Originally published Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 12:00 AM

4A Football | Bothell blasts Curtis, 42-3

Patrick Ottorbech came on like a full-blown twister, spinning and stretching for every yard. One would never know he was sick. The 5-foot-7, 187-pound senior...

By Matt Massey

Special to The Seattle Times

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UNIVERSITY PLACE — Patrick Ottorbech came on like a full-blown twister, spinning and stretching for every yard. One would never know he was sick.

The 5-foot-7, 187-pound senior running back for the sixth-ranked Bothell High School football team meant business despite having the flu.

Cougars coach Tom Bainter half-jokingly asked him for 200 yards and 25 carries before the game.

Ottorbech stepped up and answered the call for a career-high 234 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries as Bothell blasted Curtis 42-3 Saturday night in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs at Curtis High School.

Ottorbech did all his work in 2 ½ quarters, carrying the Cougars to a rematch with Issaquah, which beat Bothell 24-13 in the season opener.

"Tonight, I had to trust my linemen and be a little more patient," Ottorbech said. "Usually, I'm too quick to the hole and I get stopped. I was just trying to slow it down.

"Even getting one [yard] is fine, I just never want to go backward."

Bothell (8-3) moves forward to the state quarterfinals and plays at 10th-ranked Issaquah (9-2) on Friday or Saturday. The Cougars are seeking a third consecutive trip to the Class 4A championship game.

"That's our main goal this year," said Ottorbech, who is getting recruiting attention from Boise State and Oregon State. "At practice, that's the only thing we're working for. We bring it every day."

Curtis exits with a record of 9-2 after getting dominated on both sides of the ball. Bothell rolled up 356 yards rushing and outgained Curtis 403-185.

Bothell's three losses came against three top-notch teams that all reached the state playoffs — No. 10 Issaquah (4A), top-ranked Skyline (4A) and top-ranked Bellevue (3A).

The Cougars opened the season 0-2 with losses to Issaquah and Bellevue.

"I just can't wait to play [Issaquah] again," Ottorbech said after hearing Issaquah beat Kentwood 31-28 to advance. "We want to show them how much our team's improved and that the first game was a fluke."

Said Bainter: "It was a complete game."

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