SPSL 4A | Rogers claims South crown
PUYALLUP - Tyler Van Sligtenhorst started the job at quarterback for the biggest win this decade for the Rogers of Puyallup football team.
His backup and converted receiver, Tyler Bowen, finished the job under center.
Van Sligtenhorst passed for 207 yards and Bowen was admirable in relief as Rogers ended years of frustration against neighboring Puyallup with a 35-17 win at Sparks Stadium that clinched the South Puget Sound League 4A South Division championship.
Rogers (7-2 overall, 6-1 league) snapped a seven-game losing streak against rival Puyallup (7-2, 5-2), registering its first win against the Vikings since 1999. It was the first game between the two teams of significance since they shared the league title in 1998, and the win gave the Rams its first outright crown since 1982.
“I have been playing with these guys since pee-wee football, and this is huge,” said Bowen. “I’m speechless. This makes all that sweat and blood and work in the offseason worth it. I got the keys to the Ferrari and just stomped on the gas.
“This is big momentum going into the playoffs.”
The win gave Rogers the top spot into the preliminary playoffs. Rogers hosts Inglemoor, KingCo’s No. 4, in a winner-to-state game next weekend. Puyallup, which turned the ball over five times in the loss, will be the No. 2 seed out of the South.
Van Sligtenhorst, a junior, finished 9 of 19 for 207 yards and three touchdowns before leaving with an ankle injury on defense at the 8:35 mark of the third quarter. Bowen, last year’s early season starter at quarterback, came in and directed two scoring drives, throwing for a score and running for another after catching one from Van Sligtenhorst.
Puyallup’s D.J. Williams finished had 110 yards and two TDs on 19 carries.
Other game
Bethel 35, Spanaway Lake 25
At Art Crate Stadium in Spanaway, Oliver Henry had 311 yards and three TDs on 25-of-40 passing as the Braves (7-2, 5-2) beat the Sentinels (2-7, 1-6) to earn the third South seed into the preliminary playoffs. Bethel will play at Eastlake next weekend.
Note
• No. 4 seed Graham-Kapowsin visits Evergreen of Vancouver on either Friday or next Saturday.