EDMONDS — Glacier Peak place-kicker Spencer Pettit ended the first half of Monday night’s game with a heroic moment, booting a 56-yard field goal for a 3-0 halftime lead against Edmonds-Woodway.
Pettit was equally heroic at the end of the game, kicking a 45-yard field goal as time expired for a 20-17 victory in a Western Conference 3A game at Edmonds District Stadium.
The win assures the Grizzlies of a spot in the upcoming playoffs. Glacier Peak, the No. 3 team in the Wesco South, advances to face Arlington (No. 3 in the Wesco North) in a 1 p.m. Saturday game at Arlington.
The loss will keep Edmonds-Woodway out of the playoffs. The Warriors will close their season with an upcoming crossover game against a to-be-determined Wesco North opponent.
Monday’s game was originally scheduled for last Friday night, but was rescheduled after the shootings that day at Marysville Pilchuck High School. In a show of support, the Edmonds-Woodway cheerleaders wore red tee shirts over white hoodies, the MP colors.
The first half was scoreless until the final play, when Pettit delivered a kick that tied his career best (he also had a 56-yarder a year ago). On a night of no wind and no rain, the conditions were ideal for his try and he delivered with a high, end-over-end attempt that cleared the crossbar by inches.
Edmonds-Woodway twice reached the Glacier Peak 5-yard line in the first half, but was twice denied, turning the ball over on downs both times. But in the third quarter the Warriors struck twice, getting a 4-yard touchdown run from Nick Venema and an 18-yard TD pass from quarterback Nick Morales to wide receiver Jalen Nash.
Glacier Peak closed the gap late in the third quarter with an 18-yard scoring pass from quarterback Brady Southard to wide receiver Justin Guffey, closing the deficit to 14-0. And in the fourth quarter that combination linked again for another 18-yard TD pass, though this one was tipped by EW defender Isaac Jackson and then caught by Guffey, who tumbled into the end zone.
Trailing by three, the Warriors got a 72-yard kickoff return from Abdoulie Jatta in the ensuing kickoff, reaching the GP 27. Edmonds-Woodway pushed to the Glacier Peak 3, but on fourth-and-goal the Warriors opted for the tying field goal, and kicker Ebrima Fatty kicked a 20-yarder to tie the game.
Both teams had possessions that ended with punts, and the Grizzlies had the last possession, starting at their own 20-yard line in the late minutes. They moved quickly, gaining three first downs to reach the EW 28, where they called a timeout with one second remaining, setting up Pettit’s game-winning kick.
Glacier Peak 20, Edmonds-Woodway 17
At Edmonds District Stadium
Glacier Peak 0 3 7 10_20
Edmonds-Wood. 0 0 14 3_17
Glacier Peak—Spencer Pettit 56 FG
Edmonds-Woodway—Nick Venema 4 run (Ebrima Fatty kick)
Edmonds-Woodway—Jalen Nash 18 pass from Nick Morales (Ebrima Fatty kick)
Glacier Peak—Justin Guffey 18 pass from Brady Southard (Spencer Pettit kick)
Glacier Peak—Justin Guffey 18 pass from Brady Southard (Spencer Pettit kick)
Edmonds-Woodway—Ebrima Fatty 20 FG
Glacier Peak_Spencer Pettit 45 FG
Records—Glacier Peak is 4-2 in league, 5-3 overall. Edmonds-Woodway is 3-3, 4-4.
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