Snohomish Panthers Stun Everett, Avance To NSL Bantam Division Championship Game

In a defensive showdown that lived up to playoff expectations, the Snohomish Panthers defeated the previously unbeaten Everett Timberwolves 7–0 in the North Sound Junior Football League Bantam Division semifinal. The Panthers, entering as the third seed at 6–2, handed the second-seeded Timberwolves, who entered the game 8-0, their first loss of the season to advance to the championship game.

The game was a back-and-forth battle marked by hard hits, defensive stands, and missed opportunities. The lone score came in the second quarter when Snohomish linebacker Jaxon Alde scooped up a fumble and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown, providing all the points the Panthers would need.

Both teams opened the first quarter cautiously. On their opening drive, the Panthers struggled to move the ball, with negative rushes and a short completion forcing a punt. Everett looked poised to capitalize after running back Ethan Natividad and quarterback Chandler Kdep combined for short gains, and wideout Drew Bressler added a 2-yard reception. But a strong defensive stand by Snohomish forced Everett to turn the ball over on downs.

Snohomish got a small spark when quarterback Hayden Williams found Christopher Morales Remigio on a 12-yard pass. Running back Jaxon Alde added a few tough rushes, but Everett’s Kade King came up with an interception late in the first quarter to stop the Panthers’ momentum.

Everett then appeared to mount a serious threat. On the next drive, Chandler Kdep broke free for a 19-yard run, and Bressler added a 32-yard dash to move the Timberwolves into scoring range. But just when it looked like Everett would strike first, the Snohomish defense dug in.

A fumbled snap and a 10-yard loss on a quarterback keeper backed Everett up. Then, on third and 15 from the 25-yard line, Bressler lost the ball again, and Alde was in the right place at the right time. The linebacker scooped it cleanly and sprinted down the sideline 78 yards to the end zone. The extra point was good, giving the Panthers a 7–0 lead.

Everett returned to their bread and butter in the third quarter, leaning on Natividad and Bressler to chew up yardage. But every promising gain was matched by pressure from the Panthers’ defensive front. Hayden Williams sacked Kdep, and Tommy Merrill added another sack on fourth down to halt a drive. Alde, Morales Remigio, and Austin Tillman clogged the middle, stifling Everett’s inside runs.

The Timberwolves continued to push in the final quarter. Bressler picked up yards in chunks, and a 19-yard completion from Kdep to Bressler brought Everett inside the 40-yard line. But the Panthers once again tightened their grip. A sack by Hunter Deberry and a 10-yard loss on a quarterback run pushed Everett back to midfield. Even after a late 35-yard completion to Princeton Conant on fourth and 26, Everett ran out of time and chances.

For Everett, the loss brought their undefeated season to an abrupt end. Despite a standout performance from Bressler, who rushed for 81 yards and caught two passes for 21 more, the Timberwolves could not find the end zone. Kdep added 54 passing yards and 12 on the ground, while Natividad ran for 40 yards.

Snohomish didn’t light up the stat sheet on offense, but they didn’t need to. Alde carried the ball 15 times for 38 yards and led the defense with five tackles, eight sacks, and four fumble recoveries. Morales Remigio added three tackles and four sacks, while Hayden Williams contributed two sacks and completed two passes for 9 yards. The Panthers totaled seven sacks and forced multiple turnovers in a dominant performance.

Now, the Panthers move on to the championship game with confidence. They showed they can beat anyone when they control the line of scrimmage, win the turnover battle, and execute on defense. For the Timberwolves, the season ends with heartbreak, but their physical style and playmakers promise future success.

Player Stats

Snohomish Panthers (Offense):

Hayden Williams – 3 rushes, 6 yards; 3/6 passing, 9 yards

Christopher Morales Remigio – 3 rushes, 1 yard; 1 reception, 12 yards

Jaxon Alde – 15 rushes, 38 yards

Snohomish Panthers (Defense):

Hayden Williams – 1 tackle, 2 sacks

Christopher Morales Remigio – 3 tackles, 4 sacks

Hunter Deberry – 2 tackles, 3 sacks

Austin Tillman – 2 tackles, 2 sacks

Jaxon Alde – 5 tackles, 8 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries, 78-yard fumble return TD

Treven Strickland – 1 tackle, 1 sack

Tommy Merrill – 1 sack

Waylon Wellnitz – 1 tackle, 2 sacks

Liam Cook – 1 tackle, 1 sack

Everett Timberwolves (Offense):

Teegan Howard – 2 rushes, 1 yard

Colin Dansie – 1 rush, 3 yards

Chandler Kdep – 7 rushes, 12 yards; 2/3 passing, 54 yards

Ethan Natividad – 10 rushes, 40 yards

Drew Bressler – 10 rushes, 81 yards; 1/1 passing, 18 yards; 2 receptions, 21 yards

Princeton Conant – 1 rush, 1 yard; 2 receptions, 53 yards

Isaiah Rodriguez – 5 rushes, 9 yards

Everett Timberwolves (Defense):

Colin Dansie – 1 INT

Ethan Natividad – 1 tackle, 1 sack

Kade King – 2 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT

Drew Bressler – 2 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries

Isaiah Rodriguez – 2 tackles, 1 sack

Aiden Przygocki – 1 tackle, 1 sack

Cole Hansen – 1 tackle

Mateo Miranda – 1 tackle, 1 sack