SPSL 3A | Auburn rolls, secures 2nd place

AUBURN — An Auburn cheerleader didn't stand much of chance against her own team, getting run over at halftime when a banner slipped through her hands. The Auburn Riverside football team had about the same chance as the cheerleader.

As tough as Auburn was on its own cheerleader, the Trojans were even tougher on their cross-town rivals, winning 37-6 on Friday night in a South Puget Sound League 3A game at Auburn Memorial Stadium.

Auburn (7-2 overall, 6-1 league) clinched the league's No. 2 postseason spot while Auburn Riverside (4-3, 5-4) is No. 3. Auburn will host Arlington on Friday at 7 p.m. in a preliminary playoff game, and Auburn Riverside will play Meadowdale at Edmonds Stadium next Saturday at 7 p.m.

Auburn's offense might have not been running at full speed against Auburn Riverside, but the Trojans defense was stifling. Auburn held Auburn Riverside to 24 rushing yards and seven first downs. Auburn Riverside didn't get its initial first down until midway through the second quarter and finished with 96 total yards.

Turns out the Auburn cheerleader got off easy.

"We wanted to play physical and shut them down — and we did," said Auburn's Chris Frazier, who had two sacks.

Added Auburn coach Gordon Elliott: "The key was being disciplined on defense — and everyone doing their assignments. We had people in the right places most of the game and made the plays when we needed to."

Auburn quarterback Joe Rangel completed 6 of 9 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns and the Trojans ran for 244 yards (led by Jeff Gouveia's 148) as Auburn beat Riverside for the 12th straight time since the series started.

"We had heard the talk around town that this might be Riverside's year — that they were going to play us physical and win," said Elliott, whose son-in-law is the offensive coordinator for Auburn Riverside.

"We had some other ideas about that."

Other game

White River 31,

Enumclaw 6

At Pete's Pool in Enumclaw, junior running back Drew Foster had 168 yards and two TDs on 28 carries to lead White River (2-7, 2-5) over Enumclaw (4-5, 3-4).