4A football: Bothell beats Rogers of Puyallup 57-14

BOTHELL — Bang. Bang. Bang.

Three quick scores gave top-ranked Bothell a cushion it never let go in dispatching Rogers of Puyallup 57-14 in the first round of the 4A state playoffs Friday at Pop Keeney Stadium.

The Cougars put 21 points on the board in a 3:08 span of the first quarter that saw Mitchell Muller toss three of his career-high six touchdown passes.

"We have so many weapons, so many receivers you have to defend," said Muller, who was 16 of 24 passing for 277 yards and touchdown passes of 43, 18, 3, 25, 22 and 31 yards. "We just had it going tonight. Our guys got open and they made big plays."

Bothell (11-0) advanced to play the winner of today's Jackson-Issaquah game in the second round. The Cougars have reached the state finals twice in the past three years and are riding a wave of momentum after a huge victory over then-No. 1 Skyline two weeks ago in the KingCo 4A championship game. Friday's win over Rogers was the first step on the road to the Tacoma Dome.

"If you feel like you can move the ball at any time, that's the best feeling you can have as a head coach," said Bothell coach Tom Bainter, whose club outgained Rogers 470 yards to 165. "It changes field position; it gives you control of the clock; it's just a great, great feeling to have."

The Cougars opened a 21-0 lead on Muller's 43-yard pass to Kevin Knapp, who grabbed two scores on the night. Johnny Sullivan caught the second from 18 yards out, and Washington recruit Michael Hartvigson hauled in his first of two touchdowns from 3 yards away.

Bothell added two more scores early in the second quarter to stake a commanding 34-0 lead. A 3-yard touchdown run by Luke Proulx gave the Cougars a 28-0 advantage, and Muller's second scoring strike to Hartvigson made it a five-score game.

Rogers (7-4) cut the deficit to 34-14 on a 10-yard pass from Dalton Gervais to Donovin Goode and a 1-yard run by Dalton Mendenhall.

Bothell has outscored opponents 181-0 in the first quarter this season.

"We always try to start fast," said Proulx, who rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns. "It's just a dagger in their hearts."