Notebook | Bothell's "fun ride" ends with tough loss

TACOMA — Johnny Hekker hated the destination.

But he loved the ride.

"This was an amazing season, from beginning to end," the Bothell quarterback said. "I couldn't imagine a better season than that."

Actually, the top-ranked Cougars did imagine something a little better than the second-place finish they had to swallow for the second year in a row. They were confident they would cap a perfect season with a victory over surprising Lewis and Clark of Spokane on Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome.

But, once again, Bothell came up short, 21-14. The same score as last year's championship game against Oak Harbor.

This one felt twice as bad.

After the final horn, Bothell players crumpled to the ground in tears. Some hugged and clung together, almost afraid to let go. Tom Bainter barely held it together, accepting the second-place plaque but refusing to force his players to line up for the obligatory postgame photo.

This was not a picture the Cougars ever want to savor.

"We've done this before," coach Tom Bainter said. "This doesn't feel good."

It didn't feel good last year, either. But it was the school's first trip to the championship game. Deep down, the expectations weren't quite the same.

"The first time you're here, whether you want to believe it or not, or try not to think it, the fact is you made it there and it's neat to be there," Bainter said. "Of course you want to win it and when you don't, it hurts. But when you've tasted it before and it just slips out from under you, and then you get a chance to do it again. ... It's just crushing."

Senior Nate Proulx couldn't seem to drag himself off the field. He and his mother shared a long hug over the sideline barrier before he finally walked away.

"I just can't believe we lost," Proulx said. "We worked so hard."

And they were so certain it would pay off with a victory. When it didn't, the disappointment was unimaginable.

"It's way worse this year," Proulx said.

Guys like junior linebacker Robby Storm, who lived up to his name in the second half, might have another chance next season. But that wasn't much consolation to him Saturday night as tears streamed down his face.

"I tried to win one for the seniors," Storm said. "The seniors won't be here next year, and I've grown to love them. They're part of my family."

Hekker took the loss personally at first, blaming himself for the two second-half interceptions that helped the Tigers to claim their first championship.

His first words to reporters, "I blew it big time."

But then he was able to step back and see the bigger picture. The 13 wins, rather than the one loss.

"It's a tough way to go out," Hekker said, "but we made it this far. No. 2 isn't bad. It's not what we wanted, but it was a fun ride while it lasted."

Sandy Ringer: sringer@seattletimes.com