This week, the ending was less theatrical. The game-winning touchdown pass from Noah Andrews to Cade Otton came with just under two minutes left, instead of two seconds.
Following a short drive produced by Cy Hicks’ fumble recovery with three minutes, 27 seconds to go, Andrews threw a 6-yard dart to Otton for the go-ahead touchdown, lifting Tuwmater over Union 27-20.
“Most of the game was kind of stagnant, and then the fourth quarter the game picked up,” Hicks said. “Everybody was effected by the energy.”
For the second time in as many weeks, Tumwater knocked off an upper-class opponent. It beat Bellevue, then ranked No. 6 in 3A, last week with a last-second Hail Mary pass.
The game was tied 13-13 at halftime, and Abe Smith’s 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave Union a 20-13 lead the Titans took into the final period.
“We scheduled these two teams for a reason,” Tumwater coach Sid Otton said. “We had to play 48 minutes. That’s what our team needed — the last two weeks, come at the end and find a way to win it.
“I think that’s a pretty good investment for our future.”
The T-Birds struggled to convert several times — Tumwater turned the ball over on downs five times, and lost another two possessions to turnovers. It was Tumwater’s defense that kept the game within reach.
“The defense has just been playing outstanding,” Sid Otton said. “They created all of these opportunities for us.”
TUMWATER 27, UNION 20
Union 6 7 7 0–20
Tumwater 6 7 0 14–27
First quarter
U — Keithen Shepard 7 pass from Lincoln Victor (pass failed).
T — Jakob Holbrook 2 run (kick failed)
Second quarter
U — Nehru Faalevao 2 run (Connor Culp kick)
T — Zach Jones 26 interception (Noah Anderews kick)
Third quarter
U — Abe Smith 1 run (Culp kick).
Fourth quarter
T –Andrews 8 run (Andrews kick)
T — Cade Otton 10 pass from Andrews (Andrews kick)
