If you watched last week’s Sealth game you saw a team that doesn’t give up. No matter what the score is. On Oct. 12 that fighting spirit kept them in the game when it mattered most.

The Huling Bowl. This is the West Seattle version of the Apple Cup. Families have members that went to both schools. Husbands that went to West Seattle and wives that went to Chief Sealth. Standing together but cheering for different teams. Each making fun of the other when their team made a good play. Enjoying the moment, as chants rang out from different sections of the stadium. This is what makes Friday night football fun. But only one team is going to walk away with bragging rights for the next year.

The Wildcats got on the score board at the 5:48 mark in the first quarter on a short 5 yard pass to #5 Diandre Jackson that turned into a 22 yard scamper into the endzone, and with a two point conversion had an 8-0 lead. The Wildcats held that lead for most of the first half. Both teams chewed up the middle of the playing surface, rarely crossing mid field. But as time was running out in the first half Sealth QB Maxwell Sarver launch a bomb into the back of the endzone that was gathered up by Wide Receiver Trey Brown for Sealths first score of the game. The extra point good, Sealth went into half time down by only one point 8-7.
During a very wet third quarter the score never changed. Both teams having a rough time navigating in what was the first big downpour in months. Then as the rain subsided in the fourth quarter West Seattle began moving the ball, and with a little over nine minutes left in the game the Wildcats broke the scoring stalemate and extended their lead to 15-7.

Flash back to last week. Late in the game the Seahawks exploded for 23 points in the closing minutes. With nine minutes left in this game Déjà vu happened all over again. The defense made big stops when needed and the offence began running for large chunks of real-estate and scored a touchdown near the six minute mark. Failing to get the extra point Sealth now trailed 15-13.

Feeling the momentum changing the Seahawk defense pinned back their ears and went after the Wildcats. Two plays later the Sealth D came up with a big interception and the Hawks were back in business. But after quickly getting into the red zone the Seahawks stalled and set up for a field goal attempt that would have given them a one point lead. The Wildcats felt the sense of urgency, bull rushing the center of the line and blocked the kick, and in the scrum that ensued the ball was pushed out to the 45 yard line. Good field position for West Seattle.

Once again the Seahawk defense forced a fumble, picked up the ball and ran it all the way down to the West Seattle 5 yard line, and with 2:25 to go in the game Sealth had a first and goal. One play later the Seahawks led for the first time in the game. A 19-15 lead that they were not going to give up. The defense could smell the victory that was there for them to take. And take it they did when two plays later another turnover by the Wildcats gave the ball back to Sealth with 1:56 left and the ball on the Wildcat 48 yard line. Sealth ran out the clock to take possession of the 2012 Huling Bowl.

Next week the Wildcats travel to Nathan Hale and Sealth hosts Ingraham at the SWAC