Cruisers Struggle Against Cougars, Drop to 1-2

In a challenging matchup this past Saturday evening, the Eatonville Cruisers found themselves on the wrong side of a 26-0 scoreline against the #10 ranked Cascade Christian Cougars. The Cruisers faced a relentless Cougar defense that kept them on their toes throughout the game and showed why they deserve that top 10 ranking in the state in the 1A classification.

Eatonville senior captains Max Henley (#10), Riley Storm (#12), Payton Hanly (#7), and Dylan Norman (#26) pose with a few of the officials prior to the pregame coin toss this past Saturday evening. Photo: Vince Miller Photography. More photos from this game can be seen and purchased at https://www.vincemillerphoto.com/p93209471

Eatonville's offensive struggles were evident as they turned the ball over three times during the contest. The Cougar defense proved to be a formidable opponent, intercepting the Cruisers' passes twice and forcing a crucial fumble. In total, Eatonville managed to accumulate just 113 yards of total offense, a testament to the ferocity of the Cascade Christian defense.

The passing game for Eatonville faced difficulties, with the team collectively completing 13 out of 25 attempts for a mere 73 yards and suffering two interceptions. The rushing game was virtually non-existent, with the team ending the night with a discouraging negative 3 yards on the ground. However, amidst the struggles, there were a couple of bright spots for the Cruisers. They successfully executed two fake punts, with Griffin Clevenger gaining 22 yards on one fake and completing a pass for a crucial first down on the other.

Defensively, the Cruisers faced another tough outing, particularly in containing the Cougar ground attack. They conceded a significant 254 rushing yards in this game, continuing a trend that has seen them allow an average of 305 rushing yards per game through the first three games of the season.

One standout performer for Eatonville was Max Henley, who delivered an impressive all-around performance. Henley recorded the sole sack for the Cruisers, blocked an extra point field goal attempt, and made a spectacular diving catch on offense, providing a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging contest.

Looking ahead, the Cruisers will seek to bounce back as they travel to Bellevue, Washington, to face the Bellevue Christian Vikings in another non-league matchup. The game is scheduled to take place at Sammamish High School Stadium on Saturday, September 23rd, at 2 pm. Eatonville remains determined to turn their season around and put up a strong fight in the upcoming game.