Seamount League | Evergreen denies Kennedy

BURIEN — One is thunder, the other lightning.

Together, Nuve Kongaika and Kyle Tunney took the Kennedy team by storm Friday night, leading Evergreen of White Center to a 52-24 victory at Highline Stadium.

They combined for 385 yards and six touchdowns as the ninth-ranked Wolverines (6-1, 4-1) snapped Kennedy's 43-game Seamount League win streak that dated to 2001, when Evergreen won 28-27.

"I've been waiting for this my senior year and it finally happened," said lineman Senio Kelemte, a Washington recruit who was all over the field defensively and a big factor in Evergreen's running attack.

A week after showing little fire in an upset loss to Renton, 23-22, the Wolverines erupted for one big play after another against Kennedy: Johnny Jackson's 52-yard TD run; Kongaika's 85-yard burst that set up his own 1-yard TD just before halftime; Tunney's 83-yard TD scamper; and Tim Miller's 55-yard TD return of an onside kick.

They played hard, then celebrated even harder in front of their screaming fans with the traditional Huka, a Polynesian victory dance.

Coach Shaun Tarantola was pleased to see his team return to form.

"This is what we expect to play like," he said. "We play with a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm. This is what our team is about."

Kennedy coach Bob Bourgette gave the Wolverines their due.

"You've got to give them credit," he said, "but I'm real proud of our kids. We'll be back."

Renton (6-1 overall, 5-0 league) now holds the Seamount lead and plays Kennedy (4-3, 4-1) in the final game of the season.

Evergreen jumped to a 20-0 lead, but Kennedy got some momentum after sacking quarterback Luther Leonard in the end zone for a safety and scoring on the ensuing possession, a 12-yard run by Nolan Washington, making it 20-9 with 1:42 left in the half.

It was Kongaika's 85-yard run that set up his own short touchdown just before the half that was like a knife in the heart for the Lancers.

Kongaika finished with 185 yards on 14 carries, while Tunney had 200 on 13 tries. Leonard completed only one of four passes for 13 yards.

Washington scored all three Kennedy touchdowns.

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

Other games

Lindbergh 55, Tyee 15

At Renton Stadium, Jake Allie had 185 yards and three TDs on 9-of-15 passing, David Valentine rushed for 152 yards and two TDs on 11 carries and Andre Jackson caught three passes for 94 yards and a TD as the Eagles (3-4, 3-2) routed the Totems (1-5, 0-5) for their third win in a row.

Hazen 14, Highline 7

At Highline Stadium in Burien, senior Bryan Daniels had a 2-yard TD run and a 60-yard TD catch as the Highlanders (2-5, 2-3) beat the Pirates (2-5, 1-4) for their second consecutive win. Hazen quarterback Travis Johnson, a freshman, completed 9 of 15 passes for 189 yards and a TD.