Not only did Evergreen’s 20-17 loss to Stanwood in Friday’s Week 10 football state preliminary round bring out a batch of emotions for players postgame, but the way it ended also made them hungry for what’s next.
Senior linebacker Makhi Miller’s emotions varied. Angry, he said, because he felt the performance at McKenzie Stadium in Evergreen’s first playoff game since 2019 wasn’t up to Plainsmen standards. But happy, more, he said, because of what Evergreen accomplished in a memorable 2024 season.
“I’m more happy than upset,” Miller said, “because we finally made it to the playoffs, and I got all this time with my teammates. I will miss high school a lot.”
That’s why Miller and senior lineman Mo Maiava said postgame an 8-2 season is still a successful one, despite ending earlier than anticipated. And it also goes beyond the Xs and Os.
“Without a doubt,” Maiava said.
“I look at more of the build of the culture than how far we go,” Miller said. “I’m very proud of how much we’ve built this as a team and a family.”
Two weeks ago, Evergreen captured its first league title since 2007 when it was a Class 4A school. Friday’s state preliminary round game marked just the third time since that feat Evergreen reached the postseason.
Stanwood (6-4) advances to the Class 3A state playoffs riding a four-game winning streak and victories now in six of its past seven games after an 0-3 start. Friday against the Plainsmen, the Spartans did it with their Wing-T offense behind long offensive possessions, a workhorse tailback, and also capitalized on a number of special teams plays Friday.
In a game where points, possessions and plays were at a premium, Evergreen coach Christian Swain pointed to a handful of plays that proved to be the difference maker. Some came on special teams.
Evergreen had one punt blocked, muffed another would-be punt that led to a Stanwood touchdown two plays later, and, with 3:28 left in the game and trailing by 3, Stanwood recovered its own punt after a Plainsmen player went for the recovery. Stanwood’s fresh set of downs led to a touchdown five plays later.
“I’m proud of our kids, it’s just one of those learning experiences,” Swain said. “This is the next step in our program development. I’m disappointed that we lost, but I’m proud of the season we had. Now it’s going to be a long offseason grind to get better.”
Long before that, it was Stanwood’s long offensive drives, defensive red-zone stops by Evergreen, and kickers that were the first-half story in a 3-3 game. The game’s first touchdown came at the final minute of the third quarter. Evergreen muffed a punt attempt deep in its own territory, putting Stanwood in prime position at the Evergreen 12. Two plays later, Eban Bland’s first of two touchdowns pushed Stanwood’s lead to 13-3.
Then, trailing 13-10 in the fourth, Stanwood capitalized on two pivotal fourth-down plays to earn a 20-10 lead with 3:28 to play. The Spartans recovered Evergreen’s blocked punt after the ball got touched by a Plainsman player. That meant a fresh set of downs for Stanwood, and a series later, Stanwood turned a fourth-and-short into a 21-yard Bland touchdown for a 20-10 advantage.
Bland, Stanwood’s workhorse in its Wing-T offense, rushed for a game-high 26 carries for 160 yards.
Evergreen’s workhorses belonged in the passing game. With Stanwood’s front 7 limiting Evergreen’s rushing attack, freshman quarterback Jayden Baum had the best game of his young high school career. He hit five receivers for 366 yards on 27 of 36 passing, orchestrated a 78-yard, eight-play scoring drive to pull within 13-10, then needed just 36 seconds to pull Evergreen within 3 late.
After Stanwood took its 20-10 lead, Baum used his legs for a pair of big-play rushing gains, then hit Terrance Saryon over the middle for a 55-yard touchdown strike to pull Evergreen within 20-17.
That 36-second possession was the third — and final — second-half offensive series for Evergreen. Stanwood’s first-down run on third down with 1:10 to go was enough to run out the clock.
“I felt like we were going to get that,” Miller said.
—
STANWOOD 20, EVERGREEN 17
Stan 0 3 10 7 – 20
Ever 3 0 7 7 – 17
First quarter
E – Kevin Jimenez 41 FG
Second quarter
S – Nate Westerfield 31 FG
Third quarter
S – Westerfield 25 FG
S – Eben Bland 1 run (Westerfield kick)
E – James Berthune 1 run (Jiminez kick)
Fourth quarter
S – Bland 21 run (Westerfield kick)
E – Terrance Saryon 55 pass from Jayden Baum (Jimenez kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — Stanwood: Shawn Porter 1-7, Alex Maldonado 2-2, Preston Turner 8-35, Eden Blane 26-160, Canyon Bumgarner 5-41; Evergreen: James Berthune 9-23, Jayden Baum 5-9, Rai’Sean Chambers 1-2.
Passing — Stanwood: Alex Maldonado 1-3-0-14; Evergreen: Jayden Baum 26-37-1-366
Receiving — Stanwood: Eden Bland 1-14; Evergreen: Terrance Saryon 9-198; Thaddeus Pruitt 1-13, Ryder Keplar 2-23, London Walker 7-82, Darren Schmitt 5-50
