Statistics can be deceiving.

Auburn Mountainview can attest to that after the Lions produced yards, but were dominated on the scoreboard, 42-7, during the first round of the Class 3A state tournament Friday at Eastside Catholic.

The explanation for the season-ending loss for Auburn Mountainview (8-3) was simple. After all, the defending state champion Crusaders (10-0), who advance to play Bonney Lake, did not need to touch the ball often.

“You just can’t turn the ball over the ball over six times and expect to beat the No. 1 team in the state,” coach Jared Gervais said.

The Lions were effective at moving the ball during the first half as they outgained Eastside Catholic 263-124. Despite that, the Crusaders led 21-7 at halftime.

Much of that can be attributed to University of Washington commit Brandon Wellington. After Auburn Mountainview drove down to Eastside Catholic’s 29-yard line, Wellington intercepted Gresch Jensen and returned it for an 85-yard touchdown.

Wellington also had a 9-yard touchdown run during the second quarter.

“Wellington is one heck of a player,” Gervais said. “He definitely deserves all those scholarship offers. As a Husky fan I’m excited to see him play at UW.”

The Crusaders’ other touchdown during the opening 24 minutes came late in the first quarter when another Jensen pass bounced off a receiver’s hands and was intercepted by Jonathon Webster, who returned it for a 40-yard touchdown.

Jensen, a Montana commit, threw five interceptions, but three of those bounced off his receivers in the rainy conditions on the Sammamish Plateau. Jensen completed 21 of 41 passes for 243 yards.

Gervais said his team’s ability to drive down the field “showed they can compete with them,” but the Lions simply made too many mistakes to pull off the upset.

The early deficit also forced Auburn Mountainview to move away from its plan to utilize junior running back Bitner Wilson, who played youth football with several members of Eastside Catholic’s team. Wilson had 116 yards on 21 carries.

“This is a tough one for Bitner because he talked about going to Eastside Catholic,” Gervais said. “He grew up playing football with a lot of these guys.”

Wilson’s lone touch during the Lions’ only touchdown drive came on a 23-yard run to the Crusaders’ 32. That possession culminated with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Jensen to Ryan Lacey.

But that is as close as Auburn Mountainview would get.

Wellington opened the second half with a 77-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He also scored Eastside Catholic’s final two touchdowns during the third quarter on an 18-yard run and a 24-yard interception return.

Gervais believes the Crusaders are well-positioned to repeat as state champions.

“Absolutely,” he said, when asked if Eastside Catholic was the best 3A team in the state. “We haven’t seen anything like them. They have so many kids with Pac-12 offers.”

The Lions only had one of those. But wide receiver Gavin Robertson, who committed to Arizona, remained sidelined with a cracked fibula.

“Not having our Pac-12 scholarship kid hurts,” Gervais said.

Robertson graduates along with Jensen and several other standouts. But Gervais, who has a 29-22 record with two state-playoff appearances in five seasons, is excited for the opportunity to mold Auburn Mountainview into winners next year.

“It’s a challenge to replace all of them, but we’re excited to move on,” he said. “We’re excited to going forward to have a guy like Bitner – and Talon [Alfrey] – coming back.”