The Kentwood High football team passed the test Friday night at French Field.
Literally.
A program long-known for its running, grind-it-out style of play turned to the air in sealing a playoff berth in a loser-out game against Kentlake. Quarterback Tristan Askew completed 5 of 8 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Conquerors past the Falcons 28-0 in the final regular-season South Puget Sound League North Division game for both teams.
Askew’s performance was exactly what the Conquerors needed in the must-win situation.
“For us to come out and throw the football … I am happy about that. I thought Tristan had a hell of a game,” said Kentwood coach Rex Norris. “He is an example of a kid who sat and waited his turn. He has come out his senior year and been a workaholic. He has listened, taken advice on things and it’s paying off.”
It certainly paid off Friday night.
With the win, the Conquerors (6-2 in league, 7-2 overall) will take the SPSL North’s No. 2 seed to the playoffs. A loss would have eliminated Kentwood from qualifying for the postseason and given Kentlake the North’s No. 4 seed. Instead, the Conquerors will open the playoffs at home next Friday, when they play host to Issaquah (6-3), the KingCo’s No. 3 seed. Issaquah beat Woodinville 28-21 on Friday night to earn the playoff berth. Issaquah beat Kentwood last year in the state opener, 31-28.
Askew helped the Conquerors make an immediate statement on Friday night. He opened the game by finding wide receiver AC Songco down the right sideline for an 18-yard gain. Two plays later, Askew ripped off a 15-yard gain with his legs, then found Songco again two plays later, this time on a 26-yard touchdown strike on a play in which he escaped heavy pressure. The score gave Kentwood a 7-0 lead just 1:59 into the game.
How badly did Askew want this win?
“I felt I did (have to perform),” said Askew, who also rushed for 87 yards on eight carries and who finished with 263 yards of total offense. “I wanted to take my team to the playoffs.”
The Kentwood senior put his right arm on display midway through the second quarter, hooking up again with Songco on a 56-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline, giving the Conquerors a 14-0 lead with 7:22 remaining in the half. Staring at a 2nd-and-13 at the Kentwood 44 yard line, Askew took a four-step drop, escaped pressure, and then delivered a 45-yard dart to Songco, who galloped into the end zone untouched for the final 15 yards.
“Tristan Askew has got a cannon for an arm,” said Songco, who pulled in three passes for 100 yards, including the two touchdowns. “We’ve been practicing that play all week. I run as fast as I can … I go deep and Tristan just led me.”
Combined with quarterback Shane Green, who often alternates possessions with Askew, the KW duo completed 10 of 15 passes for 244 yards.
“(Askew) is a real solid quarterback. He’s a triple threat,” said Kentlake coach Mike Shepard. “He runs the option very, very well. He runs the ball well and he’s got a great arm. Follow that up with (Green) and they do some good things.”
Kentwood pushed its lead to 21-0 at halftime on a 1-yard touchdown run by Brandon Hargrove. The touchdown was set up by a 46-yard pass play from Askew to Jason Boyce.
The Conquerors put the game away with an 11-play, 52-yard drive on their first possession of the third quarter. Matt Hubbard finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.
“This was very big,” Askew said. “If we lost, then we would have to do a crossover game (next week). I didn’t want that. I wanted to play Issaquah next week and that’s what we’re doing.”
As good as Askew played, the Kentwood defense was just as impressive. The Conquerors collected their second shutout of the season and haven’t allowed a score since the second quarter of last week’s 13-7 win over Kentridge. In addition, the Conquerors kept Kentlake quarterback Tyler Borgen on the run all night. Borgen was sacked four times. Nathan Herrick, Jeremy Antonio and Taylor White all recorded solo sacks while Josh Smith and Quijaan Lawson teamed up for the fourth.
Kentwood held Kentlake to 148 yards of total offense, 53 in the second half. It’s the first time Kentlake has been shutout since Nov. 3, 2005 against Bethel (23-0).
“I don’t think we played to our potential,” Shepard lamented. “I don’t know if we can attribute that to kids not being ready or what. I thought we were going to play a whole lot better.”
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