Gridiron classic notebook: No fright on big stage for 15-year-old RB

TACOMA — Coaches told him to act like he'd been there before, to treat it like any other game.

But walking into the Tacoma Dome last week, Archbishop Murphy running back Stan Smith couldn't help himself.

He'd never been there as a player.

"They told me not to get the big eyes, but I was like, 'Whoa!' " Smith said. "But then I got into that huddle and everything was all right. I was just at home with my buddies."

The 15-year-old freshman showed no signs of stage fright in the Class 1A state-championship game yesterday. He rushed 13 times for 140 yards and a touchdown in the Wildcats' 35-14 victory over Royal, playing a tremendous second fiddle to the star of the day, Archbishop Murphy junior running back Jevon Butler.

Long-distance connection

The first half of the 2A title game was coming to a close when the unthinkable happened, as Carlos Gil, Connell's senior kicker, trotted out for a 57-yard attempt.

"What?" one fan asked. "Can they be serious?" chimed another.

Apparently, they were. Because even though Gil missed that attempt, his 52-yarder sailed through the uprights in the third quarter. It was the longest field goal in any classification in state-finals history.

Not bad for a guy who started kicking a month before this season. Gil was born in Mexico and moved to Connell five years ago, but didn't start kicking until this season.

"Oh yeah, there was a lot of pressure," he said. "I looked up at the crowd, and there were a lot of people out there."

In the soccer state-title game, Gil scored the winning shootout goal against — who else? — Elma.

Conflict of interest

Archbishop Murphy senior quarterback Axel Wolff completed the one and only pass he threw yesterday for a touchdown. Wolff, who had attempted 22 passes all season, hooked up with Ian Telge for a 25-yard score. It was the last pass of his high-school career.

"That, right there," he said, "was the best feeling of my life."

Wolff's older brother Morgan is a sophomore at West Point. His parents, Ruth and Peter, said the family had plans to attend yesterday's Army-Navy game in East Rutherford, N.J., but canceled those arrangements when the Wildcats beat Cascade Christian last week in the semifinals.

Peter Wolff is ATM's team doctor.

"We had airline tickets, hotel (reservations), everything," Ruth Wolff said. "But the Army-Navy game happens every year. This only happens once."

Celebrity week

By now, almost everyone has heard of the wild ending to last week's Elma-Lynden Christian semifinal game. The one in which Lyncs quarterback Mark Holleman ran out the clock with his team leading 19-14, then dropped the ball in his own end zone, where it was recovered by Elma defensive end Caleb Rose for the game-winning touchdown.

The play made national news, even showing up on ESPN's SportsCenter.

"I got made fun of a lot," Rose said. "I was called, 'The Movie Star,' and 'Hollywood,' because I was on lots of TV shows and stuff."

The Eagles lost to Connell 41-14 in the 2A championship game, but Rose said the Lyncs were more impressive.

"Lynden Christian was a better team than this (Connell)," he said.

Sortun has strong ties in Kent

Most Kentwood football fans aren't too familiar with Wayne Sortun, coach of the Capital team the Conquerors played for the 4A championship.

Many surely know his dad, Henrik.

Henrik Sortun sells concessions at French Field, Kentwood's home stadium. And Wayne's four brothers graduated from Kent-Meridian, although he attended Anacortes High School.

Martin Sortun Elementary School in Kent was named after Wayne's grandfather after the school was built on what was once his Kent homestead.

Cheering on the home team?

They wore Bulldogs black and orange — and cheered for Ritzville, their former rival.

But juniors Samantha Strohmaier and Kelsey Gardner were happy to be at the Tacoma Dome, the only two varsity cheerleaders from the tiny town of Lind, population 582.

Lind and Ritzville combined their fall sports programs this year because of dwindling numbers at Lind. The two joined four Ritzville cheerleaders on the sideline yesterday.

"It's good," Gardner said, "because if we didn't resolve our rivalry, we wouldn't have a (football) team."

Note

• Elma High School senior twins Lucas and Lee Brown are making a highlight video of the Eagles' season. The young entrepreneurs, who are selling the tapes for $20 each, have 3.95 grade-point averages and have applied to MIT. Tapes can be ordered via e-mail at videotwins@olynet.com.