Bellevue survives scare, hangs on to 34-27 win

Just when it looked like California High School was ready to do what two of its state's powerhouse programs could not, Bellevue did it again.

Just when it looked like Bellevue was wearing down, not the other way around, the Wolverines drew one more long run from its wing-T offense.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, Peter Nguyen broke through the middle, sprinted across the Seahawks logo at Qwest Field and left California's defenders only to watch the blue No. 5 on his back as he ran in for a 59-yard touchdown. That ended up being the winner, saving a 34-27 win for the Wolverines in the final game of the Best of the West Football Classic on Saturday night.

"Thank God for No. 5," Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff said after his team survived its closest game of the young season.

Bellevue (3-0) once led 27-10 after Nguyen broke free on a 94-yard touchdown with only 48 seconds left in the first half. But in those last 48 seconds, the California team from San Ramon scored 10 points, starting with a 42-yard touchdown pass, which it followed with an onside kick and a 44-yard field goal on the half's final play. Two personal fouls hurt Bellevue, which had more than 100 penalty yards for the second time this season.

"We've got to grow up," Goncharoff said.

A Bellevue drive stalled after six plays to open the second half, and then California (1-1) had a 14-play touchdown drive that didn't end until there were 39 seconds left in the third quarter. That tied the score at 27. The Grizzlies kept running up the middle with 213-pound bruiser LeRoy Green, who had 34 carries for 172 yards.

"We just kept playing," California coach Tony Sanchez said.

But ultimately, Bellevue's big-play running game had one more play in it. Like California state powers De La Salle and Long Beach Poly before it — not to mention countless Washington teams — the Grizzlies had trouble containing the wing-T.

Bellevue finished with 497 rushing yards, 365 of which came in the first half. Nguyen finished with 22 carries for 223 yards.

Jamal Atofau had a 68-yard yard sprint on Bellevue's first play, and Freddie Levine broke off runs of 38 and 74 yards. Nguyen's brother, David, also had a touchdown run.

"You miss a tackle against these suckers, and they're taking it for 70," Sanchez said.