Arlington claims 3A Wesco football title in blowout of Monroe, 3 takeaways

Leyton Martin throws for three touchdowns as No. 6 Eagles hand No. 7 Bearcats first loss in another lopsided win

Joshua Hart | Oct 28, 2023

ARLINGTON, Wash. - The Arlington Eagles expected their stiffest test of the season entering Friday night’s Wesco 3A championship against fellow undefeated Monroe.

Instead, the sixth-ranked Eagles dispatched the No. 7 Bearcats in the same way they did the eight games before — complete domination.

Arlington (9-0) took Monroe’s unblemished record away with a 45-18 victory, as they eye a deep postseason run starting next week.

WEEK 9 WASHINGTON FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

“We were pretty confident going in,” senior defensive back Bookie Cramer said. “We knew hard work was going to pay off, and results prove themselves.”

Leyton Martin threw three touchdowns to three different receivers and ran for a 44-yard score as he amassed 322 yards of offense. Kaid Hunter (64 yards), Jake Willis (65 yards) and Chase Deberry (18 yards) all caught touchdown passes. Caleb Reed ran for 128 yards and two scores to round out the Eagles’ attack.

Monroe (8-1) got 264 yards and two touchdowns through the air from Blake Springer, and Gavin Ranz also ran for a score.

Both teams find out their playoff seeding for Class 3A’s “Round of 32” on Sunday.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

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BOOKIE SETS THE TONE

With Monroe deep into Arlington territory on its opening drive, senior defensive back Bookie Cramer played his “Uno” reverse card.

Anticipating the short pass to Springer’s left, Cramer jumped the route, made the interception and took it the other way.

One play later, Leyton Martin found Kaid Hunter on a deep crossing route for a 64-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead.

“When we picked that off, it was a big steamroller effect,” Cramer said. “And it just piled down on them.”

Those explosive plays continued the rest of the night, with Arlington only needing 19 offensive plays compared to Monroe’s 43 in the first half to build a 28-6 advantage.

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ARLINGTON'S AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE ONE TO WATCH

Arlington looked more like hawks — ballhawks, specifically — than Eagles on Friday night.

Aside from Cramer’s interception, the Eagles jumped four separate routes and nearly had interceptions only to watch them bounce off their hands.

Kaid Hunter wrestled a deep toss away from a Bearcats receiver in the final minutes to make it two turnovers, but it could have been much more.

“We have a very strong DB corps. We’re all quick and very smart out there,” Cramer said. “We knew whatever challenge was going to come down, we were going to step up to it.”

Playoff opponents should be wary of a well-studied, athletic defensive crew from the Eagles.

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LEYTON MARTIN'S EFFICIENCY HAS EAGLES SOARING

The 6-foot junior quarterback showed he has the arm, the leg and the wits to carry this Arlington side deep into the playoffs.

He was 13-of-22 for 279 yards and three touchdowns passing, while eluding defenders on his way to paydirt with a 44-yard quarterback keeper. And aside from one ill-advised pitch, which Monroe recovered, he led the Eagles to scores on seven of their nine drives.

“He’s a 4.0 student; he’s very smart,” Cramer said. “We know when he’s got the ball in his hand, he’s going to make the right decision and we trust him with everything.”

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Here are Joshua Hart's photos from the game:

Published Oct 28, 2023

JOSHUA HART