Overcome in Tacoma
Lummi battles gamely, but Tri-Cities Prep juggernaut proves too much for the Blackhawks in 1B state championship game.

Ted Edge, left, and Eddy Williams console senior Michael "Rook" James on the floor of the Tacoma Dome after Lummi fell 80-40 in the state title game.

One word repeatedly was mentioned as Friday evening's 1B title tilt between Lummi and Tri-Cities Prep wound down: "machine." It was accompanied by a lot of head shaking as the Jaguars purred up and down the Tacoma Dome carpet like a glistening new Cadillac Escalade. Pretty much all the Blackhawks could do was throw themselves in front of Prep and create a few speed bumps. In the end, the Jaguars rolled up 80 points, the most scored in a Washington state championship game by any team at any level.

Lummi's Eric Robinson sprints untouched to the end zone on an 88-yard kickoff return in the third quarter. The run tied a state record for longest return.

Lummi's Kyle Finkbonner eyes Prep's Kevin Ratuiste, 22. Finkbonner caught six passes for 134 yards in his final game for the Blackhawks.

Lummi finished its season with a 10-4 record and earned its second state runner-up trophy in four years. The championship game was the last for a handful of Blackhawk seniors: David James, Kyle Finkbonner, Alex LaClair, Ted Edge, Martin Oldham, Michael James and Joseph Fryberg.

Alex LaClair's outstanding career at Lummi came to a painful end in the first half when the senior lineman injured his ankle.

The Blackhawks will return an outstanding core of underclassmen next season, including quarterback Ty Jameson, who threw for more than 2,300 yards this year, and the team's leading rusher, Eddy Williams, who ran for 811 yards and 12 touchdowns.

David "Moon" James looks for running room Friday after one of his five catches. James led Lummi in receptions (53) and touchdowns (17) in his final season for the Blackhawks.

The 2009 state runner-up Lummi Blackhawks pose with their trophy Friday, Dec. 4, in the Tacoma Dome.