Time runs out on Hockinson in 31-28 loss to Sedro-Woolley

BATTLE GROUND — One measly second.

That is what came between the Hockinson Hawks and the Class 2A football state semifinals.

Hockinson’s football season came to an abrupt end Saturday night in a 31-28 loss to Sedro-Woolley thanks to a 30-yard field goal as time expired.

“We just went out there and we did our best,” Hockinson senior Steven Carlisle said. “Sometimes it comes down to the last play out there, and you can’t get it done. We came back, we fought hard, we tried to make history. But there was one second left.”

The Hawks came back from a 14-point deficit — their largest deficit of the season — to tie the game twice in the second half.

The Cubs, as they did so well in the first half, drove the ball methodically down the field to set up a 24-yard field goal attempt with nine seconds left.

The Hawks blocked the kick, which came on a third down, but the Cubs recovered with one second left.

The Cubs got a re-kick from farther back, ending Hockinson’s chance at history.

Head coach Rick Steele recognized each senior individually for their contributions. After that, the players broke on “Family!” one more time and stuck around for more hugs and more tears.

There was no ease into that good night for the Hawks.

It was a mix of pain and also pride for how well they played.

“I’m crushed for them on the loss, but I’m so proud to be their football coach,” Steele said.

The Hawks had not been in that position for an entire season of football.

During most of Saturday night’s 2A quarterfinal game at Distrcit Stadium in Battle Ground, the Hawks were trailing.

They were down 21-7 at halftime and looked like they didn’t have much hope of stopping Sedro-Woolley’s methodical rushing attack.

The Cubs amassed over 146 rushing yards as a team in the first half.

“We go in to the locker room and we’re on our heels a little bit,” Steele said. “We had to remind them of what happened last year on this very same field last year. This team is never down. We’re always in it. We came out of the locker room and we were fired up.”

The Hawks offense could only envy that movement down the field in the first half. They had only one good drive in the first half and had zero connection on their deep passing game in the first half.

But the defense forced three consecutive punts in the second half and the offense came back to life.

A 35-yard completion from Canon Racanelli to Mitch Lines in the third quarter that the Hawks’ passing game really got going.

Racanelli scored a one-yard touchdown on next play to get the Hawks within a touchdown.

Then, on their next offensive possession they got their go-to play back into their attack: the deep ball to Kedrick Johnson.

The Hawks had tried to connect with Johnson several times in the first half but he was covered nearly every time.

Johnson finally got behind the defense on a 53-yard completion from Racanelli. The two combined a few plays later for a 13-yard score.

Just as the comeback seemed imminent, disaster struck when the Hawks took over on their own 35.

A screen pass that was going nowhere got worse when Jared Oja fumbled the ball.

The Cubs took advantage of the break, scoring with the short field in a few plays to go up 28-21.

A 45-yard touchdown pass from Racanelli to Bailey Jones tied the game up at 28 with under four minutes left.

SEDRO-WOOLLEY 31, HOCKINSON 28

Sedro-Woolley 7 14 0 10—31

Hockinson 7 0 14 7—28

First Quarter

SW — Thor Wagoner 28 run (Adrian Vasquez kick)

H — Kedrick Johnson 1 run (Tommy Brennan kick)

Second Quarter

SW — Quinn Carpenter 2 run (Vasquez kick)

SW — Carter Crosby 50 pass (Vasquez kick)

Third Quarter

H — Canon Racanelli 1 run (Brennan kick)

H — Johnson 13 pass from Racanelli (Brennan kick)

Fourth Quarter

SW — Crosby 2 run (Vasquez kick)

H — Bailey Jones 45 pass from Racanelli (Brennan kick)

SW — Vasquez 30 field goal

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Sedro-Woolley, Quinn Carpenter 15-56, Thor Wagoner 9-62, Carter Crosby 14-38, Spencer Hoover 1-13, Devin Willard 13-25, Billy Hornbeck 4-17. Hockinson, Ganon Kytola 6-33, Jared Oja 7-18, Canon Racanelli 1-1, Kedrick Johnson 3-7, Matt Henry 3-18, Cameron Loos 1-15, Colton Wheeler 1-3.

PASSING — Sedro-Woolley, Devin Willard 12-18-0-154. Hockinson, Racanelli 14-28-2-251.

RECEIVING — Sedro-Woolley, Crosby 5-110, Gavin Holdt 4-25, Billy Hornbeck 1-7, Wagoner 3-13. Hockinson, Loos 3-37, Johnson 4-99, Lines 3-48, Oja 1-(minus 5), Kytola 1-9, Henry 1-18, Jones 1-45