Ellensburg repeats itself against Eatonville

To the Eatonville Cruisers’ detriment, Ellensburg stayed true to its season-long form in the opening round of the 2A state high school football tournament.

The Bulldogs, the host team last Saturday, sent Eatonville home with a 38-6 defeat that was reminiscent of every other victory they’ve racked up in the 2016 campaign. Before the Cruisers came along, Ellensburg had outscored opponents 476-64 and hadn’t allowed any opponent to post more than 14 points.

Eatonville had reason to think it could alter that pattern after a scoreboard-fatiguing 59-42 victory over Sequim in the district playoffs the previous weekend. The Cruisers also took a four-game winning streak and an 8-2 record with them on the trip over the Cascades to meet Ellensburg.

But the Bulldogs were undaunted. Starting with Mason Sherwood’s 55-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, they kept building a lead that reached 17-0 at halftime, 31-0 after three quarters and 38-0 in the final period. Sherwood had two more touchdown runs as the advantage swelled.

Only Zarak Scruggs’ 21-yard touchdown on the receiving end of a Tristan Graff pass in the fourth quarter kept Eatonville from its first shutout loss of the season.

The Cruisers, in their first season back in the 2A ranks, made their third consecutive appearance in the state tourney. They were in the 1A show the previous two years.

Ellensburg advances to the quarterfinals to face Sedro Woolley this Saturday.