It was an uphill grind from the start for the Blue Train.
Bothell kicked off to open the Class 4A state football game against Bellarmine Prep at Mount Tahoma Stadium under warm blue skies on Saturday in Tacoma, and it was run back for a 91-yard touchdown.
Just like that.
Bellarmine would go on to win 35-30.
The Cougars, misfiring on offense when it really counted, chased the Lions all day at their place.
Bothell took a 14-7 lead in the second quarter, on a pass from Ross Bowers to a wide open Jared Berry, but it was short-lived.
Bellarmine, behind 6-foot-4, 228 pound University of Colorado quarterback recruit Sefo Liufau, responded with short runs and wide open passes to make it 28-17 at the half.
On the first play after halftime, Bothell’s Danny Wilson fumbled and Bellarmine recovered and scored later to make it 35-17.
Bothell did not run and hide.
Bowers found Berry again for a score and found Wilson on a screen to make it 35-30 with 2:24 remaining with an obvious onside kick to come.
The kick was bounced appropriately, but, somehow, amidst a scrum, was recovered by Bellarmine, and they ran the clock out.
Said Cougar coach Tom Bainter, biting his lip: “They made plays and we didn’t, it’s that simple. Give them credit. I can’t remember a lot of their mistakes and we had some opportunities we let slip through our hands and that’s the way it goes. This time of year you can’t do that. You gotta play almost perfect football … and we were were far from that today.”
Bothell finished its season at 6-5