Auburn Trojans: Welcome
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SPSL 4A: Auburn secures title with 21-9 win over Tahoma
By Sandy Ringer, Seattle Times staff reporter
AUBURN — This was a night of celebrations.
Senior night, homecoming, 100 years of Auburn High School football.
And running back Jeff Gouveia made sure there was plenty more for Auburn fans to cheer about as he led the fourth-ranked Trojans past Tahoma Friday night at Auburn Memorial Stadium 21-9, assuring them of an undisputed South Puget Sound League 4A North Division championship.
Gouveia scored all three of his team's touchdowns, giving him 22 this season, and was one of Auburn's three 100-yard rushers, finishing with 146 yards on 17 carries. Quarterback Carlo Lavoie ran for 117 yards on just nine tries and added to his school record for interceptions with his eighth of the season. Chris Young added 100 yards on 20 carries.
"That's a fantastic football team there in green," Tahoma coach Tony Davis said. "They're a bunch of good, physical football players."
Auburn (8-0, 7-0 league), which won the SPSL 3A championship two seasons ago, is assured of the division's No. 1 seed, while Tahoma (5-3, 5-3) must get some help to land a playoff spot. The Bears gave the Trojans their toughest test since the opening game against Federal Way, trailing just 14-9 late in the fourth quarter.
Gouveia was the go-to guy on the clinching, 75-yard touchdown drive, twice converting fourth downs. His 16-yard TD with 3:05 left gave Auburn some breathing room and Lavoie's interception in the end zone with 1:42 left sealed the victory. That interception helped make amends for Lavoie's two first-half fumbles, which kept the Trojans from taking command. They dominated the half, but had just an 11-point lead to show for it, 14-3. Auburn had 265 yards rushing at the half to just 20 for Tahoma.
Both fumbles led to Tahoma field-goal attempts by Britton Jolley, who drilled three of them the week before in a 9-7 victory over Kentlake. The first, from 33 yards, sailed wide left, but Jolley later made good from 35 yards out.
(Photos from all games are posted in photo albums in "Game Photos")
(Send comments about the Auburn Trojan website to me at pacificthunder@gmail.com)
(Auburn vs Federal Way and Kentridge Games on Comcast On Demand - Local Sports)
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Auburn tops Tahoma to wrap up league title
DOUG PACEY
On a night already full of celebration at Auburn’s Memorial Stadium, the Trojans capped the eventful evening with one more reason to rejoice – capturing the South Puget Sound League North Division championship.
Fourth-ranked Auburn edged Tahoma, 21-9, on a homecoming night that saw Auburn honor players from throughout the program’s 100-year history, as well as its 23 seniors, as the Trojans clinched the league’s top playoff seed.
“That’s a good football team,” Tahoma coach Tony Davis said. “A bunch of good, physical football players.”
After letting Auburn run roughshod over its defense in the first half – the Trojans ran for 263 yards on 26 carries before halftime – Tahoma stiffened. But the Bears couldn’t stop Auburn’s league-leading ground attack when it mattered most.
Auburn, leading 14-9 in the fourth quarter, chipped away at Tahoma’s defense. The Trojans covered 75 yards in 14 plays, converting two fourth downs and eating up more than eight minutes. Running back Jeff Gouveia capped the drive with a 16-yard scoring run – his third touchdown of the game – to help Auburn take a 21-9 lead.
“We have a lot of confidence in him,” Auburn coach Gordon Elliott said of Gouveia. “He gets the yards in the tough situations.”
Auburn defensive back Carlo Lavoie sealed the victory when he recorded his league-leading eighth interception, picking off quarterback Heyden Johnson’s pass in the end zone with 1 minute, 42 seconds left in the game.
“He’s just got a sense for the ball,” Elliott said.
Three Trojans eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark. Gouveia led the way with 19 carries for 161 yards, Lavoie ran seven times for 111 yards and Chris Young finished with 103 yards on 18 attempts. Auburn totaled 399 rushing yards on 52 carries, barely below its average of 409 yards per game.
