For the second consecutive year, the Marysville Wolverines hoisted the championship trophy.
The junior division arena football team, under the guidance of coach Dan White, defeated the Arlington Eagles to win the Arena Youth Football championship June 21 at the Snohomish Indoor Soccer Dome.
While the score remained close in the first half, the Wolverines pulled away in the second half to win, 46-26.
Despite a close first half, Arlington never led. Marysville scored first with Arlington tying up 7-7 by the end of the first quarter. The teams exchanged scores again early in the second quarter while a kickoff return gave Marysville a 27-20 advantage going into halftime.
But although arena football does a lot to tie the hands of a defense, the Marysville line stepped up for the second half, White said.
Marysville outscored Arlington by two touchdowns in the second half to run away with the championship game. Defensively, Jordan Hoorn and Tanner Murry each chipped in a couple of sacks, while Taner Husby had tackles for losses. On offense, quarterback Justin Peterson threw for three touchdowns and ran for another. Back and kick return specialist Hans Vanderwel added two more touchdowns with a rushing TD and a kickoff return. Brett Heichel, Dylan DeLarosa and Anthony White each had a catch for a score.
Coach White said that the championship was a satisfying reward for the hard work the kids have put in year after year to developing as football players.
A lot of these kids Ive coached now for seven or eight seasons of football, when they first started playing flag football at seven years old, he said. Theyre great kids and really developing into great football players.
On the same day, the senior league Wolverines fell in their championship game to the Lake Stevens Vikings, led by Lakewood sophomore Justin Lane at quarterback. Marysville qualified for the game with a 20-19 upset victory over Silver Lake the week before.