Years of jubilation, frustration: Longest winning and losing streaks in Washington high school football history

You win some (or lots), and you lose some (or lots). Last Friday, two big streaks came to an end in Washington high school football: Archbishop Murphy snapped

You win some (or lots), and you lose some (or lots).

Last Friday, two big streaks came to an end in Washington high school football: Archbishop Murphy snapped Hockinson's 28-game winning streak, and South Kitsap ended its 21-game skid with a home victory over Rogers of Puyallup.

Here are the three longest streaks of its kind in Washington state history:

LONGEST WINNING STREAKS

1. Bellevue, 67 games (2010-14)

Recap: At the time, the Wolverines' run was the longest in the nation -- and still stands as the 17th-best of all-time behind De La Salle's 151 consecutive victories (which Bellevue ended in 2004).

During that span, the Wolverines won four consecutive Class 3A titles, and had advanced to the state championship game in 2014 where they saw their record run end.

Brandon Wellington rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns, and Eastside Catholic stunned Bellevue, 35-13, in the Tacoma Dome. The Crusaders tallied the game's final 28 points, and had a substantial advantage in total yards (414-158).

Side note: After the WIAA stripped Bellevue of 3A titles (and wins) in 2017, many do not recognize the Wolverines' 67-game winning streak as the true state record.

2. Royal, 53 games (2015-18)

Recap: Coach Wiley Allred's group came into last year's Class 1A semifinals with not only the nation's longest winning streak, but also with what many thought a legitimate chance to overtake Bellevue's state record in 2019.

Colville made sure to end that talk quickly.

The Indians dethroned the three-time defending state champions in a tense, turnover-marred 31-28 thriller in Moses Lake -- highlighted by Trevor Morrison's interception return for a touchdown.

The Indians -- who also defeated Royal in the 1A quarterfinals in 2014 -- went on to win the state title.

3. Lacrosse-Washtucna, 49 games (2002-06)

Recap: Undefeated for four consecutive seasons, with blowout victories in each of their four Class 1B championship games (2002-05), the Tigercats are hailed as the most dominant eight-man football team this state has ever seen.

But Garfield-Palouse came to Washtucna in the second week of the 2006 season, and handed the Tigercats a 46-18 loss. Jesse Cole rushed for 217 yards for the Vikings.

It was the Tigercats' first loss in Washtucna since 1990.

Rounding out the top 10:

4. Raymond, 44 wins (1973-76)

5. Onalaska, 40 wins (1936-40)

6. Archbishop Murphy, 39 wins (2002-04)

7. Ephrata, 38 wins (1986-88)

8. Lind-Ritzville-Sprague, 38 wins (2012-14)

9. Prosser, 36 wins (1992-94)

10. O'Dea, 35 wins (1995-98)

National mark:

151 wins by De La Salle High School, of Concord, Calif. from 1992-2004

LONGEST LOSING STREAKS

1. Tyee, 45 games (1988-93)

Recap: Five seniors had never experienced a varsity victory with the Sea-Tac program -- until an early October day against Mount Si that snapped the state's worst skid.

Mike Small had an 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdowns, then added a 61-yard run later in the first half that set up another score as the Totems broke out to a 13-0 lead -- then held on.

2. East Valley of Yakima, 42 games (1977-82)

Recap: Former coach Dave Cosper vowed to see the Red Devils' string of futility end.

And when it did, he promised he would dance at midfield.

He kept that promise, too, early in the 1982 season when East Valley beat Prosser, 24-13, at home. Tight end Gordon Reynaud sealed the deal, ending the nation's longest active losing steak with a late touchdown catch.

3. Lynnwood, 42 games (2000-04)

Recap: The Royals knew all about sharing the No. 2 spot all-time with East Valley -- and were handed a gift victory when Kamiak forfeited a game in late October to end the streak.

But Lynnwood players did not feel good about it. And on the final week of the regular season, they edged South Whidbey, 27-26, in overtime -- blowing a 20-0 lead before stopping a two-point conversion in the extra session.

Rounding out the top 10:

4. Rogers of Spokane, 40 losses (2004-08)

5. Winlock, 38 losses (2010-14)

6. Highland, 38 losses (2012-15)

7. Rainier Beach, 37 losses (1975-80)

8. La Center, 37 losses (1985-88)

9. Clover Park, 33 losses (2013-17)

10. Kent-Meridian, 32 losses (2002-05)

National mark:

80 losses by Davis High School, of Houston, Texas, from 1985-93