Eatonville falls to Washington in offensive shootout, 45-40

In a relentless downpour at Franklin Pierce Stadium on Friday night, the Eatonville Cruisers came up just short in a high-scoring thriller, falling 45-40 to the Washington Patriots. The rain and wind, which persisted throughout the game, did little to slow the offensive fireworks from both teams, who traded blows from the opening whistle.

Both squads scored on their first two possessions, setting the tone for a game dominated by offense. Eatonville (5-2, 3-2 2A SPSL) found the end zone on six of their 11 possessions, but missed opportunities and costly penalties proved pivotal. The Cruisers were hindered by a series of untimely penalties that stalled key drives, and several no-calls on potential infractions against Washington allowed the Patriots to capitalize on crucial plays.

Despite the weather, Eatonville’s offense showed resilience. 

“Even with the bouts of heavy rain and wind, we were able to play our style of ball,” Eatonville offensive coordinator Jazel Riley said. “The O-line gave Cole [Fowler] all the time he could ask for, and he was able to take advantage for another really good night.”

Fowler finished with 27 completions on 48 attempts, racking up 438 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. 

“In a game where the defense seemed especially focused on Ky Nation, Riley Hill was able to make some big plays for us even while fighting through some bumps and bruises,” Riley said. 

Hill hauled in five catches for 104 yards and three touchdowns, while Jacob Simon added five catches for 102 yards. “Jacob did what Jacob does,” said Riley.

Amari Samuel made an impact in his first game with the team, recording three catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. “Amari had a huge night in his first game with us,” Riley said. “And I cannot say enough about the effort of Oscar Lopez making some huge plays to help make up for the loss of Michael Stogsdill.” 

Lopez stepped up with seven catches for 67 yards and a score. Despite Eatonville’s struggles with their run game, Wyatt Weichsler carried the ball seven times for 23 yards and a touchdown.

Despite Eatonville’s offensive output, Washington controlled the game on the ground, exploiting the Cruisers' inability to stop the run. The Patriots sealed the game late, facing a 3rd and long with less than a minute remaining. Eatonville's defense sold out on an inside run, only for Washington to bounce the play outside for a game-clinching first down.

The Cruisers two blocked PAT attempts also proved to be crucial in the tight contest. Even with the disappointing result, Riley remains focused on the bigger picture for the season. 

“We didn’t get the result we wanted, but we did do some good things that we will continue to build on,” he said. “Good news is that we are still in a position where we get to chase some of the goals we had at the start of the season. This one hurts and we’ll take that pain for the next 24 hours, then take another opportunity to go 1-0.”

Eatonville now sits in a three-way tie for third place in the 2A SPSL standings with Washington and Steilacoom. On Friday, the Cruisers will host Steilacoom in a crucial league matchup, where they will honor the teams 21 senior players and managers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.