Twice is nice, but how about 3?

TACOMA — Junior John Coombs notched the game's first tackle.

Sophomore J.R. Hasty got Bellevue's opening carry.

The future of the Wolverines' football program was living in the now.

But this night belonged to the seniors, who concluded their high-school football careers by winning back-to-back state championships — both at Lynden's expense. After whipping the Lions 42-15 for the 2001 title, Bellevue won 28-10 last night to become only the fourth Class 3A team to win two in a row. O'Dea last did it in 1994 and 1995, following in the footsteps of Prosser (1992-1993) and Tumwater (1989-1990).

Can Bellevue become the first to make it three?

"If they want to, they can do big things," said senior Matt Coombs, John's older brother.

If the Wolverines do something big again, guys like John Coombs and Hasty likely will be big reasons why.

"We'll definitely come back and give it a shot," John Coombs said.

He and Hasty both stepped in to fill big shoes this season after heavy graduation losses. Coombs became a mainstay in the defensive backfield and came up with a big interception last night that led to Bellevue's second touchdown. It was his 10th pick of the season. Late in the fourth, he stuck Trevor Ottmer so hard, Ottmer's mouthguard popped out.

With an entirely revamped offensive backfield, Hasty emerged as the team's second-leading rusher. Last night he broke a 35-yard run that set up the Wolverines' third score as they pulled away for a 21-3 lead. He scored their fourth TD on a 10-yard run that included a juke that left a Lynden defender on the artificial turf at the 5-yard line and allowed Hasty to go into the end zone untouched.

Hasty finished with 10 carries for 84 yards, giving him 1,219 for the season.

Being a part of last night's victory was so much fun, he can't wait to do it again next year.

"We're going to come back again," Hasty said. "People can doubt us again and we'll come back for the third time."

Graduation will hit Bellevue hard again. Guys like Matt Coombs and Nick Baumgardner will be hard to replace, along with quarterback David Cahill. Lee Driftmier and Jeff Dicks will be sorely missed as well. Many others have made their presence felt week after week.

But the underclassmen are eager for their chance to become the next Wolverines stars. At Bellevue, like other great programs around the state, it will be time to reload, not rebuild.

"It's just a matter of how hard they want to work," Matt Coombs said.

Last night, the underclassmen wanted to work hard enough to ensure the seniors left with smiles on their faces.

"That was our main priority," John Coombs said. "The seniors carried us this season. We just wanted to do the right thing for them. They worked so hard to get here, it was only fitting they go out on top. We were just happy to be a part of it and help them out."

Next year, guys like John Coombs and J.R. Hasty will carry more of the load. Coach Butch Goncharoff knows he has a great foundation to build on. He isn't making any promises, but few doubt his ability to bring another Bellevue team back next year.

"You never know," Goncharoff said. "We're going to enjoy this now and worry about that after the holidays."

Bellevue seniors got the biggest gift they could have asked for last night. They took turns carrying the championship trophy around the Tacoma Down turf. Guys like John Coombs and J.R. Hasty had their chance to hoist it, too.

They hope to do it again next year.

Sandy Ringer: sringer@seattletimes.com.