Prep Football | Mountlake Terrace's season ends with loss to Central Kitsap

EDMONDS — Mountlake Terrace ended its season with one final cheer in the locker room. After that, senior Casey Ellersick tried to put the year in perspective. He talked with a tinge of sadness, but tried to focus on a season to remember.

The Hawks were blanked by Central Kitsap, 35-0, in the preliminary round of 32 on Saturday at Edmonds Stadium, but the fact that they were even playing in the game was reason to celebrate.

"Just like the coaches said, don't let this one game bring us down," Ellersick said. "We've stepped up and done something no one in the school has ever done. Even though it was a tough loss and we couldn't get to the next level of the playoffs, we've got to be proud of what we did."

Mountlake Terrace (6-4) played in its first playoff game, but nobody will remember the final score. The Hawks won't focus on the fact that the Cougars (7-3) forced three fumbles that led to three touchdowns. They won't look back on being held without a first down in the first half. They won't reminisce about Central Kitsap's potent running game or its two 27-yard passing touchdowns.

"We were put in a situation where we played a pretty dang good football team," Hawks coach Tony Umayam said. "They came out and made some big plays in the first half and got the momentum and never let it go."

What the Hawks will focus on, though, is Zach Karels' interception in the third quarter. They will remember Ellersick's 12-yard run on the next play that gave them a first down. They will look back on senior quarterback Brandyn Eckhart's 25-yard pass to Karels and all of the other plays, throughout the season, that produced this first playoff appearance.

"Our kids are going to keep playing," Umayam said. "They're tough kids. We might have been in over our heads a bit with Central Kitsap, but this is something we can build on."

Ellersick said he thought Mountlake Terrace had its best week of practice this week.

They backed it up with play-to-the-end passion that just wasn't enough to keep up with the Cougars, who advance to play Curtis next week in the first round.