SPSL Football | Kentridge tops Kent-Meridian, secures a berth

KENT — Brandon Turner is all about the bottom line.

Sure, this football season hasn't exactly gone the way he and his Kentridge teammates envisioned in August, when they were ranked among the state's top Class 4A teams and expected to run away with the South Puget Sound League North Division title.

But, bottom line, they are right where they want to be after Thursday's 28-0 victory over Kent-Meridian at French Field: in the playoffs.

"I wasn't ready to hang up my pads," Turner said after scoring two touchdowns and passing for another.

Kentridge (6-3 overall, 5-2 league) will advance to the preliminary round of the playoffs next week as either the No. 2 or 3 seed out of the division, depending on the outcome of tonight's Kentwood-Kentlake game.

Kent-Meridian (4-5, 3-3) was hoping to earn its first playoff berth since 1995 and trailed just 7-0 at halftime. But a pair of third-quarter scores, including Turner's 56-yard punt return, gave Kentridge control. Still, coach Trevor Roberts, the Royals' fifth head coach in seven years, is proud of the team's progress.

"We're striding leaps and bounds, and it's all a credit to these seniors," he said.

Turner, who had a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown called back on a penalty in the second quarter, recalled K-M's win over Kentridge his sophomore year, which ended a 32-game losing streak.

"We didn't take them lightly," he said.

Both teams were light on offense in the first half Thursday, thanks in part to five turnovers (three by Kentridge). Turner scored the only touchdown of the half on a 7-yard keeper, breaking three tackles along the way. That came shortly after a holding penalty negated his first punt return.

The Chargers began clicking in the second half and got a big boost from Turner's TD return as they took a 21-0 lead.

"All us coaches just said, 'No. 8 ain't bad,' " Kentridge coach Marty Osborn said in reference to Turner's jersey number. "That's a pretty good play."

SPSL 4A

Graham-Kapowsin 42, Emerald Ridge 14

At Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, Marcel Smith had 259 yards and four TDs on 31 carries as the Eagles (6-3, 5-2) wrapped up a postseason berth out of the South Division by routing the Jaguars (5-4, 3-4). Graham-Kapowsin had 436 yards to 156 for Emerald Ridge, which has lost four of its past five.

SPSL 3A

Bonney Lake 41, Sumner 6

At Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner, Zach Nash had five catches for 154 yards and three TDs as the Panthers (6-3, 4-3) sealed up third place — and a berth into the preliminary round of the state playoffs — by beating the Spartans (0-9, 0-7). Bonney Lake's win makes Enumclaw the fourth-place team, meaning the Hornets will face the Seamount's No. 4 (Lindbergh or Highline, who play tonight) in a pigtail game Tuesday. Bonney Lake quarterback Kyle Yanusevich was sharp, completing 8 of 10 passes for 180 yards and three TDs.

Franklin Pierce 45, Auburn Mountainview 14

At Auburn Memorial Stadium, quarterback Erich Armstrong had 258 yards and four TDs — to four different pass-catchers — on 24-of-35 passing as the sixth-ranked Cardinals (9-0, 7-0) finished off an undefeated regular season by cruising past the Lions (4-5, 2-5).