Gavin Helpingstine, still new to Andrean after transferring from Brother Rice, wasted no time showing exactly what winning a Northwest Crossroads Conference championship means to the 59ers. On a truly miserable Friday night with wind and rain whipping around, it was Helpingstine’s electrifying 55-yard punt return that set up the very first score and ignited Andrean’s 21-7 victory over Lowell.
59ers Dominate Weather And Rivals For Another Title
The conditions were rough, no doubt, but that didn’t stop Andrean from getting the job done, securing their sixth NCC title in the last seven seasons. This wasn’t some fluke, either: it was their second straight championship showdown against Lowell, who came into the game at a solid 6-3. Andrean, now sitting pretty at 8-1 overall and an undefeated 6-0 in the conference, proved why they are ranked No. 3 in the Class 3A state coaches poll. Coach Chris Skinner summed it up perfectly, saying, “We have two goals every season, and one of them is to win the conference championship.” He made it clear that winning the conference was the first thing he talked about with the seniors back in March, and those guys delivered. “I’m very proud of the team, very proud of the way the seniors are taking control of the team, and obviously proud of their efforts (Friday) for getting it done,” Skinner added. The 59ers definitely leaned on their rushing game and defense in that sloppiness, but special teams, led by Helpingstine, made the difference. His huge return put Andrean on Lowell’s 3-yard line, setting up senior running back Brady Stovall’s opening quarter touchdown.
Helpingstine Is A Full-Blown Weapon, Even In The Wet
Let’s talk about Gavin Helpingstine for a second. The 6-foot, 185-pound junior wideout caught two passes for 18 yards in the wet conditions on Friday, but his impact goes way beyond just receiving. The dude already had 30 catches for 412 yards and three touchdowns coming into the game, part of a seriously stacked receiver room that includes junior Tyler Vo and sophomore Stetson Sullivan. “We have a loaded receiver room,” Helpingstine said, “Everyone’s getting touches. We’re spreading the ball around. It really helps get the eyes off one man so defenses really can’t guard our receivers, and then we wouldn’t be able to do it without Dylan either.” Junior quarterback Dylan Gore must love having that kind of talent around him! Helpingstine also gave a shout-out to Coach Duke LaMere, their receiver coach, for helping him learn the playbook after his transfer, even doing Zoom calls to get him up to speed. But here’s the kicker: this guy isn’t just a receiver. He also has two kickoff returns for touchdowns and a punt return for a touchdown under his belt for the 59ers! Coach Skinner highlighted it: “What he’s been able to do on the receiving front has been important, adding another weapon outside and how you space the field. How do you cover all those guys?” Then he drilled it home, “But then also what he does in the return game, kickoff returns, punt returns, he had that big one (Friday). The weather early was pretty miserable, with the wind and the rain, and for us to start that drive on the 3-yard line, that was pretty big.” You can’t argue with that. Helpingstine is a game-changer.
Next up, the 59ers kick off their Class 3A sectional play against undefeated Griffith, who are sitting at a perfect 9-0. It’s time to keep this momentum rolling, boys!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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