Patch Football Report: Islanders Defeat Juanita, 47-24

It was truly a game of two halves and Mercer Island High was lucky it was trailing by just one point, 17-18, after two touchdowns were called back in the first quarter.

The Islanders, led by U.W.-bound quarterback Jeff Lindquist, scored first on a 51-yard pass to wide receiver Eric Stefanchik, and went on to whip the Juanita High Rebels Friday night, 47-24.

Juanita roared back after the first MI score and seemed to move the ball at will in the first half, with quarterback Landyn Milburn connecting on his own strike minutes later to receiver Kendrick Murphy.

After a Mercer Island fumble deep in their own territory, Juanita scored their third touchdown but only managed to take a one-point lead into the half, thanks to two scores from the Rebels for holding and an illegal block.

"We must have had 15, 20 penalties," lamented Juanita head coach Shaun Tarantola. "Most of those were effort penalties. Guys were coming late to the play on holding, or playing after the whistle."

Juanita tried to maintain some of their momentum in the second half, but three interceptions by defensive back Milan Gallevo took the wind out of the Rebel's sails. 

"That gave us all the momentum we needed," said Mercer Island head coach Brett Ogata. 

The Mercer Island offensive line was able to establish the running game in the second half, enabling 158 yards of rushing and three rushing TDs from running back Phil Frazier. Lindquist completed 11 of 22 passes for 204 yards and three throwing touchdowns. Two of those touchdown strikes were long bombs to Stefanchik, who caught just 3 passes for a whopping 111 yards. 

"Jeff made some unbelievable throws tonight," Ogata said. "That just breaks a team."

Juanita rushed the ball for 188 yards, mostly behind running back Darrin Laufasa on 19 carries for 78 yards. Rebels QB Milburn completed 116 yards passing.

"It was a long night for us," Juanita's Tarantola said. "We felt like Mercer Island would be a great test for us, and we just couldn't keep up with them for all four quarters."