Week one of the football season starts with positive expectations and hope, a loss can crush that spirit of a team. For Kentlake, they have their work cut out to keep those vibes and expectations alive.— Kentlake fell in week one 37-0 in a defeat to Todd Beamer at Federal Way Memorial Field on Sept. 5 to kick off their 2024 season.
The Falcons are keeping their heads up after the loss, frankly because there is no other option. Kentlake has immense youth this season with freshmen starting all over the field in the loss to Todd Beamer.
“We are starting six to seven freshmen on the ball at one time … We gotta look at it as 10 weeks of progress. I wish all these guys were on C-team. Instead we are out here on varsity throwing it around,” Head Coach Wade Pelc said.
Someone who is a leader on that Kentlake team is senior Yacouba Diawara. In the Falcons’ first game, he played every single snap on offense, defense and special teams. That is the model that Pelc is looking for.
“It starts with you have to do it right yourself, that is the biggest thing. When you got a young team, you gotta find someone to look up to… He played every snap, every snap,” Pelc said.
“That takes a lot out of you, physically. He could have given up when it went down 21-0. For him to keep finishing, that is more of a testament to his legacy that he will leave here,” he added.
For the majority of the first half, the Kentlake defense was doing its job. Apart from a touchdown on Todd Beamer’s opening drive, life was difficult for the Titan offense. The Falcons’ defensive line was able to get penetration and did a good enough job at stopping the run, and the Titans just abandoned that strategy until the second half.
On offense, there wasn’t much to write home about for the Falcons. Apart from a few Darius Suggs runs that gashed the Titans’ defense, the Falcons never really threatened to score. Drive after drive would stall after a couple of first downs. If the Falcons and quarterback Gavin Leenhiavue can establish a run game, that is where Kentlake can find some rhythm offensively.
“You could tell we were physical running the football. I appreciate seeing that,” Pelc said.
Todd Beamer went into the locker room with a 16-0 halftime lead. Two touchdowns sandwiched a safety as the only scoring for either side. But in the second half, Todd Beamer scored touchdowns on three consecutive plays, recording over 150 yards of offense on three plays. That was when the game was put out of the Falcons’ reach.
But the Falcons’ defense stayed hungry, forcing two fumbles and recovering one of them in the second half.
“Those were some attitude plays with how we finished the game. It could have gotten out of hand more than what it was… To see them keep getting better and flying to the ball, it is an attitude,” Pelc said.
Kentlake travels to Auburn Mountainview to take on the Lions on Thursday night, with the kickoff at 7 p.m. Sept. 12.
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Kentlake RB Darius Suggs had a solid day with the ball in his hand against Todd Beamer. Ben Ray / The Reporter
A gaggle of Titan defenders take down a Kentlake player. Ben Ray / The Reporter
