Washington gobbles up Balboa in Turkey Day game to win first AAA title since 2003
Washington junior running back Lajarie Mabrey breaks through the Balboa defense in the CIF-San Francisco Section/Academic Athletic Association championship game on Thursday at Kezar Stadium.
Turnovers were a crucial factor in Thursday’s Turkey Day matchup between the Richmond District’s Washington High School and Balboa, as Washington powered its way to its first AAA championship since 2003.
Washington had its share of trouble hanging on to the ball, as the Eagles couldn’t complete their first four plays from scrimmage. But San Fran Preps reports that Washington’s difficulties didn’t last long or hinder the Eagles from notching a 36-6 victory over the Buccaneers.
Washington quickly reverted to the form that led them to the championship game, amassing 303 yards on the ground in a decisive 36-6 win over the Buccaneers. …
The Eagles (10-2) got an explosive performance from junior Lajarie Mabrey, who ran for a game-high 172 yards on 11 carries, including runs of 65, 46 and 37 yards. …
While Mabrey provided the big plays, senior Jeremy Jetton carried most of the load for the Eagles, as he has for most of the season. Jetton ran for 98 yards on 16 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. …
Washington only outgained Balboa 359-276, but it was a familiar theme that disrupted the Bucs on Thursday.
Balboa (5-8) has struggled with turnovers in most of its losses this season and the championship game was no exception. The Bucs committed four turnovers, including a lost fumble and a muffed kickoff return less than three minutes apart in the third quarter, that led to two Washington scores and allowed the Eagles to open up a 29-0 lead. …
With the win, Washington capped what was the most complete season in the AAA. Even though the Eagles were upset by Mission early in the league season and finished behind them in the regular-season standings, it would be hard to argue that the Eagles weren’t the best team in the league on a week-to-week basis.
Photo: Tawnya Gray/San Fran Preps
Football: Running games leads Washington to first AAA title since 2003
Washington junior running back Lajarie Mabrey breaks through the Balboa defense in the CIF-San Francisco Section/Academic Athletic Association championship game on Thursday at Kezar Stadium. (Photo by Tawnya Gray)
By Jeremy Balan
Washington High School got to Turkey Day with a run-heavy attack, but the Eagles looked like an entirely different team early in the CIF-San Francisco Section/Academic Athletic Association championship game against Balboa on Thursday at Kezar Stadium.
The Eagles’ first four plays from scrimmage resulted in four incompletions, but Washington quickly reverted to the form that led them to the championship game, amassing 303 yards on the ground in a decisive 36-6 win over the Buccaneers. The win gives the Eagles their first AAA title since 2003.
“The were giving us the pass somewhat [early],” said Washington head coach Karl Finley, who won his first Turkey Day title in his fourth year at the helm of the program. “Then we switched up on our formation and did some good things.”
The Eagles (10-2) got an explosive performance from junior Lajarie Mabrey, who ran for a game-high 172 yards on 11 carries, including runs of 65, 46 and 37 yards.
“I was just running hard,” Mabrey said. “I’m ready to come back next year and do it again.”
While Mabrey provided the big plays, senior Jeremy Jetton carried most of the load for the Eagles, as he has for most of the season. Jetton ran for 98 yards on 16 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Washington senior running back Jeremy Jetton tries to break through a tackle in the CIF-San Francisco Section/Academic Athletic Association championship game on Thursday at Kezar Stadium. (Photo by Tawnya Gray)
“Right now, I’m ready to cry with my coaches,” Jetton said. “We got here and got blown out in my freshman and sophomore years, and we all promised the coaches we would be here in our senior season.”
Washington only outgained Balboa 359-276, but it was a familiar theme that disrupted the Bucs on Thursday.
Balboa (5-8) has struggled with turnovers in most of its losses this season and the championship game was no exception. The Bucs committed four turnovers, including a lost fumble and a muffed kickoff return less than three minutes apart in the third quarter, that led to two Washington scores and allowed the Eagles to open up a 29-0 lead.
“I’m just very, very shocked with our performance,” said Balboa head coach Alvaro Carvajal. “Football is really simple. You gotta take care of the ball and we did not do that. Because of that, we fell short today.”
Balboa got its only score on a 2-yard touchdown pass from senior Kerati Apilakvanichakit to Andres Arellano late in the third quarter, but when the Eagles ate up almost six minutes of game clock on a 12-play scoring drive to start the fourth quarter, any designs for a Balboa comeback were squashed.
Apilakvanichakit threw for 106 yards on 12-of-20 passing, but lost two fumbles on sacks and threw an interception.
“I’m unsatisfied. We were in the red zone four times and we only scored once and the turnovers…we just can’t have that,” Apilakvanichakit said. “This one is on us.”
The Bucs also got a game effort from senior Christian Pulusian, maybe the most talented all-around player in the AAA. Pulusian showed why colleges like Oregon State are looking at him, with 50 yards rushing on 10 carries and two receptions for 12 yards out of his wing back/tight end position on offense and appeared to be in on every tackle as a linebacker on defense.
Balboa senior Christian Pulusian is swarmed by Washington defenders on a run in the CIF-San Francisco Section/Academic Athletic Association championship game on Thursday at Kezar Stadium. (Photo by Tawnya Gray)
“We were prepared, but they played harder and faster than us,” Pulusian said. “If we make no turnovers, this game would have been different and it would have been in our hands. We had them, just too many turnovers.”
With the win, Washington capped what was the most complete season in the AAA. Even though the Eagles were upset by Mission early in the league season and finished behind them in the regular-season standings, it would be hard to argue that the Eagles weren’t the best team in the league on a week-to-week basis.
