Ferndale ends season with district loss to Bellevue

There were plenty of highlights for Ferndale this season − beating Sedro-Woolley, topping Kamiakin in an OT thriller and manhandling Marysville-Pilchuck for a postseason win.

Unfortunately, the Golden Eagles’ district playoff matchup with Class 3A juggernaut Bellevue didn’t yield one of those feel-good moments.

Far from it.

Ferndale for the third time in four years saw its season come to a close on the road against Bellevue, as the Golden Eagles took a 41-7 district playoff loss Saturday, Nov. 7, at Bellevue Memorial Stadium.

“Well, we didn’t play our best game,” Ferndale coach Jamie Plenkovich said. “We put the ball on the ground too many times, and we weren’t happy with the way we played in the first half, but our kids battled.”

Not a lot went right during the first two quarters facing Bellevue’s starters. The Golden Eagles (7-4) were outgained 306-12 in total yards, lost three fumbles and failed to gain a first down.

Ferndale’s front couldn’t hold up against Bellevue’s, and more often than not Golden Eagles running backs were getting hit in the backfield.

Combined with three fumbles and no solution to the Wolverines’ run game, Ferndale didn’t get a stop on offense until a Bellevue field goal put the Golden Eagles in a 31-0 hole with 7:07 to play in the second quarter.

“Can’t do that, can’t do that,” Plenkovich said of the fumbles. “They were doing a good job of winning the line of scrimmage and being aggressive and, no, you can’t put the ball on the ground against good teams.”

Ferndale trailed 38-0 at the half, but the Golden Eagles could claim some solace in winning the final two quarters.

Senior Taylor Bellefeuille plunged across the goal line on a fourth-and-goal from 1-yard out with 1:42 to play, ensuring the Golden Eagles left with something to show for their effort.

Lead back Austin Honeycutt finished with 88 yards on 18 carries, and Cole Semu chipped in 24 yards on nine rushes.

Bellevue running back Ercle Terrell ran for 128 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries, and Isaiah Gilchrist caught two passes, both touchdowns, for 106 yards.

“It’s tough to see the seniors go,” Plenkovich said. “They did a great job of getting us back on the right track after a disappointing year last year. I felt like we got a lot better as the season went on. I felt the last three games we played our best football. We just didn’t get it done tonight against an all-star team.”

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 9:27 PM with the headline "Ferndale ends season with district loss to Bellevue."