Van Sickle's TD with 16.1 seconds remaining lifts Capital, 29-22

BELLEVUE – If the first game if the year is a good indication of what lies ahead for the Capital Cougars, chances are they’ll do just fine as a Class 2A program this season.

Competing against its first of four Class 4A nonleague opponents Thursday night, Capital’s victory over 4A Newport came down to its final offensive play of the night, as Kai Van Sickle’s 20-yard touchdown was the game winner in the Cougars’ 29-22 victory over Newport of Bellevue at Bill Green Stadium at Newport High School.

Tied at 22-all following a game-tying touchdown by Newport’s Brian Setijono with 5 minutes, 44 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Capital (1-0) used almost the entire remaining clock for its game-winning drive. On third-and-11 from the 41 with 1:12 remaining, Tad Maiava’s 25-yard catch down the left sideline set up a first-and-10 from the 15. Three plays later, Van Sickle rolled to the right and into the end zone with 16.1 seconds remaining for his third touchdown of the night.

Newport was the first game of a tough nonleague schedule for the Cougars that features all Class 4A teams. Up next is Olympia in the Spaghetti Bowl next Friday, followed by Bothell in Week 3 and Bellarmine in Week 5. Sandwiched in-between is its 2A Evergreen Conference opener Sept. 22 against Tumwater.

“We told them, ‘None of these 4A games are going to be easy,’” Capital coach J.D. Johnson said. “Tonight, I think we learned a good lesson.”

Read more about Capital's victory over Newport in Friday's Olympian