What a game.

The East Jefferson Rivals football team overcame the odds in a nail-biter of a matchup against Vashon Island High School, with EJ snagging the win in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter to reign victorious on Homecoming.

The 20-7 win had plenty of theatrics, whether it was the collection of sacks and fumbles from the Rivals defense, a last-minute punt block, or Rivals senior Aaron Glanz’s pick-six in the final moments of the matchup.

On what carried EJ to victory, EJ Head Coach Tony “Haddy” Haddenham said: “Just going back to last year’s Rival football. Just playing our smash-mouth football; playing the way we know how to play.”

After a four-loss start to the 2022 campaign, EJ has pulled a 180 by beating Life Christian Academy and the formerly undefeated Vashon Island Pirates in hopes of salvaging their season.

Following a pre-game memorial for former Vashon coach Clay Eastly, the teams lined up full of energy for the Homecoming matchup.

Whether it was nerves or lack of focus, the Rivals had a slow start to the game as the Pirates took possession after a failed offensive drive. Vashon’s passing work ripped through EJ’s defense as they made their way downfield. Soon after the Pirates found the end zone on a 15-yard floater pass over the Rivals’ secondary.

Vashon tapped in the extra point to make it 7-0 with 7:20 left in the opening quarter. To make matters worse, a muffed kick return for EJ gave their opponents the ball yet again on EJ’s half of the field.

Sensing a need for a momentum shift, senior linebacker Trevor Wilson picked the ball off from Vashon’s QB. Taking it around 60 yards to the Pirates’ red zone, Wilson got the crowd going, and more importantly, got the team going after the big play.

The Rivals then made their way to the goal line in need of a TD.

Putting Glanz in the quarterback position and shifting junior Cash Holmes to wide receiver for one play, EJ’s gamble payed off with Glanz finding Holmes in the end zone for the first touchdown of the night.

The Rivals were stuffed on the two-point conversion, but EJ was left trailing by a manageable 6-7 scoreline entering the second quarter.

Both teams treaded water as the two defensive units held a gridlock on scoring in the game, forcing a handful of turnovers in the second quarter. A dropped snap on the punt for the Rivals and a fumbled run by the Pirates didn’t help either as the teams remained locked at 6-7 going into halftime.

The Pirates took back possession to start the second half. Vashon found success through the air, pushing EJ’s defense further back each play. With the Rivals holding the line on third-and-goal, a Vashon player fumbled the ball into the end zone with EJ recovering to avoid the score.

While the lucky play kept the Pirates at bay, EJ’s offense was stuck in the mud. An interception gave Vashon the ball as the scoring standstill continued.

While Glanz, senior Gerald Lindsey, senior Siaumau Auseuga, and others on the impenetrable Rivals defense held Vashon from advancing the score, EJ was desperate for a spark on offense.

That match was lit by the Rivals special teams as a blocked punt late in the fourth quarter gave EJ prime field position to score from the six yards out and take the lead.

The Rivals returned to their smash-mouth roots, working their way to the goal line little by little until Wilson made yet another big play with a two-yard TD run with 3:12 left in the game. Glanz snapped the ball out of the wildcat formation, directly taking it in for two more points.

Full of jubilee, the home crowd roared as EJ snagged the lead 14-7 with mere minutes left.

A turnover on downs forced by the ever-present Rivals defense almost sealed it, but the Pirates were given one last chance to drive down and tie it with 1:40 left on the clock.

Glanz stomped on the Pirates’ late-game ambitions with an interception to seal the win. Not satisfied with just the pick, Glanz took it 50 or so yards all the way to the house as the Rivals crowd screamed with delight.

Finishing 20-7 with EJ on top, the boys left as homecoming heroes with the students storming the field full of glee.

Holmes led EJ in passing, going three for seven on passes with 21 yards.

Wilson led the running offense with 36 yards and a TD, Glanz had 20 yards on the ground, and Holmes and Hammer each earned 19 yards rushing.

Lindsey had a mammoth game on defense, securing eight sacks in the matchup. Zamber got two sacks, and Wilson and Glanz each had an interception, while Auseuga forced two fumbles.

“The defense came to play; they were in great spots to be successful and it showed,” Haddenham said.

On the win, he said he felt “fantabulous.”

“...Considering the boys came out flat at practice all week long. They weren’t hype, they weren’t excited about playing, just kind of going through the motions. But they came to play tonight. They were on point and played lights out.”

Next up on the Rivals’ schedule is Klahowya Secondary School (1-4), who are scheduled to face EJ at Memorial Athletic Field this Friday.