It was an old-fashioned game of keep away.
But Auburn Riverside only could sustain that for so long before Auburn Mountainview’s high-powered offense took control during the second half as the Lions earned a 36-17 homecoming win Friday night in a Class 3A South Puget Sound League game at Auburn Memorial Stadium.
The Ravens recovered an onside kick to open the second half and took advantage when junior Andy Starkel converted a 38-yard field goal. That reduced Auburn Riverside’s deficit to 21-10.
And Ravens coach Bryant Thomas was not finished there.
He said he decided at halftime that for his team to pull off the upset, it would need to keep the ball out of the hands of Auburn Mountainview standout senior quarterback Gresch Jensen. But the Ravens could not corral the onside kick for a second time.
“We should’ve had it,” Thomas said. “My kid ran right by it. That was the turning point.”
Jensen, who was the homecoming king, ensured that as the Lions scored 15 unanswered points. Sandwiched between a safety were Jensen’s 4- and 35-yard touchdown passes to seniors Kijan Weisinger and Ryan Lacey, respectively.
Jensen completed 15 of 27 passes for 283 yards and five touchdowns. But the University of Montana commit also had an interception.
“With Gresch, it’s almost like we’re spoiled,” Auburn Mountainview coach Jared Gervais said. “When you’re playing that well you can start getting picky about it.”
Jensen produced those statistics in three quarters. Gervais sat him for the first period because of an ejection, which later was overturned, during the Lions’ 31-12 loss Sept. 25 at Sumner.
“I still can’t put myself in that situation,” Jensen said. “It was just a good discipline for me and a good learning experience.”
The Ravens took advantage of his absence, grabbing a 7-0 lead into the second quarter behind senior James Baldwin’s 1-yard run.
Enter Jensen.
“He’s a Division-1 quarterback,” Thomas said. “That’s why he’s got a scholarship. When he stepped into the game … it changed everything.”
Auburn Mountainview (4-1 overall, 2-1 league) scored 21 unanswered points to end the first half as Jensen connected with three different receivers for touchdowns. Weisinger caught a 4-yard pass and junior Bridger Child followed that with an 84-yard touchdown on the ensuing possession. Lacey then added a 10-yard touchdown catch with six seconds left in the half.
“It’s fun because they all bring something different to the table,” said Gervais, referring to his receivers. “They make plays and Gresch puts the ball up for them to do it.”
The 6-foot-4 Lacey had a game-high 109 yards on five receptions.
“Ryan Lacey is a monster,” Thomas said. “He killed us.”
Gervais also was impressed with Lacey’s performance.
“Ryan Lacey obviously is a great basketball player,” he said. “He’s a great guy going to highpoint footballs.”
Auburn Riverside (0-5, 0-3), which hosts Bonney Lake at 7 p.m. next Friday, was led by the 68 rushing yards of sophomore quarterback Tiano Malietufa and junior Odarious Shaw. The Ravens likely will need to win the remainder of their games to earn one of the 3A SPSL’s four playoff seeds.
But Thomas, who noted his team trailed 42-0 at halftime last year against the Lions, sees improvement.
“We made young mistakes,” he said. “We’ve got to work with the maturity piece. They’re going to learn from them.
“We’re building a program and that’s what we’re doing now. We’ve got a great group of kids. We’ll be all right.”
Auburn Mountainview is in a much different position. But the Lions’ performance during consecutive road games against Lakes and Peninsula on the next two Fridays could go a long way toward determining their playoff prospects. And while Gervais liked that his team handled “some adversity a little better” against Auburn Riverside, he said it needs to continue to improve in its quest to advance to state for a second consecutive year.
“We’ve definitely got some things to work on,” Gervais said. “Focusing until the end of the game being a big one.”
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Auburn Mountainview 36, Auburn Riverside 17
Auburn Riverside 7 0 3 7 – 17
Auburn Mountainview 0 21 7 8 – 36
First quarter
AR-James Baldwin 1 run (Andy Starkel kick)
Second quarter
AM-Kijan Weisinger 4 pass from Gresch Jensen (Jaime Huizar kick)
AM-Bridger Child 84 pass from Jensen (Huizar kick)
AM-Ryan Lacey 10 pass from Jensen (Huizar kick)
Third quarter
AR-Starkel 38 FG
AM-Weisinger 4 pass from Jensen (Huizar kick)
Fourth quarter
AM-Safety
AM-Lacey 35 pass from Jensen (pass conversion)
AR-Dennis Beard 6 run (Starkel kick)
Individual statistics
Passing – Tiano Malietufa (AR) 2-6-1-6, Ryan Lacey (AM) 0-1-0-0, Gresch Jensen (AM) 15-27-1-283.
Rushing – Odarious Shaw (AR) 5-68, Malietufa (AR) 19-68, Dennis Beard (AR) 7-53, Darrien Rivera (AR) 13-44, Alex Caldwell (AR) 10-31, Bradley Means (AR) 1-5, James Baldwin (AR) 1–13, Jensen (AM) 3-26, Kijan Weisinger 1-8, Lacey (AR) 1–3, Bitner Wilson (AR) 8–5.
Receiving – Caldwell (AR) 2-6, Lacey (AM) 5-109, Weisinger (AM) 4-39, Wilson (AM) 2-26, Vaughn Daggs (AM) 2-11, Bridger Child (AM) 1-84, David Tupua (AM) 1-14.
