By Tom Rohrer
In football (and life), all good things must come to the end.
After bringing a perfect 13-0 record through the state semi-final games, the Tumwater High School football team lost to a familiar foe in the WIAA 2A state title game Saturday afternoon in the Tacoma Dome. For a complete set of photos from the game, click here.
The T-Birds fell to Lynden High School 38-28. It was the second time, in two consecutive years, that Tumwater has fallen to the Lions in the title game.
After falling behind 28-13 at the half, Tumwater showed championship resolve in the late moments of the third quarter and throughout the final period to keep the contest close. However, a Lynden field goal with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game put the Lions up two possessions and in control of their third straight 2A state championship.
Facing the two touchdown defecit at the half, the T-Bird seniors spoke up in the locker room about leaving all of their effort on the field.
“We talked about how this is our last half ever and that we needed to stop the stupid penalties and step up,” said senior running back Christian Cummings. “We just came up a little short.”
Down 35-21 with 4:26 to play in the fourth quarter, T-Bird senior quarterback Jayden Croft scored on a 4th and 1 quarterback keeper to cut the Lion’s lead to a touchdown. Following an onside kick attempt by Tumwater that was recovered by the Lions, Lynden would move down the field to score a 40-yard field goal by Alex Otano-Guenther with 1:34 left.
Tumwater would turn the ball over on downs their next possession before Lynden would run down the clock with a kneel-down to end the game.
Croft, playing in his last football game as a T-Bird, was proud of the resolve shown by his team.
“We knew we had it in us, and we left it out on the field,” said Croft. “I’m proud to be a part of this team because we never gave up once.”
Croft’s grandfather and T-Bird head coach Sid Otton, who has led Tumwater to five state championships during his tenure, echoed his grandson’s thoughts.
“They never give up and demonstrated that in the second half,” said Otton. ‘I wish we had 12 extra minutes left on the clock.”
Following the game, Otton reflected on his talented senior class and how they will learn from this experience.
“When they came in, we knew it was an athletic group that was a little arrogant. There was tons of improvement becoming more selfless and team oriented the last two years,” said Otton. “It’s like other things in life when stuff goes wrong. The sun will come up tomorrow and they will move on. They will realize how proud they should be for what they’ve done.”
The Tumwater community came out in full support of the school at the Tacoma Dome, a fact not lost on Croft and Otton both.
“They’re always behind us cheering no matter what. We had a police escort to this game – that shows how amazing the community is,” Croft said.
“They’ve been awesome, it’s always great to hear and see them,” said Otton. “They believe in the T-Birds.”
Despite the loss, Croft and Cummings will always remember the good times they had playing at Tumwater.
“I told [the team] it was a fun four years,” said Cummings. “It sucks ending this way but we had some great times.”
“We’ve been playing since youth football,” said Croft. “It’s been an amazing ride with some great guys. I’ll remember it forever.”
Even more game photos can be found by clicking here.
