Coaches from both teams found things to build on in the Cougars’ 49-13 victory over the Tornados night at Ingersoll Stadium.
“Obviously, they’re a pretty good team,” Yelm coach Randy Swilley said of Capital. “They’re extremely well-coached, they’re disciplined, and they’re very athletic.
“We never gave up in the second half. We just keep building.”
Capital coach John Johnson was able to get all his players in the game as the Cougars (5-0, 1-0 Narrows 3A) led 28-0 after one quarter and 49-7 by halftime.
“The older guys executed without any mistakes,” Johnson said. “When they had an opportunity to make plays, they made plays.”
Capital’s first offensive series started with a short field from the Yelm 23 after a good kickoff return and a personal foul on the Tornados. Alex Everson found Roman Vern for 11 yards, then senior running back Tyler Sundberg found a seam and cruised to the end zone for the rest of distance.
Sundberg – and Vern – would be heard from again.
The fleet Vern got the Cougars on the board again on a 51-yard pass-and-run play from Everson.
On the next Yelm possession, back-to-back sacks of Tornados quarterback James Bradley by Chris Privette and Tevyn Stevenson knocked Yelm (1-4, 0-1) back to its 17 and into a punting situation.
The resulting short kick set the Cougars up at the Yelm 29, and two plays later, Sundberg angled into the end zone just inside the left pylon from 12 yards out.
Still in the first quarter, Jay Maiava gathered in an Everson pass and rambled 43 yards for a score.
It was Sundberg again on Capital’s first second-quarter possession, carrying twice for 19 yards before breaking loose for a 76-yard touchdown trip.
On the first play of the next Cougar series, Vern rambled untouched for a 37-yard touchdown. Sundberg, who carried nine times for 153 yards and four touchdowns, closed out the Cougars’ scoring with a 10-yard TD run.
Yelm, meanwhile, found its only offensive success in the first quarter with Jacob Swilley running the ball. Just before halftime, Swilley took over on the Tornados’ crispest drive of the game. The 175-pound sophomore had carries of 13 and 36 yards before breaking loose for a 27-yard touchdown.
