Football: Eagles’ defense dominates in second straight shutout

When Federal Way High School took the field on Oct. 11 against White River, the Eagles had a lot of questions to answer.

How will the Eagles respond? Is White River a legit threat after its hot start? How will Federal Way play against a team with a record above .500?

After all was said and done, the Eagles answered all the questions asked. Head Coach Marcus Yzaguirre’s side defeated the Hornets 15-0 for the Eagles’ second win in a row.

“Once we all work as a team, we are unstoppable,” said senior quarterback Andy Cortez.

In its first season in the NPSL, White River had benefited from a pretty easy schedule. But as good teams do, they dominated the teams they were better than. In the Hornets’ four league wins, they scored an average of 42 points. Their margin of victory in wins over Thomas Jefferson (32), Auburn Mountainview (31), Todd Beamer (20) and Kentlake (47) averaged to 32.5 points. On defense, the Hornets have allowed just over nine points per game.

But Federal Way answered the bell — the defense slowed the Hornets’ offense down, causing three turnovers, and the offense did just enough to hand White River its first league loss of the season.

“White River is a hell of a ball club. They came in 4-0 and had been balling. My hat’s off to them. They did a great job schematically,” Coach Yzaguirre said.

Yzaguirre’s quarterback echoed the same sentiment about the Hornets’ defensive strategy.

“That team was pretty good. They came in prepared. We knew it wasn’t going to be a blowout. Shout out to White River,” Cortez said.

The biggest factor of the night was the play from Anthony Toomer Jr. and his linebacking cohort Kyse Faletogo.

“Our linebackers are leading our team. Toomer is our adjuster, having him that confident and playing the football to the level that he is always capable of doing … Toomer set the tone with Kyse and Todd. It was fun to see,” said Coach Yzaguirre.

The two of them forced White River to throw the ball a bit more than they wanted early on. On the first three drives, the Hornets gained just 16 yards on offense, and on the fourth drive, Toomer forced a fumble. Faletogo and Toomer Jr. played a big part in the Eagles’ defensive fast start.

“He’s great. It makes your job a lot easier knowing you are playing with one of the best linebackers in the league,” Toomer Jr. said on playing with Faletogo.

Federal Way stomped Kent-Meridian 51-0 in its game back on Oct. 3. It took a bit more resolve from the Eagles this time, because in the first half, the Eagles’ first score came with 7:59 left.

In the first quarter, Austin May made a six-yard reception and took a big hit from the White River safety. Yzaguirre was seen heavily animated on the sideline, but not because he was upset about the hit, but becuase he wanted that to be a message to his team that they can take those hits and turn it into a positive.

Quarterback Andy Cortez found Zamarie Tellez on a 35-yard go-route and he just ran past the White River defense for the first score of the game.

Senior linebacker Anthony Toomer Jr. forced a fumble on the ensuing Hornet drive, giving the ball back to the Eagle offense.

The offense used that momentum and got on the scoreboard in three plays. Cortez threw a beauty of a pass and state sprinter Austin May ran under it and ran into the endzone for a 49-yard touchdown.

“Once we take advantage of those scenarios, there is no going back. Once those turnovers happen, it is game over, just have to take advantage of it,” Cortez said.

The Eagles would come up short on the two-point conversion, still leading 12-0.

Tellez and May recorded the touchdowns. But the offense is finally feeling a balance in the ground attack from running backs Curtis Gilmer and Raymond Toso. The passing attack with Cortez, May, Tellez — but also Jayden Sinclair and Miles Fuavai — is starting to click.

“Those guys are great. I am probably the most thankful quarterback in the state… I’m super blessed to have them,” Cortez said.

The Eagles’ offense was able to get a field goal with 2:55 left in the game from Uriel Villegas from 20 yards out.

In the second half, turnovers hamstrung the Eagles’ attack with Cortez throwing two interceptions.

“You can’t let those get to you, otherwise it gets to the whole team. You gotta bounce right back, short-term memory,” Cortez said.

The White River defense also made it difficult to move the ball. Federal Way is a side that likes to play the tempo game on offense. A fast-paced, up-tempo offense has been Federal Way’s identity the past few seasons. But against White River, they wanted to change it up.

“Our game plan was to slow it down. We knew they were going to be sound and disciplined. We were going to take our time and see what we could muster up,” Yzaguirre said.

Defensively, the Eagles gave no quarter in the second half. The Eagles had what could have been a pick six from Todd Clark, but he fumbled the ball out of the endzone reaching in for the score.

Then on White River’s final drive, Eagle sophomore cornerback Daesean Toomer intercepted a pass and put the game on ice.

Federal Way takes on Todd Beamer on Oct. 18 and is looking to carry this momentum forward.

“We are looking to stack those wins on wins,” Toomer Jr. said.