A pair of football teams from southwestern Washington that are just 15 miles apart ended the seasons of Kentwood and Kentlake — which are located seven miles from each other — on Nov. 11.
Kentwood lost 34-7 to Skyview on the road in Vancouver, Wash., while Union traveled to French Field to defeat Kentlake 31-7.
It was a tough night at French Field for the Falcons.
Kentlake Head Coach Chris Paulson, in his second year at the helm, said Union came ready to stop his team.
“Union did a much better job of blocking and tackling than we did,” Paulson wrote in an email interview. “They controlled the line of scrimmage and were able to put time consuming drives together to keep the ball away from our offense. They are a very good, physical football team. When you turn the ball over and don’t take advantage of opportunities when you have them, it’s very difficult to win in the playoffs.”
Union had a 10-0 lead in the first half and on two Kentlake drives that looked like the Falcons were about to score, the Titans picked off the Falcons quarterbacks, ending both drives. Kentlake struggled to answer and couldn’t contain Union’s Gabe Rego or Brandon Brody-Heim, as each racked up more than 100 yards on the ground.
Still, Paulson said, the Falcons should be proud of what they accomplished in their best season since losing to Kentwood in the first round of state in 2000.
“Overall, we had a great season,” Paulson wrote. “It obviously didn’t end the way we would have liked, but I am very proud of our players. They finished 10-1 and are SPSL North champions. While we had higher expectations, that is nothing to be ashamed of. This was a special group of players and I am proud of the way they played and carried themselves throughout the season.
”Kentwood’s loss to Skyview was similar in that it was close in the first half but the Conquerors struggled to find its rhythm offensively.Skyview led 14-0 in the second quarter when Jackson Huerta scored Kentwood’s lone touchdown on a 43-yard fumble return.
After that, though, Skyview’s offense scored two more touchdowns and it locked down Kentwood’s offensive efforts, including a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final period.This was Kentwood’s third trip to the first round of the state tournament in the past four years.
