10/29/2024

The SPSL 4A Football league play-offs were waiting for a 3-way tie for 3rd in the South division to be broken with Bethel, Olympia and Spanaway Lake set to battle and complete the Conference play-off schedule. 2 teams will move on and either qualify or have a shot at the round of 32 football play-offs with 1 team ending up 5th and will finish in a consolation game to end their season.

Before we get to the 3-way tiebreaker results, both #1  and #2 seeds are locked in. For the SPSL North Sumner are the champions and they will host the South champs on Friday night, Graham-Kapowsin and will play for the league Championship. Both teams of course are headed to the play-offs.

Emerald Ridge finished 2nd in the North and Yelm took 2nd in the South. In this format the 2 seeds will play the 3 seeds with all 4 teams advancing to the playoffs. The 4 seeds will then play each other with the winner to moving on and the loser playing a consolation game.

The consolations will be the 5 seeds vs 6 seeds, this was to make sure the losing team in the tie-breaker on Tuesday would not have to turn around and play a full game 2 days later at Rogers.

Kansas Tie Breaker

The format of the Kansas tie breaker was a draw to see who played first with the 3rd team playing the loser. Each team was guaranteed 2 possessions. The winner of the 1st game would automatically advance with the loser playing the 3rd team. If the losing team then beat the winning team in the 2nd game it would be over. If the 3rd team won then they would play the 1st winner to determine 3rd and 4th place.

Game 1 Olympia vs Bethel

The Bears had the 1st possession and faced a 4th and goal from the 4. The Bears chose to go for it instead of a short field goal and the o-line got a great push and surge into the endzone with Elijah Kim right behind with the ball to score. The PAT was added and it was 7-0.

Bethel had their turn and got into a 2nd and 6 from the 10 yard line. They fumbled and recovered it for no gain. The Bison then tried to pass plays and both were incomplete to end their 1st possession.

Bethel then had to hold Olympia to zero to get a shot at a 2nd possession but the Bears running attack was too much as Kim ripped off a 7 yard TD run to end the 1st game 13-0. The Bears could finish no worse than 4th with the win.

Game 2 Bethel vs Spanaway Lake

One of these teams was going to be eliminated going into game 2. Spanaway Lake was looking to win and then face Olympia for a chance for 3rd place while Bethel needed a win to secure 4th place.

The Sentinels began with the ball and on their 1st play from scrimmage threw an interception to end their possession. Bethel took-over and drove the ball down to the 3 yard line where Lance Santos blasted in for the score. The PAT was added and it was 7-0 Bethel

Spanaway Lake was in a must score position on their 2nd possession but the Bison defense was in no mood to play any more and held them to 4 plays and the game was over and so was the tiebreaker.

Olympia clinched 3rd, Bethel was 4th and Spanaway Lake 5th.

Final Conference Match-ups

The final SPSL 4A Conference match-ups are all at the North teams home stadium. Next year the games will be hosted by the South teams. This year’s schedule is as follows:

North #1 Sumner vs South #1 Graham-Kapowsin Friday 7pm at Sumner (Both to round of 32)
North #2 Emerald Ridge vs South #3 Olympia Friday 7:30pm at Sparks Stadium (Both to round of 32)
North #3 Puyallup vs South #2 Yelm Friday 4pm at Sparks Stadium (Both to round of 32)
North #4 Curtis vs South #4 Bethel 7pm at Curtis (Winner to round of 32, loser to consolation round)
North #5 Rogers vs South #6 Bonney Lake 7pm Thursday at Sparks Stadium
North #6 South Kitsap vs South #5 Spanaway Lake 7pm Friday at South Kitsap

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