Never-say-die Bullpups rally to beat Eastlake

Miracles do happen!

Gonzaga Prep was scoreless and trailing by 20 points with 5 minutes left Saturday in its State 4A football quarterfinal game against visiting Eastlake.

But for the second straight week, the Bullpups found the wherewithal for a 21-20 victory that moves them into the semifinals Saturday.

“I’m speechless right now,” said G-Prep quarterback Max Manix, who orchestrated the incredible comeback with his arm. “They deserved to win the ball game. I’m speechless. … But this is our dream season. A lot of teams would have folded in that situation. We were not going to let this be our last game.”

G-Prep (11-1) will meet Oak Harbor (11-1) for a shot at the Dec. 2 Gridiron Classic at the Tacoma Dome. The semifinal will be played 4 p.m. Saturday at Albi Stadium. St. John-Endicott will play Pateros in a State 1B semifinal at 1 p.m. before the 4A game.

Eastlake (9-3) parlayed a big offensive play late in the first half and two G-Prep turnovers into its three-touchdown advantage on an ideal 45-degree day in front of a near sellout crowd in excess of 3,000.

For the second straight week, a missed extra point would loom large in G-Prep’s uncanny ability to survive. It came on the Wolves’ second touchdown of the game, early in the third quarter, following a fumble recovery.

Less than three minutes later, Tanor Johnson returned a pickoff 45 yards for the 20-0 lead that left the Bullpups in a big hole with 19 minutes remaining.

But with Manix forced to go to the air, G-Prep held the football for 16 of the final 21 minutes after having been previously outgained 224-100.

“They just keep making play after play after play,” said G-Prep coach Dave Carson. “They just keep persevering and don’t care what the score is.”

Eastlake coaches pointed to officiating, and there were a couple of untimely penalties during G-Prep’s winning drive.

One was a personal foul on the first play of the 76-yard march that put the ball on Eastlake’s 42-yard line. Later, with first down on the 14, a defensive holding call moved the ball to the 8. Six plays later, Manix threw his third TD pass, to Phil Joy with 13 seconds left, and Mat Barker kicked the winning extra point.

“I’m still trying to figure it out,” Carson said. “They’re saying, ‘How did it happen?’ and I’m saying, ‘How did it happen?’ They say it was the officiating and to a certain extent, yes. But they’re up 20-0 with 5 minutes to go and we win. It can’t be all officiating.”

Defenses prevailed for a half. G-Prep couldn’t get much out of its option attack, and except for a 53-yard run by Dane Steel from the shadow of his goal line,

Eastlake didn’t do much either. Ryan Robertson of the Wolves completed some passes, but was also sacked twice and intercepted once.

With less than 2 minutes left until half, Robertson completed three straight, including a pretty pass over the middle to uncovered wide receiver Eric Hill, who raced alone 60 yards to break a scoreless tie with 58 seconds left.

Robertson hit Justin Helwege for a score that capped a 30-yard drive following the fumble recovery after intermission. Then came Johnson’s pick.

Eastlake had no more first downs and 1 net yard. Beginning with 8:30 left to play, G-Prep reaped the rewards of that effort.

Manix, making good use of defensive starter John McKenna, seldom featured as a receiver, directed a 12-play, 64-yard drive. McKenna caught three balls for 46 yards and G-Prep’s first touchdown with 4:50 to play.

Following a 15-yard punt by Eastlake, the Bullpups went 47 yards in six passes, the TD a 21-yard toss to Michael Alexander with 2:47 left.

After the third defensive stop, a third-down pass broken up by McKenna, G-Prep had 1:43 left to go 76 yards. Manix hit Joy on a 44-yard play. The ball got just over a pair of Eastlake defenders.

“Phil’s a playmaker,” said Manix, who had 10 of his 11 completions for 151 yards in the fourth quarter and rushed 22 times in the game for 110 yards more. “He’s my best bud, and I knew if I threw it up there he’d come down with it. He came through big time.”

On the sixth play from the 8-yard-line, Manix ultimately found Joy again for a joyous ending.

“I’ve quit trying to figure it out,” Carson said. “It’s like faith. You can’t explain it – it’s just there.”

Gonzaga Prep 21, Eastlake 20

Eas-Hill 60 pass from Robertson (Johnson kick)

Eas-Helwege 20 pass from Robertson (kick failed)

Eas-Johnson 32 interception return (Johnson kick)

GP-McCanna 10 pass from Manix (Barker kick)

GP-Alexander 21 pass from Manix (Barker kick)

GP-Joy 4 pass from Manix (Barker kick)

Individual statistics

Rushing: Eastlake-Lappano 4-4, Robertson 4-(minus 21), Steel 10-72, Hughes 2-3, Johnson 1-0. Gonzaga Prep-Condon 9-32, Manix 22-110, Jones 2-1, Lee 3-(minus 2), Fleming 1-3, Curry 1-4, McCanna 4-5, Karwacki 3-10.

Passing: Eastlake-Robertson 12-18-1-171, Johnson 0-1-0-0. Gonzaga Prep-Manix 11-27-1-153, Karwacki 0-1-0-0.

Receiving: Eastlake-Johnson 5-47, Peterson 2-29, Steel 1-(minus 2), Hill 2-65, Fagan 1-12, Helwege 1-20. Gonzaga Prep-McCanna 6-66, Weber 1-11, Joy 3-55, Alexander 1-21, Manix 1-2.