By CHERYL COCHRANE
For The Beachcomber

All roads seemed to end at the Vashon High School stadium as enthusiastic Pirate fans poured in for the annual Homecoming celebration. The football game was the centerpiece of the week’s festivities, which included a pep rally, chamber of commerce-sponsored parade, powderpuff football game and the traditional awarding of the Homecoming court.

The Senior Recognition Ceremony at the game honored 11 senior players, three cheerleaders and their families. This year’s celebration highlighted seniors with deep Vashon roots, including four generations of Brennos in the stadium and seven Jovanovich siblings, all of whom have worn Pirate green.

VHS took on Charles Wright Academy for the Homecoming game, and the Pirates put forward several impressive plays but ultimately fell to the Tarrieres, 42-21.

The Vashon players thrilled their hometown crowd with a powerful start, controlling much of the first quarter’s play. An impressive 23-play drive down the field ended with a Pirate touchdown by Ezra Ende and extra point by Austin Heit. The hungry Tarriers shot back with three quick scores in a row. Although their defense was shaken, the Pirate’s offense held strong, converting three of three fourth downs. Charles Wright answered with large gains, pushing through Vashon’s defense. Safety Garrett Starr almost intercepted a Tarrier pass and leapt to bat down another long throw, but the Pirates couldn’t contain Charles Wright’s offense. A late Tarrier field goal had the Pirates heading into the locker room, down 23-7.

The Tarriers came back on the field ready to capitalize on the Pirates’ loss of focus. A Vashon fumble followed by an intercepted pass on the next possession twice put the ball back in Charles Wright’s control. A field goal by the Tarriers followed by another touchdown brought the score to 33-7.

Vashon briefly shone with a beautiful Sam Schoenberg pass to Winter Krimmert for a 22-yard gain, but a fumble returned the ball to the Tarriers, who quickly converted the mishap into another score followed by a two-point safety.

Late in the fourth quarter, a long pass to Pirate Teddy Atwell gained a whopping 50 yards. Two plays later, Nate Lawson scrambled 22 yards into the end zone for the touchdown. Vashon wasted no time. With 47 seconds left in the game, the energized Pirates regained possession on the 33-yard line. On the next play, Ezra Ende powered through the crowd for another Pirate touchdown. Nick Amundsen tossed off his tackler and crossed the goal line for the final 2 points.

Despite rousing the Vashon crowd with their strong finish, the Tarriers had it, 42-21.

This Friday the Pirates will travel to Darrington to face the Loggers at 6 p.m.

— Cheryl Cochrane is the mother of a Pirate football player.