SPSL 4A Football | Puyallup finds a way to win

PUYALLUP — D.J. Williams was gassed and he wanted to make sure he had a little something left in his tank.

Then with the finish line in sight, he put the pedal to the metal.

After fourth-ranked Puyallup (2-0) took advantage of a huge Kentwood blunder late in the game to take the lead, Williams revved his motor and sacked quarterback Luke Angevine three straight times as the clock ran out, preserving the Vikings' unlikely 25-24 victory Friday night at Sparks Stadium.

"I'm so tired," said a sweat-soaked Williams, who carried the ball 23 times for 126 yards and one touchdown. "That [the sacks] was all heart."

It was a heartbreaking loss for Kentwood (1-1), which led 24-17 with less than a minute and a half to play. On third-and-one at its 25, Demetrius Bronson couldn't corral a wobbly pitch and Puyallup's Tyler Davis recovered at the 19 — the lone glitch on an otherwise glittery night for the Washington-bound running back, who carried 24 times for 226 yards and a touchdown.

"I guess it was tipped," Bronson said of the pitch.

On the series before, Kentwood lost 41 yards and the ball on a bad punt snap, setting Puyallup up at the 17. But the defense held Williams short on fourth-and-six.

This time, the Vikings would not be denied. Quarterback Alec Elliott, who had misfired on six consecutive passes after a hot start, found Rob Slettvett for a nine-yard gain on fourth-and-four.

With Williams on the sideline, James Shafer scored from 4 yards on the next play with 1:18 on the clock, cutting Kentwood's lead to 24-23.

That's when Tom Ingles, who spent 14 years at Kentwood before taking over as Puyallup coach in 2004, decided to gamble and go for the two-point conversion. Once again, Elliott hooked up with Slettvett, putting the Vikings up 25-24 and sending the packed stadium into a frenzy.

"That's Tom Ingles for you," Bronson said. "He's a Hall of Fame coach."

Ingles said it seemed like the right thing to do after Puyallup regained the momentum.

"I thought, 'What the heck, why not go for it?' " Ingles said.

Other games

At Auburn 42,

Kent-Meridian 20

The Trojans (1-1) bounced back from a season-opening loss to Curtis of University Place by beating the Royals (1-1). It was 7-6 Kent-Meridian in the first quarter before Auburn scored 36 consecutive points. The Trojans next visit Franklin Pierce for an SPSL 3A showdown Friday.

Evergreen (Vancouver) 38,

at Curtis 7

Quarterback Bobby Cowan had 311 yards and two TDs on 21-of-32 passing to lead the Plainsmen (1-1) over the Vikings (1-1).

Beamer 31,

Decatur 21

At Federal Way Stadium, Josh Waller returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a TD and added two receiving scores as the Titans (2-0) beat the Gators (1-0). Lamardray Fuller had 60 yards and a TD on 10 carries for Beamer.

Bethel 20,

Kentlake 12

At Art Crate Stadium in Spanaway, the Braves (2-0) stopped a Falcons fourth-down pass play short of the end zone as time expired. Senior Ikaika Gleason had 125 yards and a TD on seven carries for Bethel. He also had three catches for 44 yards. Kyle Schafbauer returned an interception 75 yards for a Kentlake TD.

Sandy Ringer: 206-718-1512 or sringer@seattletimes.com