The Eatonville Cruisers opened a close game with two touchdowns late in the first half and reached their first State Championship game since winning the title in 1992 with a 38-6 win over Lynden Christian on Saturday night.

“I really feel it,” said Eatonville quarterback Kevin Wulff. “I’m speechless. I can’t believe how we just did it.”

1A PLAYOFF BRACKET

Eatonville face Royal, a 35-14 winner over King’s earlier in the day, in a state title game that will see two 13-0 squads played at Harry E. Lang Stadium on the Clover Park High campus in Lakewood.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Even if the Cruisers offensive dominated the possession time at the beginning, the points did not come in bundles. Wulff scored with a four-yard run, the first of his three dazzling touchdowns, 11:30 a.m. in the second quarter.

When he got into the game, Eatonville had defeated Lynden Christian 172-12 but was only up 13-0. Then, two possession of the ball later, Tyler Sipma snuck out and around the left corner for 14 yards and a score, and the Lyncs were only 13-6, 5:39 to go in the second quarter.

But the Cruisers pushed further and took the ball away with two interceptions when Lynden Christian appeared to begin moving the ball. The second of these takeaways, from Riley Mcilraith, came on a First-and-10 from the Cruiser 27, on a pass thrown into the end zone.

VENTILATE

Eatonville scored the most points on the ground.

In addition to Wulff’s three roaring touchdowns, Dylan Norman ran the ball 16 times for 88 yards and the first score of the game – a 1-yard fall in less than four minutes.

But most of the cruiser’s damage came via the air, where Wulff made 13 of 16 passes for 323 yards and two more TDs. He hit passes over 20 yards six times, including 27-, 37-, and 61-yard bombs to Job Kralik; and 36- and 46-yarders to Jakob Lucht.

Despite continuing to play with an injured hand, Kralik still caught four balls for 133 yards and a score. He also blocked the lyncs’ lonely point after a touchdown kick attempt.

Lucht led the receiving corps with five catches for 135 yards and a TD.

“Our receivers worked great,” said Wulff. “Our offensive line, which could withstand all this pressure, allowed me to hit them.”

IT’S A WHOLE COMMUNITY AFFAIR

Lucht’s father, Bobby, the quarterbacks coach, was that Signal caller for the final cruiser title team in 1992. Also on the sidelines on Saturday was the running back of this team – Brandon Jumper. His son Caden just missed it after graduating from a building campaign in the spring.

Nevertheless, this run to the championship game can really be delayed by a year. Eatonville saw a great opportunity if the COVID-19 pandemic hadn’t robbed the 2020 playoffs.

Which makes this run and the now total of 16 games winning streak even sweeter.

“Not only so that the children can play well, but also so that the student body and the community can share in the joy of this whole thing,” said Eatonville trainer Gavin Kralik. “I think it means more to what everyone has been through for the past two years.”


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