Fowler leads Cruisers to season opening victory

In a thrilling season opener at B.W. Lyon Stadium, the Eatonville Cruisers claimed a hard-fought 34-28 victory over the Cascade Christian Cougars, exacting revenge for last year’s 26-0 loss. A packed house witnessed a rollercoaster of a game, filled with big plays, momentum shifts, and standout performances—none more so than Eatonville’s first-year starting quarterback, sophomore Cole Fowler.

Head Coach Rex Norris praised the crowd and the team’s effort.

“What a great crowd to start off the season, especially on a Thursday night. Our rivalry with Cascade Christian was true to form as both teams played hard,” Norris said.

Fowler, despite a rocky start that saw his first pass intercepted, bounced back to lead the Cruisers with a stellar performance. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 365 yards and five touchdowns. First year Offensive Coordinator Jazel Riley praised Fowler’s resilience.

“His ‘big’ mistakes could have crushed some QBs and made them get tentative, but he just kept slinging it and we all saw the result,” Riley said. 

After Fowler’s early interception, the Eatonville defense immediately stepped up, forcing the Cougars to turn the ball over on downs. Fowler then redeemed himself, going 4-for-4 on the next drive and connecting with wide receiver Ky Nation for a 15-yard touchdown to give the Cruisers a 6-0 lead. The defense stayed strong, and Fowler continued to shine, orchestrating a six-play, 58-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Riley Hill, extending the lead to 14-0.

The Cougars, however, wouldn’t go quietly. After forcing another Eatonville turnover, Cascade Christian’s Lucas Matthews ran in a 6-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 14-8. But Eatonville responded swiftly. Two plays later, Fowler found Oscar Garcia on a swing pass, and Garcia dashed 64 yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 20-8. The Cougars trimmed the margin again before halftime with a 1-yard Matthews run, bringing the score to 20-14 at the break.

The third quarter began with both teams struggling offensively, trading punts and turnovers before Fowler reignited Eatonville’s attack. With 1:26 left in the quarter, Fowler hit Cole Bamford on a screen pass, and Bamford raced 30 yards for a touchdown, making it 27-14. The Cougars answered with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Grant Johnson to Chace Jenkins, narrowing the gap to 27-20.

Fowler’s connection with Bamford proved lethal again in the fourth quarter. This time, Fowler orchestrated a 7-play, 70-yard drive capped by another screen pass to Bamford, who scampered 44 yards to give Eatonville a 34-20 lead with 7:17 remaining. Fowler’s smart use of screen plays earned high praise from Riley. 

“If you get Bamford in space, good things happen. So between him and the efforts of the O-Line, we were able to take advantage,” Riley said

The Cougars refused to fold, though. Johnson hit Ben Dewey for a 30-yard touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion, cutting Eatonville’s lead to 34-28. The Cougars had one final chance to tie the game after Eatonville turned the ball over on downs. Starting at their own 32-yard line with 1:32 remaining, Cascade Christian quickly moved the ball into Eatonville territory. But with less than a minute to go, Ky Nation came up with his second interception of the game, sealing the victory for the Cruisers. 

“We felt like we were in control of the game, but we let them back in late, so we still have a lot to learn when it comes to protecting a lead,” Norris said. “Overall, this game was a big step for our players and staff as we head into the season.”

Norris praised his defense, which has nine new starters this season. 

“The defense played well early, stopping Cascade Christian on downs in the first three possessions. This allowed the offense to get an early lead,” he said. “In the 2nd half, we were able to come out and keep them scoreless in the 3rd quarter, which was huge. They found some success, but we finally got some turnovers to stop 3 of their drives.”

Key Performances

Cole Fowler: 22/32, 365 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs

Riley Hill: 9 catches, 123 yards, 1 TD

Cole Bamford: 3 catches, 91 yards, 2 TDs

Oscar Garcia: 3 catches, 70 yards, 1 TD

Ky Nation: 2 catches, 34 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs

Wyatt Weichsler: 8 rushes, 49 yards, 1 INT

Nick Shipman: 1 Tackle For Loss

Ethan Rogers: 1 Tackle For Loss

Connor McIlraith: .5 Tackle For Loss

Isiah Whatley: .5 Tackle For Loss

Jameson Beckord: 1 Sack

MOVING AHEAD

After the game, coach Riley reflected on his offense’s performance. 

“For our first time under the lights this year, I thought the offense did some good things. A lot of things to fix, but definitely a good jumping-off point,” Riley said. 

He also credited the linemen and coaching staff for their preparation, especially the improvement in the screen plays that led to two crucial touchdowns for Bamford.

In what was a highly anticipated opener, the Eatonville community came out in force to support their team, and the Cruisers delivered in a big way. 

“All I can say is that Coach Norris and this staff have built a strong foundation with these kids and this program,” Riley said. “We all felt that on the field last night, and I am glad that we could deliver a big win.”

With their first win under their belts, the Eatonville Cruisers will look to build on this momentum as they continue their season, aiming for greater heights after this confidence-boosting victory.

Up next, the Cruisers will host the Black Hills Wolves at B.W. Lyon Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 12, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. Fans are eagerly anticipating another exciting matchup as Eatonville seeks to continue their winning ways in front of their home crowd.