Prep Playoffs / AA Semifinal -- Capital Plants Doubt, Pulls Out State Final Berth

TACOMA - It took the Stanwood High School football team four minutes to realize it could compete with its higher-ranked opponent in yesterday's Class AA semifinal game.

But in the end, four minutes of doubt was too difficult to overcome.

Cody Lee's 68-yard touchdown sprint on the Cougars' third play from scrimmage only four minutes into the game gave No. 6 Capital the edge it needed in a 35-14 victory over No. 10 Stanwood.

Capital (12-1) advances to the title game for the first time in school history. The Cougars of Olympia will play the winner of today's Rainier Beach-West Valley (Yakima) game in the Class AA championship of Gridiron Classic II next Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Tacoma Dome.

"At the beginning of the game, they got the big play and we started to doubt ourselves," Stanwood Coach Tom Boehme said. "And we can't afford to play a game at this level with doubt in our mind."

The doubt proved costly, as Capital senior running back Charles Kentfield wreaked havoc on Stanwood's defense.

Kentfield, who gained 202 yards on 24 carries, scored two touchdowns in the first half and added a third with about three minutes left in the game.

Despite Kentfield's performance, Capital Coach Wayne Sortun said Lee's touchdown made the difference.

"The early touchdown set a good tone, and I thought we played a real solid football game," he said. "And the line played well, seemed to open up holes and give us time to throw."

Capital relied on its powerful wing-T for 401 rushing yards.

"The offensive line was just getting after it," said Kentfield, who scored on runs of 2, 1 and 46 yards.

Cougar quarterback Darren Tinnerstet agreed. "Our line just flattened those guys all game," he said. "And then Kentfield just rips it at the end of the game. We didn't even give them a chance for a comeback."

Trailing 21-7 at halftime, Stanwood dominated the third quarter. Sean Burke caught a 29-yard TD pass from junior QB Gerad Kobernik to cap a 10-play, 50-yard drive.

Capital managed only 9 yards on seven plays from scrimmage in the third quarter, but added two touchdowns in the fourth.

Capital totaled 413 yards of offense to Stanwood's 196. The Cougars outgained the Spartans 236-14 in the first half and earned 12 first downs to Stanwood's two.

"In the first half, we had only two or three guys out there working hard," said Stanwood senior co-captain Reed Bumgarner. "But two or three guys can't carry a team in the playoffs."

Cougar senior wingback Cody Lee returned the opening kickoff 7 yards, then scampered untouched for a 68-yard touchdown on Capital's third play from scrimmage.

Kentfield first scored on a 2-yard TD run with nine seconds remaining in the first quarter, capping a 10-play, 47-yard drive.

Stanwood, which netted minus-9 yards on its first two possessions, finally came to life in the second quarter. John McCallister returned an interception to Capital's 24, and Kobernik scored on a 4-yard TD run five plays later.

Kentfield scored his second touchdown on a 1-yard run with 48 seconds remaining in the half to cap a 63-yard, six-play drive.

Burke highlighted Stanwood's offense. The wide receiver finished with 61 yards on three catches and added 67 yards on three kick returns. Kobernik, who was intercepted twice, completed nine of 17 passes for 174 yards.

Appearing in postseason play for the first time since 1973, Stanwood ended its season at 10-2.

"We've got to be proud of what we did," Bumgarner said.