SPSL 4A | Auburn decks No. 7 Federal Way

FEDERAL WAY — Jeff Gouveia goofed, then vowed to atone for it.

Promise made, promise kept.

Gouveia, who earlier missed an extra-point kick, scored on a 5-yard run late in the third quarter and added a two-point conversion run as Auburn rallied for a 21-14 victory over seventh-ranked Federal Way on Thursday. The South Puget Sound League 4A North Division showdown at Federal Way Memorial Stadium was the season opener for both schools.

"I told them [teammates], 'My bad, I'll make up for it,' and that's just what I did," said Gouveia, a beefed-up senior (5 feet 10, 200 pounds) who had a game-high 130 yards on 21 carries.

The teams tied for first in the SPSL North preseason coaches' poll, but neither was at full strength.

The Eagles were without running back/defensive back Andre Barrington, who didn't suit up due to a knee injury he described as a sprain. Coach John Meagher said he didn't know until about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday that Barrington would be unavailable. Kicker/punter Kelyn Rowe also sat out after missing practice time while making soccer recruiting trips to Notre Dame and Michigan. Federal Way suited up only 31 players, with several sitting out for academic reasons.

Auburn was missing quarterback/defensive back Carlo Lavoie, who was not eligible because he was one shy of the state's required 12 practices. Marshall Klontz, who had two starts last season, did a nice job filling in, but wasn't the same run-pass threat.

The Trojans outrushed Federal Way 284 yards to 22.

"Auburn's a physical football team," Meagher said. "They've got a couple of good running backs and a couple of big offensive linemen and they just kept pounding it at us."

Still, Federal Way led 14-13 after sophomore quarterback Nick Tanielu hooked up with Rian Miller for a 67-yard touchdown. Miller, 5-6 and 140 pounds, caught the ball at the Auburn 30-yard line and zoomed into the end zone. Tanielu, who completed five of eight passes for 99 yards with one interception, then added the PAT.

With Auburn back on top late in the fourth quarter, the Eagles were in prime position to score again when a botched punt snap set them up at the Trojans' 31. But Auburn sophomore Danny Shelton, a two-way starter on the line, forced a fumble on the next play and teammate Daniel Pita recovered with 5:45 to play. Auburn ate up the rest of the clock with Gouveia and Chris Young chewing up yards. Young had 66 yards on 11 carries.

Other games

At Spanaway Lake 56, Beamer 27

Shay Patton carried 27 times for 260 yards and three touchdowns as the Sentinels won their season opener in a South Division game. Patton, a 5-8, 230-pound junior, scored on runs of 9, 5 and 36 yards. Deven McKinney added 94 rushing yards and a TD for Spanaway Lake, which led 37-19 at halftime. Beamer's Benjamin Daraeger had five catches for 100 yards, including scoring receptions of 53 and 19 yards from A.J. Joiner. Tyler Enos led Titans rushers with 73 yards on seven carries.