Graham-Kapowsin boots Eastlake, sets up Class WIAA 4A title-game rematch with Lake Stevens, 3 takeaways

Aidan Skolrud kicks a 25-yard field goal on the final play of the Eagles' 27-24 state semifinal victory at Art Crate Stadium

Aaron Lommers | Nov 25, 2023

SPANAWAY, Wash. - When the top-seeded Graham-Kapowsin Eagles took possession of the football after a punt by fourth-seeded Eastlake with one minute to go and the game tied in the Class 4A semifinals Saturday, the game seemed destined for overtime.

That scenario seemed even more likely after two rushing plays that yielded just 15 yards and a false start by the Eagles’ offense.

But with just 15.8 seconds left on the clock, Graham-Kapowsin made its move.

A 23-yard gain by senior Alele Fa-apito-Leao was followed by a leaping grab by senior receiver Mika Roberson at the 8-yard-line with just one second remaining.

That set up a 25-yard field goal by junior kicker Aidan Skolrud as time expired, giving the Eagles a 27-24 win and sending them to the state championship for the second time in the past three seasons.

"I didn’t even know how to feel in the moment," Skolrud said. "I was so caught up in the kick. I was excited. I don’t know if I was expressing it, but I got stampeded. (My teammates) tried to pick me up, but I fell down. It’s great to know I’m going to Husky Stadium. It’s going to be great, and I hope we win there, too."

Skolrud was on the sidelines preparing for the opportunity as his teammates marched down the field.

The Eagles defeated Lake Stevens for the title in 2021.

"I was warming up the whole time," Skolrud said. "I was just like, ‘Get me in range and I’ll put it through the uprights. That great catch really set me up good with one second left."

Here are three takeaways from the game:

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MIKA ROBERSON ASKS - AND RECEIVES

Senior Mika Roberson had a play in mind for the entirety of the game, and when the Eagles needed it most, he convinced his coach to call it.

Roberson’s catch with one second remaining set up Skolrud for the game-winner.

“Mika had been in our ear the whole game about a certain play that he really liked,” Logan said. “It had been opened. We actually tried to run it in the first half. …At the end of the day, our kids make the plays and we have to be able to trust them and we really appreciate their feedback on the sidelines.”

When the Eagles got within striking distance, Roberson told Superales, to trust him to make the play and he delivered.

"When we called that play that I caught, I told my quarterback, ‘Get me the ball. I will catch it and I will get out-of-bounds,'" Roberson said. "That’s exactly what happened. I trust my kicker so much and I knew when we got down there and there was time on the clock, I knew he was going to make it and ice the game for us."

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365-DAY WAIT

Something not lost on the Eagles going into the semifinals Saturday was the result of last year’s final-four loss to Lake Stevens. The Vikings defeated the Eagles, 42-28, and went on to win the school’s first ever football state championship.

The loss stuck with the Eagles, their victory against the Wolves ensured an opportunity at payback.

"That’s what we’ve been hoping for all year long," Roberson said. "Three-hundred and sixty-five days ago, they beat us. It’s time for us to go back and take what’s ours. We deserve this state championship and we’re going to go practice 100 percent every single day to go and get our state championship."

The Eagles and Vikings have made a habit of facing each other in the playoffs. This will be the fourth time in the past five state tournaments the two teams have faced each other. There was no state tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19.

“I really think (the loss last year) sat with the kids," Graham-Kapowsin coach Jeff Logan. "I could sit here and say I thought about it forever and our coaches thought about it forever, but at the end of the day we’re not the ones in between the lines making the plays. You could tell it meant a lot to them to go get that week back and get to the state title game."

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REFLECTIONS ON A GREAT CAREER

After the game, an emotional Superales took a seat on the 50-yard line and thought about the past – as well as his final high-school game to come.

The senior played his final game at Art Crate Stadium on Saturday. He’ll play his first at Husky Stadium next weekend when the Eagles face the Vikings for the state championship.

"There are just a lot of emotions, you know," Superales said. "The most sad emotion that’s going through my head right now is this is going to be the last ever game I ever play on this field with this team, but I’m glad we made it memorable and went out with a bang."

Superales made perhaps the biggest play of his career on Graham-Kapowsin’s final offensive play of the game when he found Roberson on the right sideline for a leaping 37-yard reception, setting up Skolrud’s game-winner.

“Mika is like our swiss-army knife on this team,” Superales said. “He can do everything. …Player of the game right there, Mika Roberson. When I saw him, I knew all I had to do was throw it up and he was going to go get it.

Superales was hit as he threw and while he said he knew Roberson would catch the ball, he admitted he couldn’t see it.

"I’m not going to lie, I did not know he caught it," Superales said. "When I heard the crowd cheering, I knew something good happened. Whoever hit me got me good. I was sitting on the ground for a little bit, but I had faith Aidan to knock down that field goal and take us to the state championship."

Superales will try to end his career with a state championship when the Eagles face the Vikings at 7 p.m. next Saturday.

"Last year they took our chances away," Superales said. "It’s time for our payback."

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Boxscore

Eastlake 0 14 3 7 - 24

Graham-Kapowsin 7 3 7 10 - 27

GK – Mika Roberson 6 yard pass from Daveon Superales (Aidan Skolrud kick)

GK – FG, Skolrud 24.

E – Grady Woodward 13 run (Alex Dreher kick)

E – Kade Haroldsen 22 pass from Landon Renfroe (Dreher kick)

GK – Noah Fox-Flores 3 pass from Jabez Woods (Skolrud kick)

E – FG, Dreher 34.