Gabarri Johnson, Lincoln of Tacoma take care of Lakes in another classic 3A PCL showdown

TACOMA - High-expectations Masaki Matsumoto would be the first to admit he's not the easiest coach to play football for.

But he also picks his spots to give his Lincoln High School Abes a ton to feel good about.

And at the team's senior barbecue before the 2022 season began, Matsumoto told his players they had the same potential as his talented group three years ago - one that advanced to the Class 3A semifinals.

"I told them, it’s really going to be on their shoulders how far they want to go," Matsumoto said.

Well, when one of those seniors is Missouri commit Gabarri Johnson - anything seems possible.

The fifth-ranked Abes got a serious test Saturday before pulling away for a 42-28 victory over 3A PCL rival Lakes at Lincoln Bowl.

The win sets up a winner-take-all showdown next week with Spanaway Lake for the league title.

Johnson was the catalyst against Saturday, completing all nine of his passing attempts for 221 yards and a touchdowns. He rushed for another 87 yards and two scores in the victory.

"This is the cleanest game we've ever had," Johnson said.

And yet, with all the 'Wow!' wiggle runs or eye-popping touchdown throws Johnson has ever made, he arguably saved the best play of his career when it counted most Saturday.

After the Lincoln defense held inside its own 5-yard line late in the third quarter to protect a 27-21 lead, the Abes' offense took over pinned against the goal line.

Facing a third and 9 from the 3-yard line, Johnson dropped back in his own end zone, and immediately spotted trouble coming in the form of the hard-charging Leo Pulalasi.

Johnson back-pedaled and was nearly getting sawed in half on Pulalasi's tackle when he unleashed a throw down the left sideline.

Somehow, it carried nearly 25 yards in the air, but directly to wide receiver Drake Granberry, who hauled it in for a 31-yard gain and a first down.

Huh?

The play even made the hard-to-impress Johnson smile a tad.

"That might be No. 1 (in my career), to be honest," Johnson said.

"I didn’t know I was going to go there with the ball at first, but I know my guy Drake will always try and make a play for me. I was jumping backwards and threw it, and next thing I knew I got hit … he just made a great catch."

A few plays later, Johnson completed the 99-yard scoring drive with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Deonjae Ervin to give the Abes a 35-21 lead with 11:13 remaining.

"I was more amazed by the catch," Matsumoto said. "Gabarri does that stuff all the time. We are so used to him doing it ... and it's unfortunate we take it for granted. But Drake made the catch of his life."

Lakes - which played without longtime coach Dave Miller, who was on medical leave - wasn't through, striking quickly 51 seconds later on Legend Galeai's 74-yard touchdown pass to Tristan Baker to cut it 35-28.

But the Abes finished it off with Johnson's 11-yard scrambling touchdown run six minutes later.

"We have a very young, talented team," Lakes running back Leo Pulalasi said. "It just comes down to experience sometimes ... and they have a whole bunch of seniors."

Granberry's contributions were especially vital - returning a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown in the first half, catching a 70-yard pass to start the second half and also hauling in an interception in the final minutes.

"It's probably my favorite game of the year - and my life," Granberry said.

And now the Sentinels await next week.

"If we play well like we did today, we are going to win that," Granberry said. "We have a lot of pieces on this team."