Bellevue football never stopped winning. But now is a new era, and it is back to winning state titles

PUYALLUP — On the early end of Bellevue’s dynastic run of 13 state championship appearances in 15 seasons that spanned from 2001-15, before the rosters were lined with soon-to-be high-major college football players and future pros, the program ran its same old-school wing-T with a bunch of Wolverine lifers. 

Kneip, who won four state championships at Bellevue before playing on the O-line at Washington, took over the program in 2018 at age 24, as the dust was still settling from an explosive recruiting scandal and the resulting WIAA sanctions.

He took on the stained public perception of the program. He bore the brunt at times of teams rubbing in wins over Bellevue. His goal? For Bellevue to become a perennial contender again, with players from its own backyard.

It didn't take long.

Top-seeded Bellevue (14-0) won its 12th 3A state championship on Saturday — though two (2011, 2012) were vacated by the WIAA. The Wolverines beat Kennewick 17-13 at Sparks Stadium.

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The program hasn’t stopped winning at a high clip since Butch Goncharoff, the architect of the Bellevue dynasty, was dealt a two-year coaching ban in the wake of the scandal in 2017. The program is 61-9 since. But Saturday marked its first state title since 2013 — and first since 2011, considering the following two were vacated.

This year’s team, Kneip (pronounced “kuh-nipe”) will tell you, is much more like the Bellevue of the early 2000s. Though several underclassmen are future Division I prospects, not single senior — all of whom grew up in Bellevue’s youth program — has made plans to play college football next year. 

That, Kneip said, is the new era of Bellevue football. 

“That’s the key,” Kneip said. “Homegrown kids … who are overachieving – kids who are overachieving because they believe in each other, believe in the coaching staff and work really hard.”

Those with widest smiles in the rain-soaked celebration on the field — Kneip and his young coaching staff were just as, if not more animated than the rest —were the 16 seniors who were freshman.

“I just feel so happy for all the seniors, all the coaches,” sophomore defensive back Collin Martin said. “They rebuilt this program. I love them so much. This is my second family.”

More on a pair of those homegrown kids, and observations from Sparks Stadium: 

Wang delivered the final exclamation mark

The shining example: Wang, the unsung, soft-spoken running back who eclipsed 2,000 yards on the season Saturday afternoon.

Wang’s longest gain of the of the afternoon was the 64-yard scoring burst up the middle that put the Wolverines up 17-13 with four minutes left in the third. 

He even called his own number.

“Before that play I went to the sideline and told coach we should run that play more because it felt (was) open, right?” Wang said. “I knew I was going to break one because I almost broke one before.”

It was far from his only impact play. 

Wang received the bulk of the carries —33 of 51 total — out of Bellevue’s old-school wing-T.

“You just knew he was due,” He’s a warrior, he’s the kid you want the ball inn the hands with, unsung hero. He’s what Bellevue football is all about.”

Collin Miller makes game-sealing play

Bellevue stunted Marysville-Pilchuck’s red-hot rushing attack in the semifinals last weekend.

As the Bellevue coaching staff poured over film from the 27-3 win — its most complete defensive performance of the season — one player stood out on further review: Collin Miller, the sophomore defensive back. 

Record-shattering running back Dylan Carson was held to 103 rushing yards and without a touchdown. Four or five times, it was Miller, the 5-11, 160-pound sophomore, making the tackle.

On Saturday, Miller had another postseason moment: the game-sealing interception with 3:28 left. 

“I just saw the QB staring (the wide receiver) down, I left my zone and I came and made a play,” Miller said. “To be able to do that for the seniors and make sure they come home with a state championship is the best feeling ever.”

Kennewick will be remembered as giant-killers

The Lions traversed the state by bus, hauling from the Tri-Cities to Seattle’s Memorial Stadium two consecutive weeks. 

Both times, in the shadow of the Space Needle, they escaped with wins over state powerhouses, first three-seeded O’Dea, which has played in seven state championships since the turn of the century, then two-seeded Eastside Catholic, which has played in six of the last eight and won four.

On Saturday, Kennewick came back for a third straight weekend and brought enough supporters to pack the visitor grandstands at Sparks Stadium. And even in a loss, the six-seeded Lions — the lowest seed playing for a title across all classifications — showed out. 

“We had to overcome a lot,” Lions senior Austin Stoddard said, choking back tears. “There were many games we were doubted, came out on top.”

Round trips to and from the west side of the state wore on the Lions physically. But it didn’t shake their spirit, even in a 17-13 loss, when they had chances to win the game late. 

“When you know you want it, things like that will never effect you, especially in a run like this,” Stoddard said.

“It was an experience to remember the rest of our lives.”