Federal Way is in, going to the playoffs after destroying Kent-Meridian, 33-0, even with a couple stars off the turf of Federal Way Stadium Friday night.

“Lot of injuries last week, tough loss,” said Eagles head coach John Meagher of the Kentwood game that took out linebacker Andru Pulu for 4-6 weeks with a medial cruciate ligament tear (MCL). Quarterback Nick Tanieulu also was out in this one. “I was pleased with how we bounced back. It was great for us to respond like we did.”

Hopefully, there is a lot left of response for these Eagles, who likely will be the No. 3 seed from the South Puget Sound League North. No, they won’t be champions like last season, but that’s OK. For many reasons. One reason being No.3 likely out of the SPSL North means another shot at a team that beat them two years ago, Gig Harbor, who all but nailed up the No. 2 Narrows spot. More on that later.

For now, let’s not forget that the Eagles jumped out to a 19-0 first half lead against Kent-Meridian on great runs by star running back Andre Barrington, who is going to Division-1 hoping to light up the Pac-10 at Washington State University next year, including his two-yard TD run in the first quarter. Kelyn Rowe’s point-after kick made it 7-0.

Then Daytrez Sterling scored on a 36-yard fumble return in still the first quarter, with a Rowe extra point making it 14-0.

The second quarter included a two-point safety and Rowe, one of the best field goal kickers in the state, booting a 32-yarder that widened the lead to 19-0.

The second half saw Barrington blow through some more holes opened up by his offensive line. Unfortunately, two of those runs, 65 and 37 yard TD run variety, were called back. So, it’s fair to say Barrington ran for over 200 yards but had half that yardage called back due to penalties. Holding penalties.

Jordan Maulolo, a 6-2, 290 lineman playing both ways -- offense and defense -- on the line is a captain and did not point any fingers at anyone about those penalties, but one can guess it was not him committing those acts.

“No matter how many penalties we had, we kept our heads high, kept encouraging the linemen to keep pushing,” said Maulolo.

And they did keep a steady push, winning the line of scrimmage no doubt as Barrington blasted through. But Barrington creates his own drama, too, by carrying the football after going by the line of scrimmage. Thanks to the line, but also using fancy fakes and straight power combined into one. The first guy to hit the 6-2, 210 Barrington, a three-sport (basketball, track) Eagles star, was not bringing him down.

It’s a nice thing having Andre running.

“Always a pleasure, he’s tight,” said Maulolo. “He can do unbelievable stuff. But it starts with the line.”

The secondary shut out K-M, starting with the linebackers and that meant Barrington in the lead. The captain for the Eagles is taking the strongside linebacker spot of Pulu in the UW-bound athlete’s absence because of the knee injury. Barrington’s moved from weakside linebacker and did a great job in just one game.

“He’s getting the job done,” said Pulu, walking back to the locker room after the game, limping, but not on crutches. That was as a positive sign that this week can be his miraculous recovery. The Eagles will need defensive heart and soul man, Pulu, back.

“He was good at reading the plays already, but now he has more action,” said Pulu of Barrington’s prowess moving into the strong side middle linebacker spot. “He’s handling it well.”

The weak side linebacker, who now plays where Barrington was playing, is DaShawn Horne, who Pulu says is a ready, willing subject for that position on the field.

“He started the first two games, and already has experience,” said Pulu. “And Andre is helping him out at that position.”

Barrington was all over the field against K-M, taking his needed role on with the aplomb Snoop Dog does singing rap -- completely confident. He was not just all over the field making plays tackling, he was also doing other things like going over to lend a hand to pick up his cornerback, Rian Miller, after Miller did a nice job knocking a pass away from the K-M receiver diving for the ball. Barrington slapped him on the back, too.

Meagher’s said it before but it’s good to say it again.

“Andre is the best athlete I have ever coached,” Meagher’s said before, with this quote having came in April, just before Barrington went on in May to districts, and, then the state track championships in jumps last year.

The whole team appears fired up as players like senior Nico Curran were shouting after whooping K-M.

“Where’s Jordan! Where’s Jordan!.”

Jordan was to lead them in a cheer after the game in front of all the Eagles’ student body, and fans. And the Eagles dynasty is strong. There are five sections on a given bleachers side and all five were at least half full, most three-quarters full. That’s a lot of great support and enthusiasm there.

But Barrington’s help is great and was unmistakably missed against Auburn. If it was there against Auburn in the first league game of the season for the Eagles, the Eagles don’t lose that close one they did, 21-14, to this year’s SPSL North champ. Also, it’s a given to say, if Pulu had not gone down against Kentwood, that game would not have been a loss either.

But it was a loss and it is what it is. And what it is now for the Eagles is the postseason.

What do you think coach? The playoffs, they’re here!

“We have TJ on Friday here,” said Meagher, smiling, grabbing his little son, Max, running up to him after the game.

First things first.

G-K 42, Decatur 6

It was a thing of beauty for a Decatur team that hadn’t seen much all evening.

Gators quarterback John Duncan, Jr. reached back to fire the ball as wide receiver Conner McFaul cut his way to just in front of the end zone.

McFaul found himself going behind a Graham-Kapowsin player, but jumped over him as the ball eluded his grasp. McFaul’s jump took him up and back to the front of the end zone, where he reached up, snagged it, and came down with it for Decatur’s only touchdown.

The catch came on a 27-yard play with 4:16 to go in the third quarter of Thursday’s action.

The down side came when a motion penalty sent the Gators back five yards on the point after touchdown aftempt and led to the ball being blocked by Graham-Kapowsin to hold Decatur to 35-6.

Graham-Kapowsin went on to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter to move the margin to 42-6, after upping it to 35-0 before the Gators’ big play.

Decatur (0-6, 0-7) now finishes its regular season back at Federal Way Memorial against crosstown and SPSL South Division rival Todd Beamer. The action starts at 7 p.m.

--Tim Clinton contributed the Decatur vs. Graham-Kapowsin portion of this story.