By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Evergreen's 13-0 football win over Foster was important for more than being the Wolverine's first victory of the season.

It also keeps them alive for the postseason.

The win put the Wolverines (1-6) into the third place position among the Class 2A teams in the Seamount League -- and the third place team gets a berth into a "pigtail" playoff to get into the playoffs the Tuesday after the regular season concludes.

"There's a third place pigtail game, and I'm not sure if we're in it," said Evergreen head coach Andy Arena.
Foster fell to fourth place and probably out of the picture with Friday's loss at Highline Memorial, while Lindbergh and Hazen lead the way among the Class 2A Seamount League teams. Kennedy, Highline and Renton are all 3A members. (Tyee does not have a football team and is combined with Mount Rainier in the 4A South Puget Sound League).

"Our guys knew what was on the line and played hard no matter what," said coach Arena of a game that was also important as the Wolverines' homecoming. "Our guys have worked really hard this season. We have not had the results in our record we'd like. They deserve this."

The Wolverines started out by having two long touchdowns called back by penalties in the first quarter.
An apparent 73-yard score was called back by a holding penalty and a 74-yard score was lost to a chop block penalty on the next play.

It was a different story when they went to a short gain at a time strategy.

They marched 86 yards on 16 plays for their first touchdown with 8:40 left in the second quarter with a drive that started at 4:14 to play in the first quarter. All but one play was on the ground.

Larry Penueta did the scoring honors, punching in a 1-yard touchdown run. Iveni Ngauamo's kick was good for a 7-0 lead.

The next touchdown was scored with 2:35 remaining in the second quarter at the end of a quicker drive that started after a Foster punt at 4:02. It started at Evergreen's own 28 and ended on a 9-yard touchdown pass up the middle to team newcomer Lio Nowamo.

Nowamo, who has hair coming out the back of his helmet long enough to obscure his number (5), is just now eligible after his transfer from Highline.

The kick for the extra point was blocked to leave the score at 13-0, even though both teams had drives deep into the other's territory.

Evergreen had one drive stopped at the Foster 19, followed immediately by a Bulldog drive as far as the Wolverine 10.

Foster went on to lose an opportunity from only one yard out on a fumble in the third quarter, and was later turned away at the 39, 30 and 45 of Evergreen.

Foster goes home to play Hazen at 7 p.m. Friday as Evergreen goes on the road to Renton.