Naselle running back Jack Strange is graduating, along with four classmates.

MOSES LAKES — An incredible postseason run came to an end for the Naselle football team on a chilly Lions Field in Moses Lakes last Saturday, where the No. 3 seed Comets (11-1) had their 11-game win streak snapped in a 52-28 loss to No. 2 seed Wilbur-Creston-Keller (13-0) in the semifinal round of the WIAA 1B state playoffs last Saturday, Nov. 30.

Season slips away

Through the first two quarters of the state playoff rematch — WCK eliminated Naselle 98-44 in the state semifinals in 2023 — Naselle seemed poised to give some payback to WCK after holding the Wildcats to only one score, taking a 21-8 lead heading into halftime behind three first-half touchdowns from senior star running back Jack Strange (44).

In the third quarter, however, WCK seized the momentum by capitalizing on special teams, where they successfully recovered an onside kick on the 48-yard line. The Wildcats scored a couple of plays later on a Kallen Maioho (4) quarterback keeper, tightening the game at 21-16.

Naselle turned the ball over on their next possession, again setting WCK near midfield where they quickly cashed in on a 35-yard run by senior running back Preston Michel (12), taking their first lead of the game at 30-28.

WCK followed up the touchdown with another successful onside kick, and the momentum seemed to snowball from there as Maioho ripped off a 38-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 38-28 early in the fourth quarter.

WCK would go on to add two more touchdowns in the final quarter, both by Maioho (4), as the Wildcats would again deny the Comets one game short of reaching the state championship.

Game notes: Naselle senior Jack Strange rushed 20 times for a team-high 158-yards and four touchdowns, followed by senior running back Caiden Burke (26) with nine carries for 64 yards. Strange (44) also had a team-high 15 tackles, followed by senior William Anderson (57) with 13, along with freshman Eli Gardner (9) with 13.

Remarkable senior class

The Comets will lose five seniors to graduation, including Jacob Lindstrom (5), Logan Quashnick (10), Caiden Burke (26), Jack Strange (44) and William Anderson (57), a remarkable class that’s compiled a 41-8 overall record since their freshman season.