Hockinson running back Tommy Harshaw said the Hawks’ first-round game in the Class 2A state football playoffs was a little like looking into a mirror.
“It was like we were playing ourselves,’’ said Harshaw, who scored the game’s only touchdown to lead Hockinson to a 7-2 win over North Kitsap Saturday in Poulsbo.
Hockinson and North Kitsap entered the game with identical 10-0 records, but the similarities didn’t stop there. Both teams ran the same offense and each had a stingy, physical defense.
“They were one of the toughest defensive teams we’ve played all year,’’ Harshaw said. “They were a lot like our team. They ran the same Wing-T offense and their defense was similar to ours in so many ways.’’
The similarity between the two teams led to a scoreless first half. The two scores that did occur, each came in the third quarter.
After a North Kitsap punt pinned Hockinson down at the Hawks’ own 1-yard line, Harshaw was tackled in the end zone for a safety, which gave North Kitsap a 2-0 lead.
“We ran a sweep play and we were expecting to bounce it outside but that defense was really good,’’ Harshaw said.
Later in the third quarter, Hockinson recovered a North Kitsap fumble near midfield. A couple plays later, Harshaw got a rare opening in the North Kitsap defense and made the most of it, racing 29 yards to the end zone for the game’s only touchdown.
Harshaw credited the blocks of fellow running backs Joe Davis and Austen Johnson for giving him the space to break through the North Kitsap defense.
“It was a counter left play,’’ Harshaw said. “My two lead blockers were our other running backs (Davis and Johnson). They double-teamed one of their linebackers and that created a small hole that I was able to squeeze through.’’
Hockinson had used the same play for a key touchdown earlier this season in a win over Greater St. Helens League-rival Woodland.
“It’s a play we’ve scored with several times this season,’’ said Hockinson coach Rick Steele. “If you get him (Harshaw) a crease, with his speed, he’s gone.’’
Hockinson had a touchdown pass by quarterback Mitch Lines called back due to a penalty and the Hawks also missed a field goal attempt. But, it was the play of the team’s defense that deserved most of the credit for the win, the school’s first ever in the state playoffs.
North Kitsap managed just 160 yards of total offense in the game.
“It took us about a half of a quarter to figure them out,’’ said Steele. “They drove down to our 30 (yard line) in the first quarter and missed a field goal. After that, they never really threatened. Our defense really put the clamps on them and you could tell that they were really frustrated.’’
Steele heaped high praise on outside linebacker Kedrick Johnson and inside linebackers Steven Carlisle and Joe Davis as well as defensive linemen Josh Carter, Peter Schultz-Rathbun and Aaron Burns.
On offense, Hockinson didn’t have a whole lot more success than its opponents. Harshaw had 45 yards on 14 carries and Austen Johnson managed just 25 yards on eight carries. Lines completed six of his 13 passes for 79 yards.
“That kid had a big game,’’ Steele said of Lines. “He didn’t have that many yards passing but when we really needed a first down, he got it for us.’’
Steele also credited tight end Cameron Loos with a couple of big plays. Loos finished with 34 yards on two catches.
Hockinson’s win came on North Kitsap’s own home field after a four-hour bus ride. The Hawks will have a similar task this week in the state quarterfinals when they travel to Bellingham to meet Lynden in a game to be played Sat., Nov. 22 at Civic Stadium.
Lynden has won the last three 2A state championships and four out of the last five. The Lions have won the state title six times since 2006. Lynden shared the Northwest Conference title this season with Sedro Woolley. Among the eight teams still alive in the 2A state playoffs, four are from the Northwest Conference.
“They’re really good but they’re not the team they’ve been the last three years,’’ Steele said. “They’ve had some close games and they lost to Ferndale (37-35). And the game after they lost to Ferndale they only won by three points (33-30 over Sedro Woolley). They’re still a good football team, but they’re not unbeatable like they’ve been in the past.’’
Lynden advanced to the second round with a 41-21 win over River Ridge.
