Lake Stevens Earns Spot In Semifinals With Impressive Victory Over Monroe

The Lake Stevens Vikings kept their perfect season going with a strong all-around performance in Saturday’s Junior Division playoff opener, defeating the Monroe Black Bearcats 50–6 at home.

Both teams entered the postseason on the heels of winning regular seasons—Lake Stevens at 6–0 and the No. 1 seed, and Monroe at 4–3 as the eighth seed. But from the opening kickoff, it was clear that the Vikings were ready to take the next step, putting together an impressive performance fueled by big plays on offense, an opportunistic defense, and contributions from players across the roster.

Lake Stevens set the tone early. On the game’s opening kickoff, the Vikings’ Joshua Mulholland returned the ball 57 yards, setting Lake Stevens up just a few yards from the goal line. Running back Maxen Pester took it from there, scoring on a 3-yard run for the game’s first touchdown. With the extra point good, the Vikings jumped out to a 7–0 lead.

Monroe’s first offensive drive was short-lived. After gaining a few yards, the Bearcats fumbled near midfield, and Lake Stevens recovered. A 10-yard run by Riley Wade helped move the Vikings into scoring range again, and Pester finished the drive with his second touchdown of the quarter—this one from 14 yards out—to extend the lead to 14–0.

Just a few plays later, Monroe turned the ball over again, and this time, Lake Stevens’ Hank Engelbrecht made an immediate impact on both sides of the ball. After recovering the fumble on defense, Engelbrecht lined up in the backfield and took a handoff 40 yards for a touchdown. Another extra point made it 21–0 midway through the first quarter.

The Vikings weren’t done. Quarterback Carter Breckenridge connected with Pester on an 8-yard pass and then hit Brier Howard on a 26-yard strike. Howard would later cap the drive with a 32-yard touchdown run. Lake Stevens added one more touchdown before the end of the quarter—this time a 21-yard pass from Breckenridge to Mulholland—giving the Vikings a commanding 35–0 lead after just one quarter.

Despite the early deficit, Monroe continued to battle. Marcus Rosado, the Bearcats’ leading rusher and passer, worked to move the offense, gaining tough yards on the ground and finding occasional openings against the stout Lake Stevens defense. Defenders Lucas Piche and Alexzander Johnson also came up with stops to slow the Viking offense at times.

But Lake Stevens’ momentum continued in the second quarter. Cole Nelson got in on the action with a 22-yard touchdown run. Then Breckenridge and Mulholland linked up again—this time on a 21-yard scoring strike for Breckenridge’s third touchdown pass of the half. The final blow came from the Lake Stevens defense. Pester, already with two touchdowns on offense, jumped a route and intercepted a pass, returning it 44 yards for a pick-six. The two-point conversion that followed made it 50–0 at halftime.

Monroe found its best moment of the game in the third quarter. After recovering a fumble near midfield, Rosado dropped back and found receiver Trey Hammerquist wide open down the right side. Hammerquist hauled in the pass and sprinted to the end zone for a 60-yard touchdown—the Bearcats’ lone score, but one of the game’s most explosive plays.

In the second half, both teams rotated in new personnel and leaned on the ground game. For Lake Stevens, William Raysbrook, Derrin Montgomery, and Drexsyn Burns all logged carries, while quarterback Wesley Daily came in and completed two long passes—including a 70-yard connection to Nelson and a 9-yard completion to Engelbrecht. Monroe continued to push offensively behind Rosado and hard-earned gains by Lucas Piche and Alexzander Johnson.

Lake Stevens’ defense remained aggressive, forcing four total turnovers. Pester’s interception and touchdown were highlights, while Engelbrecht and Riley Wade each recovered fumbles. Tackles came from Wade, William Horner, Kaison Pugmire, and Samuel Simmons, helping hold Monroe to just one score.

With the win, the Vikings move to 7–0 on the season and advance to the Junior Division semifinals. The Bearcats finish their year at 4–4, showing heart and resilience even in a tough loss. For Lake Stevens, the win was a complete team effort—setting the stage for a deeper playoff run ahead.

Player Stats

Lake Stevens (Offense):

Maxen Pester: 4 rushes, 15 yards, 2 TDs; 1 reception, 8 yards; 1 two-point conversion reception

Joshua Mulholland: 1 rush (kick return), 57 yards; 2 receptions, 21 yards, 2 TDs

Carter Breckenridge: 3/3 passing, 55 yards, 2 TDs

Brier Howard: 1 rush, 32 yards, 1 TD; 1 reception, 26 yards

Hank Engelbrecht: 1 rush, 40 yards, 1 TD; 1 reception, 9 yards

Cole Nelson: 1 rush, 22 yards, 1 TD; 1 reception, 70 yards

Wesley Daily: 2/2 passing, 79 yards

William Raysbrook: 3 rushes, 6 yards

Riley Wade: 1 rush, 10 yards

Derrin Montgomery: 1 rush, 6 yards

Lake Stevens (Defense):

Maxen Pester: 1 interception (returned 44 yards for TD)

Hank Engelbrecht: 2 fumble recoveries

Riley Wade: 1 fumble recovery

Monroe (Offense):

Marcus Rosado: 9 rushes, 139 yards; 1/2 passing, 60 yards, 1 TD

Trey Hammerquist: 1 reception, 60 yards, 1 TD

Brady Morgan: 1 fumble recovery

Holden Davis: 1 fumble recovery

Monroe (Defense):

Marcus Rosado: 1 interception