Issaquah takes bus tour

When the Issaquah football players hopped on a bus, in uniform, with bags over their shoulders a 4:50 p.m., Saturday, Kentwood fans were left wondering if they arrived at the wrong field. "The fans were all looking at us weird," junior Grant Gellatly said. "They didn't know where we were going. They were like 'Are you guys the football team?'" In fact, everyone was at the right location for the first round 4A state football game. Issaquah (9-2), which is 5-0 on the road this season, has suffered its only two losses of the season at home — both shutouts. "We're normally flat at home games," senior quarterback Joey Bradley said. "We like the bus ride, so after we won last week and we knew we'd have home field, I said 'Coach can we just play somewhere else.'" Bradley's request was denied, but the Eagles did the next closest thing. "We just kind of got on the bus like a road game and drove up to Snoqualmie Falls and back," head coach Chris Bennett said. Upon return, Issaquah hit the locker room and went out for its pre-game activities — just like they would on any road trip. "I think that 20 or 30 minutes of alone time really helps us," Bradley said. After defeating Kentwood, 31-28, Bennett said there are no plans for change when the Eagles host Bothell at 7 p.m., Saturday in a state quarterfinal matchup. "Pyschologically, whatever it takes," he said. "That's 90 percent of the battle."

Contact Issaquah Reporter Assistant editor Kevin Endejan at kendejan@issaquah-reporter.com or 425-391-0363, ext. 5054.

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