There was a whole lot of hugging and handshaking going on after Federal Way came from behind to beat Kentridge, 27-21, in overtime to clinch the South Puget Sound League North Division championship.

It is its first championship at the league level since 1976, when the Eagles went on to take second place in the state.

"We're No. 1 all by ourselves," said Federal Way head coach John Meagher. "I've been here for 13 years one way or the other and I've been through 1-8 seasons and all that. To be the head coach of a team like this is fantastic."

Federal Way improved to 6-0 in SPSL North action and to 7-1 overall going into Friday's homecoming game against Thomas Jefferson.

Regardless of the outcome of that game, the Eagles can look forward to opening the postseason at home.

"The first playoff is here and the second would be," said Meagher, who was a popular person for family, friends and team members to hug when all was done Thursday - especially the family and friends.

"Give me another hug," he could be heard saying.

For most of the game it was the Kentridge Chargers who looked like they would win and go on as the No. 1 seed from the North.

Federal Way scored the first touchdown with 3:47 left in the first quarter on a 1-yard run by Andre Barrington, and kicker Kelyn Rowe kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

But the Chargers scored the next 21 points in a row.

Quarterback Brandon Turner scored Kentridge's first touchdown with 6:05 to go in the second quarter and Turner struck again with a 14-yard keeper with 57 seconds to go.

Wes Concepcion kicked both PATs and the Chargers went into the locker room with a 14-7 lead.

Turner struck again at the end of the first drive of the second half, scoring on a 4-yard run with 7:46 to play in the third quarter. Concepcion's kick made it 21-7.

Federal Way quarterback Justin Southern scored on a 4-yard rollout with 2:40 left. A penalty on the first kick attempt moved ithe ball five yards father out, but it was no trouble for Rowe to split the uprights and make it 21-14.

The big play came with 6:01 left in the fourth quarter.

Aaron Broussard ran deep down the right sideline with two defenders on his tail and it looked like there would be no room to throw.

But Southern threw it perfectly over Broussard's head and into his arms in stride. Broussard then sprinted to the end zone to complete the 68-yard touchdown play.

The touchdown drive was also set up by Broussard, who intercepted a Turner pass with only 21 yards for Kentridge to go.

Meagher had a lot to say about Broussard.

"I said to him at halftime that the kids are down, and that he was our leader and captain and that we needed him to make a couple of big plays," said Meagher. "He made an interception and an 80-yard or whatever touchdown."

Kentridge's ensuing drive stalled out at the Federal Way 42-yard like, bringing the 21-21 game down to an overtime Kansas Tiebreaker. One team and then the other started off with a first down only 25 yards out and kept going as long as they could toward the end zone.

Turner was stopped 11 yards out when a fumble was recovered by Marcus James. That turned the ball over to Federal Way, and the Eagles scored on three plays despite a holding penalty that pushed them back to the 35 on the first play.

Southern threw to Alex Dorland and Dorland drew a late hit. The ball was moved to the 3-yard line and Barrington punched it in from there to win it, 27-21. No PAT was attempted.

"They were awesome," said Meagher of his players. "The first half they weren't great, but I'm so stinking proud of these kids."