Eastlake clinches 4A KingCo title in overtime win over Bothell, 3 takeaways

Ninth-ranked Wolves score go-ahead touchdown on first play of overtime, and defense does the rest in 14-7 victory

SAMMAMISH, Wash. - Ninth-ranked Eastlake's 14-7 overtime win against Bothell on Friday night won't earn the Wolves any style points, but the result will count the same.

Outside of a pair of touchdowns scored in the second quarter – one by each team – both offenses were stymied for much of the game.

Bothell got on the board first on a touchdown run from Wyatt Mickelberry from 1 yard out, but Eastlake answered on shortly after, scoring on a 4-yard run by RJ Abedi.

* WEEK 8 WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

Not another point would be scored in regulation with each defense finding ways to get the ball back to its offense.

On the first play of overtime, Eastlake quarterback Landon Renfroe delivered a 25-yard scoring strike to wide receiver Kade Haroldsen, which proved to be the game-winner after the Wolves' defense came up with yet another stop of the Cougars' offense.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

---

PASSING GAME STRUGGLES, BUT STRIKES AT PERFECT TIME

One week after Eastlake's trio of receivers racked up 336 receiving yards combined, the overall passing attack from the Wolves failed to find a solid rhythm Friday night.

Passes fell short, were overthrown or thrown into traffic nearly all night, making it hard for the offense to get rolling. But Renfroe made it look like the Wolves' offense had been clicking all night once overtime came, delivering the game-winning touchdown pass to Kade Haroldsen.

"I just kept telling myself that it can't get much worse than last week with four turnovers," Renfroe said. "I just had to keep going out there and my teammates helped me out and kept me in high spirits."

---

DEFENSE PICKS UP OFFENSE ALL NIGHT

As the offense struggled most of the night, the Eastlake defense shined, forcing two second-half fumbles to put an end to a pair of Bothell threats.

With that in mind, Eastlake coach Scott Hare didn't mind sending his punting unit out on the field at times.

"I knew our defense was playing really well, so we honestly didn't take a ton of chances," Hare said. "I really felt like punting was a good decision tonight and our defense just didn't give much up."

---

EASTLAKE CLAIMS 4A KINGCO CROWN FOR SECOND TIME

With one week left to play in the regular season, the Wolves have clinched the league title.

Given the league they play in, Hare didn't downplay the significance of being able to lock down the league title with a game remaining in the regular season.

"There's only been two KingCo titles (at Eastlake) in 30 years, so this is a number in the gym and nobody can take that away from the kids," Hare said. "It's a really tough region. There's a reason why I think we're the only team at this point in time that doesn't have two region losses. It's a region that beats up on each other. I feel really good we've made out of it unscathed so far."

---