Bothell beats Pasco 43-40 in 9-OT game

BOTHELL – Fullback Luke Jones scored on a 10-yard run, to end a nine-overtime game that was the longest in Washington high-school football history and is believed to have tied the national record.

Bothell's 43-40 victory Saturday over Pasco at Pop Keeney Stadium in the quarterfinal round of the Class 4A playoffs, puts the Cougars (11-1) in the semifinals at the Tacoma Dome next weekend.

"I'm 41 years old and I've played football since I was eight, and I've never seen a game like this," said Bothell coach Tom Bainter, clutching his chest and wiping at tears streaming down his eyes. "I feel heartbroken for (Pasco) and so excited for our kids."

The game was tied 14-14 after regulation. Emotion teetered back and forth on a combination of inspired defensive stands, great offensive plays, two late fumbles in overtime, a missed field goal and plenty of dropped passes – at least 12 for Pasco.

The crowd's roars and gasps grew in magnitude as the night got colder and the game settled into its third hour, then fourth hour.

High-school overtime rules call for the teams to exchange possessions starting at the opponents' 25-yard. Starting in the third OT, each team gets the ball at the 10.

In the first OT, both teams kicked field goals. In the second, Bothell went four-and-out, but Pasco fumbled. In the third, Bothell's defense stuffed Pasco twice from inside the two-yard line. On its turn, Bothell fumbled.

In the fourth and fifth, more field goals. In the sixth, after Bothell failed to score, Pasco's kicker missed a short field goal. In the seventh, Pasco scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass. On Bothell's turn, third-string running back Robert Schaefer scored from the 2-yard line on fourth-and-goal. In the eighth, Bothell quarterback Cody Atkinson scrambled in from 10 yards out.

Seth Halliday's touchdown reception tied it for Pasco.

And in the ninth, after Pasco's Kelly kicked another field goal to put his team up 40-37, Bothell got the ball, took a deep breath and called a fullback dive to the left side.

Pasco finished its season (10-2).