Hawks fly into state football final

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A trip to the program's first-ever state football semifinals wasn’t enough for Hockinson.

After a 53-30 win at Gonzaga Prep in Spokane last Saturday against West Valley in Spokane, the Hawks will play in the 2A state football championship this weekend at the Tacoma Dome.

“The kids said a long time ago, ‘Coach, we’re going to play 14 games this year,’ and guess what? Here we are,” Head Coach Rick Steele said after the game. “I’m very excited for this football program to play in the Tacoma Dome and have a shot at the state championship.”

Although a 23-point win looks lopsided, much like their quarterfinal the prior weekend, the Hawks didn’t pull away until the second half. The Hawks were up by only five at the half, 28-23.

The Hawks’ first score of the game was another Racanelli family reunion as senior quarterback Canon Racanelli found his brother, sophomore wide receiver Sawyer Racanelli, for a 40-yard receiving touchdown, which put the Hawks up 7-0 after the extra point.

West Valley evened the score at seven with a rushing touchdown and extra point, putting the score at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the two teams traded leads and big plays through the air.

Sawyer collected an interception on the defensive side, and his older brother ran in a 29-yard keeper to put the Hawks on top 14-7 after the extra point.

The Eagles found their way back on top, 16-14, following a safety and later a 52-yard receiving touchdown, but Canon again found Sawyer, this time for a 51-yard reception, to put the Hawks back on top 21-16 after the extra point.



The Eagles struck through the air again with a 73-yard touchdown, climbing back on top 23-21 after the extra point, but Canon Racanelli found sophomore wide receiver Peyton Brammer for a 29-yard touchdown reception to put the Hawks back on top 28-23, where it would stay at the half.

Steele said overcoming the adversity of the first half in such a big way was an important test the team passed.

“We’ve been ahead in so many games this year — we’ve never play from behind,” he said. “The kids just kept playing hard and nobody let down. We made some adjustments at halftime and came out and took it to them.”

Hockinson didn’t wait long to start pulling away in the third quarter. The Hawks recovered a fumble in the Eagles’ endzone for a touchdown. Canon Racanelli had another keeper for a 1-yard touchdown to put Hockinson up 40-23. West Valley failed to score in the third quarter, and by the time they found the endzone again in the fourth, the Hawks had already racked up 13 more points.

Canon connected with senior slot receiver Matt Henry for a 1-yard touchdown reception, and senior running back Tony Richardson had a 58-yard rushing touchdown.

Canon finished the game 20 for 37 through the air for 348 yards and four touchdowns, coupled with 12 rushes for 93 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Sawyer had six catches for 212 yards and two touchdowns, while Brammer ended up with 7 catches for 100 yards.

Richardson rushed three times for 74 yards.