The high-flying Mountlake Terrace football team — some would argue the best in school history — was brought back to earth Friday night with a 49-14 defeat to Marysville-Pilchuck in a first round 3A state football playoff game at Quil Ceda Stadium in Marysville.

The loss ended the Hawks 2014 season that included eight wins, the most ever for a Mountlake Terrace football squad, and a state championship bracket berth for the first time in school history.

With the historic achievements behind them, Mountlake Terrace was looking to continue their remarkable season and notch another victory, but the Tomahawks dashed that hope by overpowering the Hawks in every aspect of the game.

“We just ran into a buzz saw tonight,” said Mountlake Terrace Coach Tony Umayam after the defeat.

Marysville-Pilchuck ended each of their first seven offensive possessions in the game with runs into the end zone. Tomahawk senior Austin Joyner rushed for 292 yards on 19 carries and five touchdowns; senior running back Page Killian added two more TD runs for M-P.

Umayam called the Tomahawks the best team that Mountlake Terrace has faced in his 10 years coaching the squad. “They have a well-coached offensive line and they have incredibly talented guys both inside and outside that can run with power and speed,” he said.

M-P compiled almost 500 yards of total offense, all on the ground, and had no punts or turnovers in the game. “Their offense is pretty unbelievable,” Umayam said.

After falling behind 14-0, the Hawks looked as though they might be able to stay with M-P and make a game of it; senior Ryan Lacasse scored on a 13-yard TD run early in the second quarter and Mountlake Terrace cut the lead in half 14-7. But the Tomahawks went on to score 35 unanswered points to leave no doubt who would be victorious.

While the Hawks (8-3) ended their season with a loss, Umayam chose to center his final thoughts about the team on the positives of the year. “Don’t take this as what defines the season; what defines the season was all that they accomplished,” he said. “They can lay claim of being the most successful team in Terrace history. That’s something to be proud of.”

“It’s just been a great group of kids to coach that were resilient and they never quit battling regardless of what the score was. This has been a fantastic group to coach,” he added.

With their victory over Terrace, Marysville-Pilchuck (9-1) moves on to the state quarterfinals will face the winner of the Roosevelt-Columbia River match-up scheduled to take place on Saturday.

The Tomahawks are the only remaining 3A Wesco League squad in the state playoffs as both Meadowdale and Oak Harbor went down in defeat on Friday; the Mavericks fell to Eastside Catholic42-14 while Oak Harbor got pummeled by Peninsula 42-14. To view the entire WIAA 3A State Football Championships bracket, click https://www.wescoathletics.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=1336&sport=1.

– By Doug Petrowski

MTHS football vs. Marysville-Pilchuck

Mountlake Terrace   0          7          0        7          —          14
Marysville-Pilchuck 14        14        21        0          —          49

First Quarter
8:17 — Page Killian (MPHS) 22-yard TD run; PAT good
5:25 — Austin Joyner (MPHS) 42-yard TD run; PAT good

Second Quarter
10:11 — Ryan Lacasse (MTHS) 13-yard TD run; PAT good
5:58 — Austin Joyner (MPHS) 1-yard TD run; PAT no good
:47 — Page Killian (MPHS) 11-yard TD run; 2-point conversion good

Third Quarter
11:10 — Austin Joyner (MPHS) 19-yard TD run; PAT good
5:06 — Austin Joyner (MPHS) 5-yard TD run; PAT good
:01 — Austin Joyner (MPHS) 81-yard TD run; PAT good

Fourth Quarter
1:45 — Ryan Lacasse (MTHS) 44-yard TD run; PAT good

Records: Mountlake Terrace 8-3 overall; Marysville-Pilchuck 9-1

Mountlake Terrace 8-3 overall; Marysville-Pilchuck 9-1