By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR
Chief Sealth bumped off Ballard by a 40-24 score in a key early season Metro League Sound Division football game Friday.
Sealth improved to 2-0 in division play and to 3-2 overall with the win on its home field at the Southwest Athletic Complex while knocking the Beavers to 1-1, 3-2.
"It was a real big win for us," said Seahawks head coach Ted Rodriguez. "Ballard is a great team. They are well coached and disciplined and we had to play to that level to win. Ballard came in with a good game plan and stopped us for awhile."
Part of the Beavers' plan was to stymie star Seahawks running back Dontae McMillan, which they were able to do most of the time.
But McMillan was not to be denied and still used his legs to come through with big plays.
One came with 3:37 to play in the third quarter, just 14 seconds after Ballard had taken its only lead at 17-16.
McMillan returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown and teammate Bishop Jackson ran for a two-point conversion and Sealth was on its way to victory with a 24-17 advantage.
McMillan also started the scoring in the game with a 12-yard touchdown run around the right side with 7:36 to play in the first quarter. He also ran for a two-point conversion to make it 8-0.
Joe Zahner put the Beavers on the board with a 39-yard field goal at 6:36 in the second quarter to trim the lead to 8-3.
The Seahawks answered with a safety at 4:06 for a 10-3 lead and Ballard tied it at 10-10 at 2:42.
Jarman Hauser popped through and ran for a 75-yard score and Zahner made the conversion kick.
McMillan broke free for an 80-yard score around the right side at 1:41 but the conversion attempt was blocked to leave the score at 16-10.
That allowed Ballard to slip ahead with 3:51 to go in the third quarter. Ian Crocker ran up the middle for a 4-yard TD and Zahner kicked the PAT to make it 17-16.
But McMillan answered with his TD on the kickoff return and Sealth was on its way.
Jackson ran for a 1-yard score at 8:10 to go in the fourth and a two-point conversion run made it 32-17.
McMillan followed at 6:49 with a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown. Quarterback Anthony Waiters passed for two for a 40-17 lead.
Ballard got the final word in at 22 seconds to play. Ryan Blokker threw for an 11-yard touchdown and Zahner kicked the extra point.
