The Juanita Rebels wrapped their regular season up with a 52-28 win over Interlake Friday night, securing the team’s first playoff berth in the last 16 years.
With the win the Rebels secured the No. 2 spot in the KingCo league with an 8-1 overall record and 7-1 in KingCo.
The team will face their first opponent, Shorecrest, of the playoffs this Saturday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Shorecrest enters the contest with a 4-4 overall record, after a three way tie situation in the WesCo conference put the Scots in the No. 3 spot. The team most recently lost to Ferndale, out of Whatcom County 48-27.
As a team Shorecrest averages 167 rushing yards a game, with 123 passing yards. The Rebels have 2,310 rushing yards this season with 506 passing yards. The Scots’ Ted Hammond is responsible for compling an average of 115 passing yards per game, with one interception this season. Damon Richards has averaged 102 rushing yards, while Favian Ortega had an average of 70 receiving yards on Friday nights.
For Juanita Jeremiah Laufasa has averaged 143 rushing yards a game, scoring 11 touchdowns for a season total, so far, of 1,144 rushing yards. Laufasa was second in the league this year in rushing, just behind Chandler Jenkins from Liberty who had 1,198 yards this year. Teammate Andre Casino has 411 yards overall in rushing, with an average of 51.4 yards a game.
During the Juanita win over Interlake the team jumped out quickly, leading 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, thanks to a Charles Benjamin 40-yard run. A Jarrett Finau pass from quarterback Derek Kaufman and a Jeremiah Laufasa run gave the Rebels a 21-7 lead in the second quarter after a 10-yard run by Interlake for a touchdown.
But the Saints couldn’t hold the Juanita offense back for long, as Juanita scored twice more before the half, off an Andre Casino 19-yard run and another Benjamin touchdown for a 35-14 game at the half break.
After the break the Rebels extended their lead 45-14 with a Jyran McNairy 14-yard run, while Interlake responded to with a 20-yard run. Ryley Caldwell made a touchdown run of his won, before Interlake scored in the final minutes of the game for a 47-28 game.
But Juanita kicker Colton Blaisbell was the one who finished the evening off, scoring a 41-yard field goal for the final 52-28 score.
