By CHERYL PRUETT

For The Beachcomber

Friday night’s game did not live up to the high expectations of the Pirates. After beating Tacoma’s Charles Wright Academy just three weeks earlier, the Vashon High School football team entered the competition at the CW field with high hopes.

Those hopes were soon dashed after they were blown out by the Tarriers, losing by a final score of 76-52.

Vashon’s inability to defend against the big pass play has been the team’s downfall this season, and this game was no different. Tarrier quarterback Henry Cheney was able to find wide-open receivers for huge gains all night. However, Vashon’s fumble recovery has improved — with eight drops, it managed to recover six of them.

Offensively, the Pirates once again put up huge numbers, amassing 552 total yards and scoring eight touchdowns for a total of 52 points. Despite the numbers, the team struggled to maintain any sort of serious drive, turning the ball over on downs more times than in any previous game this season.

The game was off to a perfect start when Vashon’s defense forced the Tarriers to punt after their first set of downs. The wheels came off the Vashon bus soon after though, and the massive score-fest began when the Tarriers scored five minutes into the game. The extra point was good, and Charles Wright was up 7-0.

Vashon answered right back, and behind Bryce Hoisington’s running, got into the end zone just two minutes later. The extra point conversion was no good, and the score was 7-6 for the next 30 seconds.

The Tarriers brought the kickoff back for a large gain, and two pass plays later they scored again. Two minutes later they were in again and, by the end of the first quarter, they were up 21-6 and never looked back.

The second quarter got off to a rough start when the Tarriers found the end zone again after 12 seconds. After just four snaps, the Pirates handed the ball back to the Tarriers who, after a run to nowhere, hit yet another big pass play for a touchdown. After only two minutes off the clock in the second quarter, Charles Wright was up 35-6.

After another set of downs to nowhere, frustration set in and the Pirates got flagged for unnecessary roughness. A Kellan Riley interception provided a morale boost, but the subsequent fumble negated that.

Out of the ashes, the Pirate defensive line rose up in a goal line stand behind big stops by Logan Nelson and Ron Krieger, forcing a Tarrier field goal attempt that was blocked, then recovered by senior Chester Pruett.

With three minutes to go in the half, Bryce Hoisington snagged his second score of the nigh, and with the two-point conversion, the score was 35-14.  Vashon’s kicker, Luis Villa-Senor placed the ball perfectly, but just 20 seconds and one complete pass later, Charles Wright had scored again: 42-14.  It was Vashon’s turn next, finally putting together a string of runs and a pass completion to Edgar Polkat. With less than a minute to go in the half, Bryce Hoisington punched the ball in, and Polkat scored the extra two points. Not to be outdone, literally 20 seconds later, Charles Wright unleashed another huge pass play, and the score at half time was 49-22.

The misery continued through the third quarter with the Pirates falling behind 55-22, until Adrian St. Germain scored with five minutes to go, bringing the score to 55-28.  But again, literally seconds later, the Pirates’ defensive backs were unable to do anything against the deep throwing threat of Charles Wright, and they were in again, making it 62-28.

St. Germain and the Pirates answered back with his second score of the night, bringing it to 62-34. But, as had been the case all game, with just six seconds to go in the third quarter, yet another long bomb saw the Tarriers in again. Score 69-34.  Thanks to tackles by Jackson Bard and Pruett, the Pirates took over on downs, leading to another Hoisington score and 69-40 on the scoreboard. As the last seven minutes played out, Charles Wright scored one last time, along with Hoisington’s final score of the night and a touchdown by Pruett, bringing the debacle to an end with a final score of 76-52.

Vashon plays at home this Friday, Oct. 16, against Bellevue Christian. It is homecoming for all VHS alumni, as well as the annual senior night presentation. There will be a community dinner sponsored by the ASB and open to all from  5 to 6:30 p.m. Other festivities will begin at 6 p.m. with a pep rally, senior recognition at 6:30 p.m. and the kickoff at 7 p.m.

— Cheryl Pruett is the parent of two VHS football players.