Bellevue runs over Timberline
Hasty unstoppable with six touchdowns
By MOLLY YANITY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
TUMWATER -- In a mid-game span of six carries, he had five touchdowns. He rushed for 325 yards and six touchdowns, juking and dashing his way all over the turf at Tumwater Stadium last night. He shook off defenders, bounced around them, made them look foolish.
His name isn't at the top of the state's all-time rushing list.
His name is J.R. Hasty.
"When you get in that open field ... you just have to make a play. You see the line and get through and see all the field, you have to make a cut, make a move, make it happen," Hasty said.
The big play ruled, but not how 6,400 onlookers had predicted, as Hasty broke for long, quick touchdowns. But instead of responses by Timberline's Jonathan Stewart, the state's all-time leading rusher, it was the Wolverines' defense that answered as Bellevue rolled to a 49-9 Class 3A quarterfinal rout of the Blazers.
The victory sets up a semifinal in the Tacoma Dome next weekend against Lynden and puts the No. 1 Wolverines in prime position to earn an unprecedented fourth consecutive 3A crown.
With his six touchdowns, Hasty tied the state's all-time record of touchdowns in a season at 45. One more and he'll pass the mark set by Bethel's Steve Dildine in 2001.
Despite getting flagged for holding twice on its first offensive series, Bellevue held to its big-play form, as Keith Rosenberg ripped of a 72-yard run to give Bellevue the early lead.
Timberline (10-2) marched down the field on the ensuing possession, but on third-and-goal from the 1, Bellevue defensive lineman Trevor Carpine stuffed Stewart for no gain. On the next play, Blazers quarterback Nick Maxwell fumbled the snap to turn the ball over.
"We thought it'd be more competitive," Timberline coach Kevin Young said. "Had we capitalized on those early chances, it could have been a different game."
But it was simply Hasty's game.
With less than a minute to play in the half, he broke for his first big touchdown, a 54-yarder up the gut. He slipped to the sideline and found himself face-to-face with Stewart, the only player between him and the goal.
"I saw him. I know he's one of the safeties. He sits back there and tries to hawk. I rushed straight at him and then made a move," Hasty said.
Hasty broke to his left as Stewart slipped to the ground.
"He played great. Unbelievable," Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff said. "He always does ... always does."
Goncharoff credited the team for making precise adjustments at the half that broke the game open.
After Hasty's half-ending score, he found the end zone on his next two touches with rushes of 75 and 27 yards.
Ryan Lee intercepted a Maxwell pass in the red zone and Hasty took the ball 96 yards for a touchdown with 9:23 to play to put the game out of reach at 42-9.
With his 325 yards on 16 carries, Hasty brought his season yardage total to 2,251.
Stewart, who visibly struggled with the pain of back spasms suffered throughout the week, went 129 yards on 20 carries.
He and Hasty shook hands and hugged in a post-game lineup.
Hasty said the comparisons between the two nagged at him, but that he had heard that Timberline players had taken part in some pregame smack talk.
"If you're going to call us out, you better be careful what you wish for," he said.
He meant it.
