Sparts retain Stilly Cup, gain playoffs

Senior running back Ben Ulrich (center) ran for 41 yards and recovered a fumble during the course of the game for the Spartans. PHOTO BY JOHN GALBREATH | STANWOOD/CAMANO NEWS Blustery winds, nearlyhorizontal rain, a muddy midfield and the Arlington Eagles – all were conquered by the Stanwood Spartans gridiron team Friday night.

The reward? Retention of the Stilly Cup and an upcoming playoff clash with the No. 1 4A football squad in the state this week.

Details about that postseason match-up with undefeated Bothell can be obtained from the SHS athletic director’s office at 629- 1322.

Using what has become a rather potent combination for them, the Sparts employed stellar line play, some fine running, a couple fine grabs by the receiving corps, an upfront defense that held its own and several fine defensive efforts by the deep backs to offset the Eagles’ potent offense in the 21-14 win.

Upon reflection, the aforementioned amalgamation seemed a bit over-thetop, so the Sparts tampered with the formula just enough times to make it an interesting game.

Aaron Cupp’s troops wasted no time putting the home team back on its collective heels. Michael Mc- Cune, the Spartans’ signal caller, seemingly enjoyed alternately handing off to his fellow seniors – running backs Ryan Schroyer, Ben Ulrich and Brad Gee – as they followed excellent knock-down blocks by the front line.

The local eleven marched downfield 59 yards – all on the ground - before Schroyer cut off left tackle Dexter Charles’s block for the final nine yards, culminating in a touchdown. Joe Eidsness’s extra point made it 7-0 after less than three minutes of play. After stalling the Eagles’ initial drive at midfield, the Sparts used a 15-stripe run by Schroyer and a marvelous 27-yard aerial to Clint Hepper to set up their second score – this time on the shoulders of Brad Gee – to raise the score to 14-0.

Arlington scored with a 26-yard completion to trail by a single touchdown just seven seconds into the second period.

On the Eagles’ next possession, Spartan linebackers Michael Randall and Jay Steik sacked Andy Smith and Stanwood took over on downs for the third time in the first half.

Once again Schroyer and Gee mucked out a series of hard-earned runs through the slimy trough of a field starting at their own 34, culminating, appropriately enough, with Gee’s six-stripe goalcrossing off Dexter Charles’ backside.

Immediately thereafter, Ben Ulrich pounced on a loose ball, but he and his teammates had to prematurely give up the pigskin on downs at the Eagle 25. The Spartan faithful needn’t have worried about an immediate Arlington comeback, despite a long pass completion, since a Steik sack and an Eidsness knock-away in the end zone ended the first half of play.

With Stanwood gaining 182 yards on the ground and having the defense limit the Eagles to a negative 22 stripes in the first half, things seemed to be under control for the local gridders.

Arlington, however, opened the third frame with an extended, well-executed series that resulted in an eureka moment following a 16- play, 86-yard drive that ate away nearly seven minutes of play clock. Suddenly it was just 21-14, Stanwood.

Then it began to get interesting.

On the Eagles’ next possession, Brock Reinecke brought an abrupt end to the hosts’ hope for a quick score. Despite a how-in-the-heckdid he-catch-that ensnarement of a 38-yard McCune pass by wide receiver Kale Schmidt, the Sparts had to relinquish the pigskin deep in Arlington territory once again.

A series of abbreviated drives followed as the interminable clock seemed mired in the slimy mud that now covered the field from goal line to goal line.

Two successive sacks – first by Michael Randall and then by a host of his teammates – provided the red and white with another opportunity to score. When that didn’t happen, Randall, Zack Johnson and Sam Harris put a touch of finality on the festivities by pressuring the quarterback on three successive downs.

That defensive series allowed McCune to employ the ole genuflect offense (kneeling on the last two plays as the clock wound down).

The retention of the fabled Stilly Cup for the second year in a row marked the first time that had happened for Stanwood since coach Tom Boehme’s 1992 and ’93 teams had done it some 16 seasons ago.