The Pirates lost their homecoming game and a spot in the playoffs last Friday in front of a huge home crowd by falling to Bellevue Christian, 23-6. The Vikings had done their homework and came into the game well prepared to take on the Pirates’ strong running offense.

Vashon struggled offensively the entire game, finally managing to find the end zone just once in the fourth quarter. It was a surprising reversal of fortune for the Pirates, who have been scoring in excess of 40 points per game all season. The Vikings were able to successfully stifle and contain the running of Bryce Hoisington. He managed to get some good runs in, but he was double- and triple-teamed most of the night.

Again, costly turnovers during critical drives hurt the Pirates, but there was huge improvement in Vashon’s pass defense. The Pirates were able to contain the Vikings’ deep throw threat for most of the game.

The game was off to a slow start with multiple penalties, and the first quarter took 45 minutes of real time to play the game clock time of 12 minutes. The Vikings’ first possession ended with a punt, and Vashon was off to its usual quick start, but a fumble on the fourth play that was recovered by Bellevue Christian set the tone for the rest of the game.  Two plays later Bellevue was in the end zone for the first score of the night; the two-point conversion was good, and the score was 8-0, and it remained that way through the first half.

Ineffective running, multiple penalties and turnovers cost the Pirates every time they tried to sustain a drive.  The defense mounted a huge goal-line stand, stopping the Vikings on the two-yard line and again on the one. Hoisington managed to bust out a big 57-yard run, but a penalty cost them 15 yards, and four plays later they turned the ball over on downs.

Bellevue Christian scored with four minutes to go in the third quarter and with the conversion good, the score was 15-0. After another set of non-productive downs and a couple of fumbles, VHS senior Edgar Polkat had a beautiful 20-yard reception to end the third quarter. Again, the Pirates couldn’t gain any traction and handed the ball back to the Vikings.

Vashon’s fate was sealed in the fourth quarter when Bellevue snagged a perfect interception and ran it in for a touchdown.  With the two points good, the score was 23-0 with nine minutes to go in the game.

Vashon’s lone score came courtesy of a Hoisington run with about seven minutes to go in the game. The attempt for extra points was not successful, and the final score was 23-6.

This week the Pirates take on Cascade Christian at 7 p.m. Saturday in Puyallup.

— Cheryl Pruett is the mother of two Pirate football players.