Mission accomplished for the Issaquah Cub-White youth football team.
The group completed a perfect season Saturday afternoon, beating the previously unbeaten Bellevue Cub-Blue team, 26-7, for the Greater Eastside Junior Football Association title at Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell.
The Cub-White team, coached by Jeremey Noble, ended the season 11-0 and outscored its opponents 303-19.
Garrett White led the Issaquah on Saturday with nine carries for 202 yards, including touchdown runs of 53, 73, and 62 yards. The running back also had a 50-yard touchdown pass to Rashon Evans.
“This is a huge accomplishment for the boys,” Noble said, after the game. “The Issaquah program has not had a league champion since 2005. I am very proud of how they did this year.”
Issaquah got on the board first when fullback Bain Johnson and tight end Kaleb Solusod provided key blocks for White’s 53-yard TD.
Bellevue countered with an 82-yard scoring drive to pull the score to 7-6.
Issaquah scored on its next possession, converting a fourth-and-long halfback pass from White to Evans for a touchdown. The score provided a 12-7 lead and the Cub-White team never looked back.
Issaquah’s defense delivered a strong effort the entire game, highlighted by the play of defensive linemen Cole Goree, Jedei Morrison and Derek Fletcher, and linebackers Jared Humenny and Jonathan Melrose. They also received drive-ending interceptions from White and Johnson to secure the victory.
“Even though the score at half time was 20-7, I was very impressed that the boys came out after halftime and continued to play very hard,” Noble said. “They never let up. That is one attribute that I really enjoyed about this team — they played hard all four quarters, every game.”