Cougars fall to polished team

By Ron Newberry | The Olympian • Published December 02, 2008

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LAKEWOOD – Capital High School fell two victories shy of a Class 3A state high school football championship, but it wasn't for a lack of hustle and determination.

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Bellevue drops Capital in State semi-final

That effort was applauded by a large gathering of Capital fans as the clock ran out on a 28-6 loss to Bellevue High School — and on the Cougars' season — Monday night at Harry E. Lang Stadium.

A crowd estimated at 3,500 watched an overmatched Capital team fight it out to the end, saving its best drive for last against a polished program that has won five state titles in the past seven seasons.

The semifinal victory will move Bellevue (13-0) into a state championship date with Union of Vancouver (13-0) at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Tacoma Dome, while Capital finished the season 9-4 in coach J.D. Johnson's second year with the Cougars.

It was Capital's first trip to the state semifinals since 2002.

"I'm not going to fault your heart, and I'm not going to fault your effort," Johnson told his team in the locker room after the game. "That's what got you this far."

What hurt Capital's chances against Bellevue, according to Johnson, was a lack of execution.

Bellevue's tricky Wing-T offense was so deceptive that it was difficult to know which player had the ball before it was too late. The Wolverines scored touchdowns on their first two possessions to take a 14-0 first quarter lead.

"They run it the best I've ever seen," Johnson said.

Bellevue looked polished despite having to play just three days after the team's bus crashed Friday. A team bus rolled en route to the Tacoma Dome, sending six players to the hospital and forcing the game against Capital to be rescheduled.

Only one injured Bellevue player missed the game Monday night.

"We had guys beat up," Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff said. "They gutted it out, and we're playing football again."

Down 28-0, Capital got on the scoreboard on an 18-play drive culminated by Riley Wall's 1-yard touchdown run with 3:10 to play.

"Getting that six points on the board meant a lot to us," quarterback Kellen Camus said.