The Bonney Lake Panthers finish second in the Sound Puget Sound League 3A and ended the regular season on a four game winning streak.
The Panthers will face off against the Mercer Island Islanders in the first round of the playoffs at 7 p.m. Saturday at Sunset Chev Stadium.
After starting the season 0-5, the Panthers finish 4-1 in conference play and 4-5 overall.
Bonney Lake beat Auburn Mountainview 35-28 in the final regular season game on Thursday.
The game got off to a slow start for the Panthers as Auburn Mountainview scored first less than two minutes into the game. The Panthers onside kick was fumbled and the Lions were quick to score again, taking a 14-0 lead over the Panthers with 9:10 to go in the first quarter.
After an interception, Bonney Lake answered with a touchdown late in the first quarter. The Lions lead closed to 14-7.
The Panthers were the only score in the second quarter with a touchdown to tie the Lions 14-14.
After the half, Bonney Lake fumbled and Auburn Mountainview recovered. The Lions were able to turn that into a touchdown, taking a 21-14 lead with 2:55 to go in the third quarter.
The Panthers tied the game on a 31-yard touchdown run 15 seconds into the fourth quarter. Bonney Lake and Auburn Mountainview would score a touchdown each to tie the game at 28-28 midway through the fourth quarter.
The Panthers punt to the Lions was fumbled and Bonney Lake recovered. A bad snap on the field goal attempt resulted in a 22-yard touchdown run by senior Robert Combs. Bonney Lake would take the lead for the first time in the game, 35-28.
Bonney Lake’s defense stepped up big in the fourth quarter, the Lions were unable to convert on fourth down and Bonney Lake took over on downs, securing the win.
Bonney Lake scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, 14 of those points coming on two big touchdowns by Combs.
“It was an amazing comeback,” coach Jason Silbaugh said.
The Panthers will face off against the Mercer Island Islanders in the first round of the playoffs at 7 p.m. Saturday at Sunset Chev Stadium.
Going into the playoffs, Bonney Lake won’t be adding any new things to its play book, he said. The Panthers will look at what they do and work on getting better as a team.
“We take one game at a time,” Silbaugh said. “Our focus is on Mercer Island.”
