Eatonville secures 48-33 victory over Clover Park

In a thrilling clash under the lights at Harry E. Lang Stadium, the Eatonville Cruisers and the Clover Park Timberwolves battled in a game that felt more like a heavyweight prizefight than a football matchup. Both teams came out swinging, trading explosive plays and hard hits, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. From long touchdown runs to dramatic defensive stands, every snap seemed to carry the weight of the entire season. 

Eatonville would ultimately emerge victorious, sealing a 48-33 win, but not before fans were treated to a highlight play, as Jacob Simons ripped a near-interception from a defender’s hands and raced to the endzone. This back-and-forth spectacle left the crowd buzzing until the final whistle. The victory also marked a major milestone for Head Coach Rex Norris, as it was his 300th game coached in his career.

The Timberwolves would receive the opening kickoff and drive 65 yards for the first score of the game when Clover Park’s Pati Taito carried it in from 3 yards out. After a missed PAT they would take an early 6-0 lead.

Eatonville’s offense sputtered on its first drive, but the defense quickly swung momentum in the Cruisers’ favor. Ky Nation intercepted a tipped pass from Clover Park’s Henry Su’A and returned it 57 yards for Eatonville’s first score of the night. Colton Herbrand’s successful PAT put the Cruisers ahead, 7-6.

Offensive Coordinator Jazel Riley reflected on the team’s opening struggles. 

“The opening drive was frustrating because we just missed breaking explosive plays on all three plays. If we pick up just one missed block on two of the plays, they become explosives, if not long field scores,” he said. 

Clover Park wasted no time in responding. On their first play after the kickoff, running back Nehemiah McCullough sliced through the Eatonville defense, sprinting 58 yards for a touchdown. A successful PAT put the Timberwolves back in the lead at 13-7.

Quarterback Cole Fowler launched a 43-yard pass to Riley Hill, setting the Cruisers up at the Timberwolves’ 22-yard line. A few plays later, Nation took a touch pass from Fowler and sprinted into the end zone from nine yards out. With another Herbrand PAT, Eatonville regained the lead, 14-13.

Head Coach Rex Norris acknowledged the early challenges.

“It was our first game back in 2A in several years, and our first time on turf in nearly a year,” he said. “The game came a little faster than we’ve experienced so far. That showed by allowing some explosive plays early on.”

Clover Park would answer. Su’A connected with McCullough on a screen pass, and the senior running back broke several tackles, weaving through the defense for a 65-yard score. The Timberwolves reclaimed the lead, 20-14, after another PAT.

With about 3 minutes left in the half, the Cruisers orchestrated a methodical 10 play, 77-yard drive. With 23 seconds left in the half, Fowler connected with Nation in the corner of the endzone from 12 yards out. Herbrand connected again on the PAT and Eatonville would take a 21-20 lead into halftime.

“We were able to confirm what was working on offense and explain what we needed to adjust on defense at halftime,” Norris added. “That showed in the 3rd quarter.”

Eatonville would come out fired up after the half. Starting from their own 33-yard line, nine plays later they would find the endzone again when Cole Bamford found pay dirt after breaking a few tackles from the 3-yard line. After a failed two point conversion, Eatonville would extend their lead to 27-20.

On the Timberwolves' ensuing possession, Eatonville’s Connor McIlraith intercepted a Henry Su’A pass and returned it 38 yards, setting the Cruisers up just outside the red zone. The game took an unexpected turn two plays later when tempers flared—one of Clover Park’s linemen was penalized for a personal foul after throwing a punch and, in a fit of frustration, hurling his helmet at an Eatonville player. The offender was immediately ejected from the game. Once order was restored, Riley Hill went in motion from left to right, took a touch pass from quarterback Cole Fowler, and sprinted 9 yards to the endzone, extending Eatonville’s lead to 34-20 after another successful PAT by Colton Herbrand.

Riley also praised the big plays from the receivers.

“Jacob Simons finally got to break out like we knew he could,” Riley said. “Riley Hill had another big night and has been consistent for us since the moment I stepped on campus. Then of course, there’s Ky Nation. He does so many things on both sides of the ball. He’s a big play waiting to happen, and Thursday night was the perfect example of that.”

Eatonville’s defense forced a punt, and the offense went to work again. Facing a 3rd-and-long, Fowler hit Hill for a 22-yard gain to midfield. On the next play, Wyatt Weichsler would take a Fowler hand off around the right side up the sideline, breaking what everyone thought was a play ending tackle, and raced up the sideline 34 yards to the Timberwolves 22 yard line. A few plays later, Fowler hits Nation on a 19 yard fade route in the corner of the endzone for the score. Herbrand’s PAT was successful putting the Cruisers up 41-20.

Though Eatonville had rattled off 27 unanswered points, Clover Park wasn’t finished. Su’A executed a perfect play-action pass, finding Marshall Scott wide open for a 57-yard touchdown reception. After a failed two-point attempt, Clover Park cut the lead to 41-26.

Facing a daunting 3rd and 13 from their own 35-yard line after the kickoff, Eatonville’s Jacob Simons delivered a moment that electrified the crowd at Harry E. Lang Stadium. Fowler spotted Simons blazing down the sideline and launched a pass that seemed destined to be intercepted. The Clover Park defender leaped high and grabbed the ball out of the air—but Simons had other plans. Simons ripped the ball right out of the defender’s hands, spun around, racing untouched to the end zone for a jaw-dropping touchdown. The Eatonville fans and sideline erupted! After Herbrand converted on the PAT, Eatonville would extend their lead again to three scores at 48-26 with four minutes to play in the game.

Right after the kickoff, Eatonville’s defense rose to the occasion again. With Clover Park facing a critical 4th and 3, their quarterback Su’A dropped back to pass—only to be blindsided by Eatonville’s Jameson Beckord. Beckord leveled Su’A with a huge sack at the 36-yard line. 

Key Performances:

Cole Fowler – 24/35 for 315 yards and 5 touchdowns

Riley Hill – 6 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown

Jacob Simons – 5 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown

K. Nation – 3 catches for 40 yards and 4 touchdowns, one TD being a 57 yard interception return. 

Cole Bamford – 8 rushes for 10 yards and a touchdown

Colton Herbrand – 6 for 6 on point after attempts

Jameson Beckord – 1 sack

Zachary Perdue – 1 sack

Eatonville, now sitting with an unblemished record at 3-0, will now set their sights on their next opponent, the Foss Falcons as they welcome them in for Eatonville’s Homecoming game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27.