Everett
The matchup at Everett Memorial Stadium on Friday, a Wesco 3A Central contest, saw Marysville Getchell unable to capitalize on early drives. After twice failing to convert on downs within striking distance of the end zone, the Chargers entered halftime trailing Cascade 6-0.
Marysville Getchell opened the third quarter with a possession that consumed over seven minutes, utilizing a heavy rushing attack to move the ball to the five-yard line. Following a 16-yard gain by a junior runner to reach the five, the Cascade defense executed a four-down stand. The sequence included a tackle for loss on first down, stops at the line of scrimmage on second and third, and another tackle for loss on fourth down, marking the Chargers' third turnover on downs of the contest.
A Marysville Getchell senior defender described the atmosphere as nerve-wracking and noted the defensive nature of the game.
Cascade responded with a 10-yard rush followed by a 16-yard gain to advance to the 32-yard line. However, the drive was halted when a senior defender intercepted a pass intended for a sideline target, forcing a punt three plays later.
The Chargers, now 3-2 overall and 1-1 in league play, capitalized on the turnover following halftime adjustments to take a 7-6 lead. They added another touchdown following a subsequent interception to secure a 14-6 victory over the Bruins, who fall to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in league action.
Regarding the interception that shifted the game's momentum, the senior defender stated he was watching the quarterback's eyes and anticipated a route in the middle of the field, resulting in the ball coming directly to him.
Following the game, head coach Davis Lura descended from the press box to join the team. Lura had been hospitalized earlier in the week due to a non-life-threatening health concern, preventing him from coaching directly from the sideline.
Lura explained that he had been under the weather and limited his involvement to offensive planning, delegating the rest to his assistants. He expressed pride in his staff for taking over the practice plans and coaching responsibilities during his absence, stating that he feels much better now.
Rushing for 119 yards on 18 attempts, Christy paced the offensive effort. Senior Cooper Agen and freshman Gildas Couassi both contributed touchdowns along with at least 30 yards apiece. Bertapelle added 32 yards through the air and 13 on the ground, while he and Apilado each secured two interceptions to help the offense recover from early difficulties.
Marysville Getchell recorded 53 rushing yards during the first half but finished with 220 overall. According to Lura, improved discipline in executing blocking schemes against double- and triple-teams on the line was the primary adjustment. The offense is continuing to fill gaps left by injuries to senior quarterback Brody Olsen and 2025 Second Team All-League running back Connor Conant, though underclassmen have helped lessen the impact.
Lura noted that these other players work hard and are football players. He added that he would not play freshmen if he did not believe they could compete, stating they have performed well.
Prior to the Chargers cleaning up their offensive execution, Cascade appeared ready to pull away. The Bruins had three plays reach the end zone in the first half, though penalties negated two of them. A fake field goal resulted in a 13-yard touchdown, and after being pushed back to 4th-and-11 on the 18-yard line, Cascade brought the offense back onto the field to attempt the conversion.
Marysville Getchell sent three pass rushers toward quarterback David Powers, but the junior threw a pass toward the end zone. The ball traveled higher than it did forward, yet Hill caught it along the right sideline and evaded a defender for an 18-yard touchdown reception. The drive had begun with a 38-yard run by Powers and significant gains from Nolasso and Henry, drawing a reaction from the crowd as the home team took a 6-0 lead with 47 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Lura commented that if the ball goes up, they cannot assume it will not be caught. He described the touchdown scored by Cascade as one of the best catches he has ever seen.
Hill finished with 86 yards and a touchdown on six receptions, plus 15 rushing yards. Powers passed for 130 yards and added 67 on the ground, though the touchdown remained the team's only highlight. An 84-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Hill was overturned, and Bertapelle intercepted a pass on the following play to return the ball to the Chargers.
Senior Jibran Munive and junior Cam Washington each recorded a tackle for loss on the ensuing possession to force another turnover on downs. The Bruins then drove 65 yards but missed a 22-yard field goal attempt with eight seconds remaining in the half. Coach Richard Stuart indicated he wanted a clearer path to a two-possession lead by halftime, though he acknowledged that given Cascade's dominance at the time, he did not believe it would have a major impact on the game.
Marysville-Puyallup coach Chris Stuart reflected on the outcome, noting that the team’s own errors, including missed opportunities and penalties, created a deficit they struggled to recover from. He described the situation as the squad repeatedly making costly mistakes, a pattern he acknowledged needs correction.
The visiting defense held firm with a critical goal-line stop early in the third quarter, but two subsequent interceptions shifted momentum to the home team. Marysville-Puyallup capitalization on these turnovers included a nine-play, 56-yard scoring drive that ended with a two-yard rushing touchdown by a junior, extending their lead to 14-6 with under three minutes remaining in the third quarter. Later, after forcing the visitors into difficult long-yardage situations, a senior defender intercepted the ball for the second time, effectively securing the victory with just over a minute left on the clock.
Marysville-Puyallup head coach Brian Bertapelle explained that once the defensive unit began generating turnovers and the offense started gaining significant yardage, the team found a rhythm that they maintained until the final whistle.
Both programs entered the season following 0-10 campaigns, though their current trajectories differ. The visiting team, which fell 3-0 to Jackson in the previous week, will seek to turn around another low-scoring loss that they believed was within reach. The home squad has already secured more victories this season than in the prior two years combined. While their star players produced key plays throughout the contest, a lack of bench depth ultimately contributed to their defeat.
Stuart emphasized that the team is making progress, pointing to recent close games as evidence that they are competitive. He stated that the group must now learn how to close out wins and respond effectively when faced with adversity.
For Marysville-Puyallup, the coaching staff aims to capitalize on the resilience displayed in this comeback, with two additional league matches approaching. Bertapelle highlighted the team’s ability to stay composed while trailing, noting that their aggressive performance in the second half demonstrated the grit required to overcome a deficit.