Tahoma, which cut the score to 14-9 when Josiah Anderson scored on a 15-yard run in the third quarter, gave the Trojans their most competitive game since a 21-14 win at Federal Way in the first week of the season.
“This close game was a good thing for us,” Gouveia said. “We’re heading into the playoffs.”
Auburn (8-0 overall, 7-0 league) will end its regular season next week at Auburn Riverside and will face the KingCo Conference No. 5 seed in the preliminary round on Nov. 7 or 8.
Despite losing, Tahoma (5-3, 5-3) has secured one of the SPSL North’s four playoff berths. The Bears’ seeding depends on the results of next week’s Federal Way and Kentwood games.
Auburn outgained Tahoma 287-79 in the first half – the Trojans’ powerful rushing attacked picked up 263 yards on 26 carries – but two fumbles held its scoring to two touchdowns. Both turnovers came at the end of long runs by Lavoie, with the second coming at the Tahoma 25-yard line halfway through the second quarter with Auburn leading, 7-0.
After forcing the Bears to punt, the Trojans tacked on their second touchdown. Gouveia’s 32-yard run around left end put Auburn on the 12, and two plays later he scored on an 8-yard run.
Tahoma penetrated the red zone twice in the first half, but came away with only a 35-yard field goal from Britton Jolley as the second quarter expired.
Auburn dominated the first quarter, piling up 124 yards of total offense. Six Trojans carried the ball a combined 17 times for 104 yards in the opening period, while Tahoma was held to four plays for minus-2 yards.
Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271
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| State Football Rankings from the Seattle Times 10-27-08 | |
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Class 4A
1. Skyline (Sammamish) 8-0 |
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Summary:
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Team |
Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | T | ||
| Tahoma | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 | ||
| Auburn | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 | home | |
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Aub -- Jeff Gouveia 2 run ( Aaron McMahon kick ) |
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| Aub -- Jeff Gouveia 8 run ( Aaron McMahon kick ) | |||||||
| Taho -- Britton Jolley 35 FG | |||||||
| Taho -- Josiah Anderson 15 run ( run failed ) | |||||||
| Aub -- Jeff Gouveia 16 run ( Aaron McMahon kick ) | |||||||
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"I started in 1977."
"Friday nights."
"We will be young on both sides of the ball. We will start 5-6 sophomores. We will probably be a little more experienced on offense. I would expect Jeff Gouveia to be one of the better players around. He was 1st team all-league last year at Running back and Linebacker."
"We are coming back to the North division of the SPSL. I have not seen many of the teams play the past two seasons. The Kent schools are always tough as well as Tahoma and Federal Way."
"Making the state semi-final game in 2006."
"Returning to the state playoffs after losing an outstanding group of Seniors."
"Getting student-athletes to be responsible and accountable when they are not asked to be in other parts of their lives."
"My wife."
"Walking, reading."
"No real routine."Bonus question: "What do you want your players to walk away from your program with?"
"A feeling of having been apart of something successful and bigger than the individuals involved."
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Extra Points | Which school has the biggest home-field football advantage?
We asked readers which school has the biggest home-field football advantage.
Some responses:
Auburn | Troy Field in Auburn is a great stadium with great tradition. The name was changed to Auburn Memorial Stadium when Auburn Riverside opened, but the locals and "old-timers" still refer to the place as Troy Field. Big home stands with a tunnel at the 50-yard line is impressive. The visitors must enter and exit their locker rooms under the student and band section of the field. The Trojans practice there every day and the "old school" turf is fast. Very few places compare. The Trojans are on a four-year unbeaten streak on the friendly confines. The crowds are big and the steep seating makes them seem very loud. It's a great setting for a high-school football game. — Kent Rodseth
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Special kudos go out to Senior TE/DE 6 Isaiah Johnson. On a 4th and 7, Johnson was thrown a perfect screen pass which he was unable to hold onto leading to a Trojan turnover on downs. Johnson was inconsolable on the sidelines. Instead of sulking, Johnson took his next opportunity; a jet around right end to share his pain with the Kentwood Conqs. Johnson plowed over 3 Kentwood defenders and it took five others to finally bring him down on the way to a 17 yard run. Always share your pain!
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