Late rally ends Mountain View’s year

LACEY — Timberline of Lacey scored 22 points in a seven-minute span of the fourth quarter Saturday, pulling out a 29-28 victory and bringing a stunning end to a stellar season for the Mountain View football team.

“I think we got ahead of ourselves,” Thunder senior Jeff Carmody said. “You’ve got to play all 48 minutes.”

Mountain View (7-3) was nearly perfect for the first 38 minutes or so. The Thunder turned their relentless rushing attack into a 28-7 lead, getting two touchdowns from PJ Jones and two from Carmody in the Class 3A state preliminary-round playoff game at South Sound Stadium.

But after Timberline scored a touchdown with 10 minutes to go, momentum shifted for good when Junior Chaney delivered a 65-yard punt return that pulled the Blazers within 28-21 with eight minutes remaining.

Timberline scored again on a 4-yard pass from Kevin Russell to Charles MacNeil with 3:16 to go, and lined up for what was expected to be a game-tying extra point. Instead, Russell passed to Matt Wines on a designed fake for a 2-point conversion and the winning points.

For Mountain View, it was a frustrating end to a memorable season. The loss left the Thunder one game shy of the 16-team state playoffs.

“It all starts at the top with these seniors,” coach Adam Mathieson said. “They’ve done everything we asked for 12 months. They grabbed this group and led them with integrity and character.”

Mountain View set the tone early, taking the opening kickoff and marching 74 yards for a touchdown. Jones scored on a 36-yard run, capping a 10-play drive consisting only of running plays.

The Thunder moved the ball effectively on their second possession before losing a fumble, and then found the end zone again the third time they had the ball. Jones capped that drive by catching a 34-yard pass from Ryan Hansen on a beautifully executed play-actiion fake.

After Timberline closed within 14-7, Mountain View extended the lead in the final minute of the second quarter.

Carmody scored on a 15-yard run in which Jones took a handoff from Hansen and immediately handed the ball to Carmody running the opposite direction. Earlier in the drive, Carmody gained 31 yards on the same play call.

But the Thunder couldn’t quite sustain their momentum.

“When things start going the other team’s way,” Carmody said, “you’ve got to pull youself together.”

TIMBERLINE 29, MOUNTAIN VIEW 28

Mountain View 7 14 7 0—28

Timberline 0 7 0 22—29

First quarter

MV—PJ Jones 36 run (Chavo Camargo kick)

Second quarter

MV—Jones 34 from Ryan Hansen (Camargo kick)

T—Charles MacNeil 15 from Kevin Russell (Jakob Lengauer kick)

MV—Jeff Carmody 15 run (Camargo kick)

Third quarter

MV—Carmody 9 run (Camargo kick)

Fourth quarter

T—MacNeil 2 from Russell (Lengauer kick)

T—Junior Chaney 65 punt return (Lengauer kick)

T—MacNeil 4 from Russell (Matt Wines from Russell)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing — Mountain View: PJ Jones 17-103, Jeff Carmody 8-86, Sterling Reynolds 18-72, Ryan Hansen 3-18; Timberline: Spencer Crump 8-47, Mitchell Cone 5-18, Kevin Russell 6-17.

Passing — Mountain View: Ryan Hansen 3-8-65-1; Timberline: Kevin Russell 22-37-228-1.

Receiving — Mountain View: PJ Jones 1-34, Ryan Johnson 1-19, Jeff Carmody 1-12; Timberline: Charles MacNeil 14-137, Junior Chaney 4-37, James Segura-Mitchell 2-34, Dale Garcia 2-20.