Top > Sport > 2004 > September > 2004-09-26

Western rallies past Central at Qwest

Trailing 21-10 in the fourth quarter, Western rallied to beat rival Central 28-21 before a crowd of 11,458 on Saturday night at Qwest Field.

Central won the inaugural Battle in Seattle 29-20 last year, but couldn`t hold on to a big fourth-quarter lead in the second annual showdown.

``That`s Western-Central,`` Western coach Rob Smith said. ``We have games like this that are decided in the fourth quarter.``

Running back Jake Carlyle scored the winning touchdown on a 3-yard run with 1:06 left in the game. The touchdown was set up by a 29-yard pass to Andy Olson from quarterback Steve Nichols.

Western (3-1, 1-0 conference) ended any final threat by Central (1-4, 0-1) with an interception by defensive back Brett Hall.

Central had hoped to be set up for the winning score when it attempted a fourth-and-three play at the Western 40-yard line with three minutes left. But a short pass from Brian Baugh to Brian Potucek was dropped, giving the Vikings good field position for their final drive. Potucek had 10 receptions.

``I`m sure I`ll rehash that fourth-and-three call,`` Central coach John Zamberlin said. ``I was trying to tell our offense I have confidence in them to pick up (the first down).

``If it works out, it`s a great call. If it doesn`t, you`re second guessed. But I can`t lose sleep over that.``

Nichols completed 24 of 34 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Robinson had eight receptions for 117 yards. He had six of those catches in the second half to help lead the Western rally.

Central running back Emilio Iniguez had 150 yards rushing on 30 carries. He scored two touchdowns, including, a 15-yard run to give the Wildcats a 21-10 lead with 8:03 left in the third quarter.

White covers the ground

Rob White, Western`s senior strong safety from Inglemoor, demonstrated just how important he is to the defense with his all-around play. He shared the team-high in tackles with 11.

In the first quarter, White lined up with a receiver, then blitzed for a quarterback sack of minus-3 yards on a third-and-11 play.

Late in the second quarter, White punched the ball out of the hands of punt returner Potucek to force a fumble that the Vikings recovered. Potucek had returned the punt 25 yards to the Western 32.

Earlier in the quarter, White dropped a potential interception. He jumped and had the ball in his hands, only to drop it once on the way down and again as he hit the ground.

White entered the game ranked second in tackles for Western with 19, including one for a loss. He also has an interception.

One of four captains for the Vikings, White was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and Western Male Scholar Athlete of the Year last year. He led the team in tackles last season for the second straight year.

Near miss for Laurence

Western senior receiver James Laurence, the former Kent-Meridian star in football, basketball and track, had a chance for his first career touchdown reception early in the second quarter.

Laurence, a transfer from Antelope Valley Junior College in Lancaster, Calif., was open in the back of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal play from the 7-yard line early in the second quarter.

But quarterback Steve Nichols threw the ball wide and Laurence barely could get a hand on the ball.

Laurence, who had four receptions for 28 yards, ignited Western`s touchdown drive in the first quarter with a 15-yard reception on the first play of the drive.

With only 10 receptions for 100 yards last year, Laurence is expected to play a bigger role in the offense this season.

``He`s really developed this year,`` Smith said. ``He was inconsistent last year, his first year with us. He grabbed the starting spot this season.``

Smith wants to throw to Laurence more to take some of the pressure off primary receiver Andy Olson, who entered the game with 23 receptions in three games compared to only three receptions for Laurence.

Laurence is married to the former Jamie McBroom. They have a son, James Laurence II, who is 2.

Laurence, 24, was a first-team South Puget Sound League North Division receiver at Kent-Meridian in 1997 when he caught nine touchdown passes.

Notes: Central senior fullback Aaron Hineline, who played at Woodinville, caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Dan Lapinsky early in the second quarter to cut the Western lead to 10-7. Hineline broke free near the 4-yard line and just made it across the goal line despite a hard hit. ...Western and Central will play Oct. 8 next year at Qwest Field. ...A crowd of 16,392 attended the game last year, a record for a non-NCAA Division I football game in the state. ...The Vikings and Wildcats will play each other again Oct. 30 in Ellensburg. Because the Great Northwest Athletic Conference has only four members, the teams play each other twice. The four teams are NCAA Division II members.

Western redshirt freshman A.J. Porter, a quarterback from Kennedy, is the punt snapper. He also is listed as the fourth-string quarterback. Porter made the tackle on a punt return late in the third quarter. ...The flags flew often at Qwest Field. Central was penalized 13 times for 134 yards and Western 12 times for 120 yards.