Tumwater kept its non-league hosts in check until Jordan Radcliffe broke free for a 29 yard pick up – Timberline’s first first down of the game – with 6:36 to go in the second half. That seemed to be exactly what the Blazers needed as they cruised from there to the tune of a 38-21 season-opening victory over the T-Birds.
“We didn’t do anything different, we just stayed the course,” Timberline coach Nick Mullen said of his squad’s offensive awakening. “We just stayed consistent and kept with it.”
At least at first, it was Class 2A Tumwater that looked in control, holding the Class 3A Blazers to a total of just 115 first-half yards while holding onto a slim 7-0 advantage as the first half clock wound down. But after a defensive stop, Timberline got the ball back with about 40 seconds left and with the help of a costly Tumwater pass interference call, set up a 12-yard Kevin Russell to Tariq Jabaiti reception that brought the Blazers, which missed the extra point, to within a point with 14.7 seconds left.
That little bit of momentum went a long way. The Blazers took the lead for good on a 14-yard Radcliffe run in the third quarter and then extended the lead to 17-7 following a Brandon Meyer field goal. Tumwater briefly made things interesting with a 47-yard Kyle Warner to Chandler Rodriguez pass with 2:40 left in the third, but the 21 unanswered Blazer points that followed sealed the deal.
“I thought they had a great plan, they were well prepared,” Tumwater coach Sid Otton said of Timberline. “I thought if we could keep it close we might have a shot in the fourth quarter. But hats off to them.”
In addition to Radcliffe, who finished with 146 yards on 13 carries and a pair of touchdowns, Timberline also received stellar play from Russell, who was making his first start at quarterback since taking over the position outright after sharing time at the spot last season. The junior reassured Mullen that he made the right choice by completing 15-of-24 attempts for 204 yards and three touchdowns.
Warner had himself a pretty solid night under center, as well. The T-Birds junior quarterback completed just five of 13 attempts but three of those went for touchdowns as he threw for 124 yards. Aside from the occasional long completion, however, Tumwater’s offense was mostly silent after halftime.
Credit unbelievable speed for Timberline’s turnaround after the half.
“We’re just explosive,” Mullen said. “We’re not big – we just keep going and going.”
“We know what our strengths are and we’ve got to play to them.”
Tumwater0 7 7 7 – 21
Timberline0 6 18 14 – 38
Tumwater – Jake Dowers 21 pass from Kyle Warner (Josh Wright kick)
Timberline – Tariq Jabaiti 12 pass from Kevin Russell (kick failed)
Timberline – Jordan Radcliffe 14 run (John Ferreira pass from Russell)
Timberline – Brandon Meyer 19 field goal
Tumwater – Chandler Rodriguez 47 pass from Warner (Wright kick)
Timberline – Quinton Sisson 35 pass from Russell (Meyer kick)
Timberline – Ferreira 23 pass from Russell (Meyer kick)
Timberline – Radcliffe 56 run (Meyer kick)
Tumwater – Jeff Levine 40 pass from Warner (Wright kick)
