Tulin Alrouk

The Mercer Island Football team ended their first game against Seattle Preparatory School with a close loss of 32-52 on Friday, Sept. 1.

People of all ages flooded the stands to cheer Mercer Island on. The new Flag Dudes kept the spirit high throughout the game by rushing up and down the student section introducing new cheers. The band added to the energy, playing melodies of familiar songs.

Seattle Prep scored first on a rushing touchdown midway through the first quarter. At the end of the quarter, they took a 14-0 lead on a touchdown pass. Mercer Island got on the board early in the second quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass from senior Spencer Kornblum to junior Ryder Davis.  The Panthers retaliated a minute later with a touchdown pass, and then three minutes later extended their lead to 28-6 with a rushing touchdown.

“The first half was really energetic and coming out [for the] first game, it was really nice to see the full crowd [with] parents, kids. It was a really cool atmosphere for coming out for my [first game] as a senior,” Captain Griffin King said.

Senior Luke Myklebust ran for a touchdown with four minutes left in the half to close the gap for the Islanders to 28-12. Seattle Prep then ran for a touchdown with less than a minute left in the half, taking a 35-12 lead into halftime. 

Seattle Prep drove down field to begin the second half, culminating in a touchdown pass, making the score 42-12. Mercer Island responded with a 37-yard pass from Kornblum to senior Ryan Boyle, making the score 42-18.

Mercer Island’s defense held, but Seattle Prep made a 44-yard field goal to take a 45-18 lead. With under a minute left to go in the third quarter, Kornblum completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Boyle, making the score 45-24. 

Both defenses stood strong in the fourth quarter, until Seattle Prep scored a touchdown pass, making the score 52-24. With three minutes and seven seconds left in the 4th quarter, sophomore Hudson Sulla broke loose on a 48-yard rushing touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the game.

Despite the loss, King believes the team is capable of great things this season; they are working towards goals of qualifying for the playoffs. Entering his senior year as captain, he is really excited for the games going forward and happy with the team, community and family they have built. 

“That [Seattle Prep] team was [in the] playoffs in [the] Metro [League] and Metro’s a really good [league], so if we can [get] 32 against a really good Metro team, I think we can dominate KingCo this year,” King said.

MIHS’ next game will occur next week, on Friday, Sep. 8 at R.A. Long High School.