The Tahoma Bears have had a season to remember, rolling into the playoffs with an
incredible run late in the season scoring forty or more points in five straight
games, a five game winning streak, a come from behind win. All in their voyage that
leads these Bears into the play offs for first time since 2007 and their first winning
season since 2008. The Bears came into the playoffs with the SPSL North’s three
spot, which lead them to a long voyage to the Union Titians in Vancouver, for a
big physical game against the fifteenth ranked team in the state.
The Bears big game started out on a calm night in Vancouver, with the clouds on
the horizon at kickoff. The Titans started off the game with a beautiful return
down the side line which gave them great field position, setting their offense up
for success early. Their running game took advantage of the field possession. When
Union’s Brandon Brody- Heim, broke down the left sideline on the first play from
possession and left the Bears in the dust when he marched for a big forty-four yard
run only to get bumped out of bounds, leading to a two yard touchdown play only
one minute into the game, giving Union an early lead which they wouldn’t give back.
The Bears offense needed to come out in a horse race, and put some pressure on the
Titans due to the Bears struggling defense that has plagued them all year when it
came down to the big plays. The offense came out early, with little blocking and
still fought for big meaningful first downs with the strong running backs that keep
the offense rolling. Yet with these great running backs the Bears couldn’t keep
things rolling, giving the Union the ball back and another opportunity, because
of the strong running attack that put the Union in the playoffs. This running game
led the Titans, to walk into the end zone, on a left side line trap play to earn
them a fourteen point lead eight minutes in the game. They coasted on this lead
to finish the first quarter.
The second quarter begins with a big mistake by Union when their quarterback mishandled
the snap, allowing the Bears to recover the ball with great field possession, yet
they could not capitalize, costing the Bears their first opportunity to put pressure
on the Titans and get into the game. The Union Titans were the ones to capitalize
on the opposing teams mistakes when the Union quarterback cut down a seem, broke
several tackles when he slid to the sideline and used his breakaway speed to get
to the end zone on a seventy yard touchdown, continuing their big play offensive
romp on the Bears. The Union’s defense was continuing to keep the Bears offense
in wraps the entire first half making it a completely one sided. The scale got tipped
in the Titans direction even more late in the half when the running game scarred
the Bears even more going into the half on another big running play giving them
the twenty eight, zero lead at half.
The Bears came out of the locker room, pumped up and rejuvenated; looking like the
game had just begun. Senior co-captain David Stoecker showed this more than anybody,
when he was jumping on the sideline screaming “believe, believe.” The Bears were
ready to come out and show they weren’t going to quit and they did exactly that,
When they showed a presence in the game, slowing the Titans running game, getting
their line to get a push while blocking allowing Beau Riggs’ to bring the running
game into his hand carrying his team to big plays and crucial ones in the second
half. The Bears big drive that took up most of the quarter and took them into the
red zone for the first time in the game and tragedy struck the Bears When a pass
was bobbled on the twelve yard line and intercepted by Unions cornerback and was
returned eighty five yard back to the end zone, dropping the Bears heads with the
third quarter ending. But the Seniors wouldn’t let the team quit making them raise
a four high, because they were going to finish, they were going to score, and win
the fourth quarter , finishing their football career at Tahoma with one last drive
to remember. They did exactly that, when the Bears were marching down the field
mixing things up with screen passes, corner routes, sweeps on both ends of the field.
The Bears drive was thriving and their hopes of scoring was threatened on a fourth
and three late in the fourth quarter. With the Bears down two running backs, the
ball was given to Beau Riggs who carried his team for a first down. Leading to a
Jason Smith fourteen yard outside shoulder reception from Shane Nelson, resulting
in the bear’s only touchdown of the game. Capping off the great careers of the seniors
who lead this team through ups and downs the last few years, but still finished
strong, even in their forty-two, seven loss in their only playoff game.
