With the South Puget Sound League North Division title already in their pocket, the Auburn Trojans might not have seemed like they had much to prove last Friday against rival Auburn Riverside.
But with a state 4A playoff qualifier game against KingCo No. 5 seed Inglemoor (3-2 league, 6-3 overall) looming and an unbeaten streak at Troy Field on the line, the Trojans (8-0 league, 9-0 overall) unloaded on the hapless Ravens (2-6 league, 3-6 overall), notching a 42-7 victory.
“We had the title, but we wanted to be undefeated league champions,” Auburn coach Gordon Elliott said. “And there is the rivalry. And it’s been four years since we’ve lost a game at Troy Field, and our kids want to continue that streak.”
From the beginning the streak was in no danger, as the Trojans put together a 28-0 lead at halftime and added 14 points in the third quarter. Senior running back Jeff Gouveia led Auburn with three rushing touchdowns and 96 yards on eight carries. Carlo Lavoie, Chris Young and sophomore Dylan Rutledge also added touchdowns.
Auburn Riverside’s John Hakala scored the Ravens’ sole touchdown – a 10-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Auburn notched 393 total offense, 364 on the ground. Sixteen Trojans had rushing attempts.
“There were a lot of things going,” Elliott said. “But it’s the ninth week and our focus is the playoffs next week and we have to play on a level that carries us in to that. Some people think that you should take easy and rest guys, but our approach is to play at a playoff level and let that carry us into the playoffs.”
That means preparing for round one against Inglemoor at 7:30 p.m. this Friday at Auburn Memorial Stadium.
“We’ve seen them on film a little bit,” Elliott said. “They’re a KingCo team, so we know they’re good.”
But don’t expect too many surprises to the Auburn run-first philosophy that has carried them this season.
“You want to stay with the things that you do well but every team presents challenges,” he said. “There are some adjustments that you make, but not anything that would totally change the way you play. We’re still going to play our defense and our offense.”
“I think (we’re ready),” Elliott continued. “The problem with the playoffs is that every team is really good and you have to play well that night. A lot of teams can make the playoffs, but it’s how you play that night that determines if you go on.”
The winner of Friday night’s game moves on to the first round of the state playoffs on Nov. 14 and 15.
ALSO: Auburn Mountainview (4-4 league, 5-4 overall) defeated Stadium 14-10 (0-8 league, 0-9 overall) in a non-league game this past Thursday. The Lions finished the season in fifth place in the SPSL 3A, The team will finish out the season against Hazen (4-4 league, 5-4 overall) in a non-league game Friday.
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SPSL NORTH 4A
FOOTBALL STANDINGS
TEAM LG. OVERALL
Auburn 8-0 9-0
Federal Way 6-2 7-2
Kentwood 6-2 7-2
Tahoma 5-3 6-3
Kentlake 4-4 4-5
Kentridge 4-4 5-4
Aub. Riverside 2-6 3-6
Kent-Meridian 1-7 1-8
Jefferson 0-8 0-9
LAST THURSDAY’S GAME
Kentridge 10, Kent-Meridian 7
LAST FRIDAY’S GAMES
Auburn 42, Aub. Riverside 7
Kentwood 24, Kentlake 13
Federal Way 48, Jefferson 0
Tahoma 38, Graham-Kapowsin 14
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Puyallup at Kentlake, 7
Kentridge at Spanaway Lake, 7
Emerald Ridge at Aub. Riverside, 7
Kent-Meridian at Decatur, 7
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Federal Way at Gig Harbor, 7:30
Inglemoor at Auburn, 7:30
Kentwood at Edmonds-Woodway, 7:30
Tahoma at Jackson, 7:30
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SPSL 3A
FOOTBALL STANDINGS
TEAM LG. OVERALL
Lakes 8-0 9-0
Peninsula 7-1 7-2
Enumclaw 5-3 5-4
Bonney Lake 4-4 5-4
Aub. Mt. View 4-4 5-4
Franklin Pierce 3-5 3-6
Sumner 3-5 4-5
Clover Park 2-6 2-7
White River 0-8 0-9
LAST THURSDAY’S GAME
Aub. Mt. View 14, Stadium 10
FRIDAY’S GAME
Aub. Mt. View at Hazen, 7
