Originally published Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 12:00 AM

SPSL North | Role player leads Kentwood past Federal Way, 24-7

Bryan Carlson is content being a role player for the Kentwood High football team. Friday night, his role was playing a hero. Carlson, a low-profile running...

By Sandy Ringer

Seattle Times staff reporter

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KENT — Bryan Carlson is content being a role player for the Kentwood High football team.

Friday night, his role was playing a hero.

Carlson, a low-profile running back and linebacker, scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to propel the Conquerors to a 24-7 victory over ninth-ranked Federal Way and keep their playoff hopes alive. After giving Kentwood the lead on a 22-yard run, he sealed the win with a 29-yard interception return for the final score.

It was a perfect performance on Homecoming night by a senior willing to do whatever is asked of him.

"If they need anything, they can put me in and I'll try my hardest to do it," Carlson said.

The Conquerors (5-2, 4-2) were in dire need of a fourth straight win in a log-jammed South Puget Sound League 4A North Division.

Federal Way (5-2, 4-2) had won five in a row since a season-opening loss to Auburn. But the Eagles on Friday were hurt by the loss of linebacker/offensive lineman Andru Pulu, who left with a leg injury in the second quarter; receiver/defensive back Nico Curran, who suffered a back injury in the fourth quarter, delaying the game nearly 15 minutes while he was taken from the field; and quarterback/defensive back Nick Tanielu, who was knocked out of the game in the final two minutes.

But coach John Meagher made no excuses.

"We were outplayed," he said.

Kentwood led early on a 20-yard field goal by Matt Bell, the only scoring in a rain-soaked first half. Federal Way jumped on top in the third quarter when Williams broke through the line on a fourth-and-one play and raced 44 yards to the end zone.

But the fourth quarter belonged to Carlson and the Conquerors.

Andre Barrington led the Eagles with 107 yards on 20 rushes, but he fumbled twice. The second led to a 13-yard TD run by sophomore Joseph Banks as Kentwood took a 17-7 lead with just over eight minutes to play.

Sandy Ringer: 206-718-1512 or sringer@seattletimes.com

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