Archbishop Murphy not down after move up to 2A

MILL CREEK — Archbishop Thomas Murphy will not win its third straight Class 1A state football championship this season. But that doesn't mean the Wildcats aren't title contenders.

Eight players scored touchdowns yesterday as Archbishop Murphy overwhelmed Bremerton, a Class 4A squad, 63-7 in the season opener for both teams.

The win extended the Wildcats' winning streak to a current state-best 27 games.

Archbishop Murphy has moved up to Class 2A this season and into the new Cascade Conference, which features a mix of 2A and 3A schools.

If yesterday's nonconference opener is any indication, the Wildcats should be competitive.

"It probably was a little too easy," fourth-year Archbishop Murphy coach Terry Ennis said after improving to 33-4 at ATM and posting his 237th career win. "I don't think the score was as important as how each of our kids played individually."

What stood out, though, was how well they played as a group.

Executing its wing-T offense to hide-and-seek perfection, Archbishop Murphy rushed for 484 yards on 39 carries and got 54 yards on its only pass, a 54-yard touchdown strike from senior Kyle Wilkins to junior wideout Alex Ungs.

The Wildcats did not commit a turnover, never punted and were stopped on offense only when time ran out on drives at the end of each half.

"I think everyone came out intimidated, playing against a 4A team," said Wildcats junior Shiloh Keo, who transferred this summer from 4A Woodinville to the Mill Creek private school of about 200 students. "But football is football. You've still gotta run around and bang heads."

Bremerton, with about 1,800 students, struggled to a 1-9 record a year ago in the Narrows League. The Knights suited up just 22 players, with several ineligible because of academics or not completing the mandatory minimum number of practices.

Bremerton's highlight came when junior George Skurty returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to briefly cut the Wildcats' lead to 35-7.

Archbishop Murphy, meanwhile, used solid line play and the deception of the wing-T to run wild.

Senior Craig Duncan rushed for a game-high 135 yards and two touchdowns on six carries. Senior Stan Smith rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown on six carries. Wilkins, Keo, junior Chris Hoerauf and sophomores Nick Forgey and Tony Houts added rushing scores as the offensive starters gave way to their backups early in the second half.

Which meant the Wildcats' linemen spent a lot of time looking up to see their teammates disappearing downfield.

"You always want to congratulate your backs when they do that," said Tyler Terhar, a senior lineman who helped open the holes on offense and matched Smith with a team-high six tackles. "It's the best feeling."