustangs was broken, and Redmond piled it on in the second half with 36 points.

"It was our best game ever," said Bennyhoff, who caught five balls for 95 yards. "We played out heart out."

And left Woodinville to wonder what went wrong on the ride home.

"They played a lot harder and held on to the ball," Jackman said.

Just like Arnold and his teammates said they'd do last year.

OTHER GAMES

At Lake Washington 41, Roosevelt 7 - Damian Catala rushed for 63 yards and three scores on five carries to help Kangaroos (1-3) won their first game under Coach Tim Tramp. Catala also caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Chris Danninger, who was 10 of 15 for 157 yards and three touchdowns.

Lake Washington outgained Roosevelt 349-190. Collin King and Nesby Glasgow also caught touchdown passes from Danninger. Duncan Sherrard scored in the fourth quarter for the Roughriders (0-4).

At Juanita 42, Franklin 26 - Keegan Tachell ran 16 times for 139 yards and three first-half touchdowns as the Rebels evened their KingCo 3A record.

Tyler Kenealey got Juanita (2-2) off to a great start, returning an interception 42 yards for a touchdown. The Rebels added another defensive score in the third quarter, as Rashaun Marshall picked up Mike Helland's fumble at Juanita's 1-yard line and ran it 99 yards for Juanita's final score.

Paul Mullin helped make it respectable for Franklin (2-2). He caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, including a 66-yarder from Ryan Phillips.

At Inglemoor 21, Eastlake 20 (2OT) - Ryan Madayag scored on a 5-yard run in the second overtime and Ryan Sorensen added the extra point kick as Inglemoor beat Eastlake. The victory evened Inglemoor's record at 2-2 (two losses came as a result of forfeits for using an ineligible player) while Eastlake slipped to 2-2.

Inglemoor has won its four games on the field this season, but the Vikings were forced to forfeit victories over Roosevelt and Franklin for using an ineligible player. An appeal will be heard by the WIAA soon.

Eastlake quarterback Matt Berry had the big numbers for the game (21 of 36 passing for 266 yards), but Inglemoor quarterback Caleb Eastman had the big plays. Eastman ran for one touchdown, passed for another and helped keep the game alive for Inglemoor, running for 17 yards on a fourth down play in the second overtime.

Eastman's run kept Inglemoor's second overtime drive alive, setting up a third and goal play from the five. Eastman rolled out and pitched the ball to Madayag, who ran in untouched for the winning touchdown.

Eastman finished with 84 yards rushing on six carries and another 109 yards passing.