Fisher leads Spartan score-fest against Evergreen

Published 11:26 am Saturday, November 1, 2014

The Spartans managed to bookend their home games this year with big wins.

After a victorious homecoming matchup earlier in the season, then followed by a disappointing streak of losses, the Bainbridge High School varsity football squad came up big against the visiting Evergreen Wolverines during their final regular season home game of the year Friday.

The final score was 55-19.

The decisive win at home advanced the team’s overall season record to 3-5 (0-3 in league play).

With at least two games still left to go in their regular season, the current Spartan squad has already improved the school’s record three times over last year’s 1-9 season.

During the game Bainbridge also recognized the island’s youth football program, with many junior and elementary school-aged players standing along the sidelines cheering for the high-schoolers.

Bainbridge remains ranked in sixth place in the Metro’s Mountain Division, behind Seattle Prep (also 3-5 overall, 1-4 in league play).

Eastside Catholic has now stolen from previous pack leader O’Dea the first-place spot with an unblemished league record of 4-0 (7-1 overall).

The Spartans led early in Friday’s game and advanced their already considerable advantage early in the second half.

Every player on the BHS team saw field time during this contest, said Spartan Head Coach Andy Grimm.

It was an especially important victory for the team’s seniors, he said, as it was their last chance to play on the home field.

The standout Spartan senior superstar was running back/defensive lineman Ben Fisher.

Fisher led the team with two touchdowns scored, as well as 13 carries for 160 yards and one solo tackle before sitting out much of the later game due to a re-aggravated leg injury.

The score-happy Spartan said after the game that he credited the victory to continually improved teamwork and communication on the field.

“We never go into a game thinking we’re going to win,” Fisher said Friday, explaining that he and rest of the Spartans played their best this year no matter who they faced on the field.

To the younger and aspiring players in attendance, Fisher said he wouldn’t trade his time on the team for anything.

“It’s the best team sport out there,” he said of football.

“The bond you make with your brothers, it’s incomparable. And the Friday night lights and the butterflies, it’s a great feeling,” Fisher said.

Fisher said he was “a little sad” knowing that he would never again play on the Bainbridge field.

“I don’t even know how to describe it right now,” he said, adding that the presence of the youth team members on the sidelines helped to put the experience further in perspective for him.

“We were those guys,” he said of the kids on the sidelines. “How they watched us, is how we watched [high-schoolers].”

Several other Spartan seniors rose to the occasion as well against the Wolverines and came away from Friday’s contest with critical contributions.

BHS quarterback Kyle Jackson managed eight carries for 35 yards, including one touchdown as well as three solo and one assisted tackles.

Peter Lindsay also scored one touchdown and completed three carries for 70 yards; he also had three solo and three assisted tackles. Casey Brink scored one touchdown as well and contributed two carries for 24 yards and contributed three solo and one assisted tackles.

Max Wickline ended the night with one assisted tackle, Liam Topham completed three solo and two assisted tackles, Max Thomas had four solo and three assisted, Glodi Kingombe had 1-6 and Oskar Dieterich finished with 1-2.

The win at home, according to Grimm, was the team’s reward for their hard work and dedication throughout the season.

“I figured if we played to our ability we could have a result like this,” Grimm said after the game, noting that though the team had undeniably improved overall, they still struggled a bit defensively — especially in the first half.

The Spartans did, however, successfully capitalize on their initial positive momentum, Grimm said.

“Momentum’s a killer. I mean we saw that last week [against Seattle Prep],” the coach said.

Grimm praised the performances from the team’s seniors and upperclassmen. That they so successfully padded the team’s lead allowed him and the other coaches to get every player on the field, he said.

“It’s just a great tribute to those kids,” he said. “They were able to provide enough of a cushion score-wise, we got everybody in. All the kids played, whether they were younger guys or older guys who don’t get in a whole lot. That’s always fun. I don’t even think the kids thought about it — it’s kind of cool when you look at it — how miserable it was outside. They were just out there having fun.”

“We noticed because we’re not moving,” he laughed.

The Spartans played their postseason crossover game Thursday, Oct. 30. The district tournament is slated to start Friday, Nov. 7.