Sun sets on Ahmed’s prep career with playoff loss to Southridge

The sun has finally set on the prep career of Juanita High standout Salvon Ahmed.

The Rebels lost to Southridge in the district playoffs, 35-29, on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Bergh Field in Kirkland.

The last two seasons were set up to be redemption following three decades of early-round exits or postseason snubs following the program’s consecutive finals appearances from 1984-86. Instead, it’s Southridge Suns who move on to play Lakes High in the first round of the state playoffs after dashing the Rebels’ posteason run before it really began.

Juanita coach Lele Teo struggled to find emotional footing as he looked over his team. Finally, after several long moments of tearful silence, Teo fell back on the program’s motto — accountability, family, integrity — for a few words of comfort.

Ahmed will go down as one of the greatest players in Juanita football history, and the All-American running back will sail across Lake Washington to begin a college career with the Huskies next fall. But on Saturday, Ahmed’s focus was at Bergh Field and the tears of his teammates.

“Definitely not what I envisioned,” Ahmed said. “You always want to think of the best for your team and want to go as far as you can, and we stopped sooner than we wanted.”

Ahmed finished the year with 13 touchdowns and more than 1,200 rushing yards despite missing three games with a broken hand. The Rebels lost starting quarterback Dexter Mell for the year in week two, and had a lot of inexperience on the line.

Still, it translated to a KingCo 3A title and a chance to put regular-season wrongs to right.

“It’s a shock just because it hurts,” Teo said. “It’s been a crazy season and things have happened here and there, but our kids continue to battle through adversity and continue to battle through things that aren’t necessarily the right stuff.”

The Rebels held a 29-22 lead early in the fourth quarter, having fought back from a 14-6 deficit. Southridge senior Zayid Al-Ghani put on a fourth-quarter show and scored two touchdowns, including the game-winning score with 1:38 remaining.

Al-Ghani rushed for 190 yards in the second half alone, and finished with 243 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

Ahmed rushed for 161 yards and scored on a 45-yard breakaway early in the third quarter.

Juanita took a lead on the first play of the fourth quarter following a 44-yard pass play from quarterback JD Worcester to Jake Languin. Junior Andrez Trahan scored his third touchdown of the evening, and Dean Sise rushed for the conversion.

“It hurts, but all we can do is stick together and say we left all we had out on the field,” said Sise, who has committed to play for the U.S. Naval Academy. “The culture is a family, and we can keep on making a difference in the community and around the school.”

Sise credited Teo’s leadership with teaching the players to become better men and better community members, but Teo admitted the ‘family’ aspect of the program would never really be the same.

“The only thing that erases the pain of this thing is time,” Teo said. “It stings because we won’t have each other. We’re not together anymore. Our seniors aren’t together and they’re on with life. The relationship just changes.”

For Ahmed, who committed to the University of Washington earlier this season surrounded by family, the connection with the Kirkland community won’t die.

“We had a great ride and an awesome senior year,” Ahmed said. “I’m glad to be staying home. This is where I love — these are the guys that I want at my games and I can’t wait to have them there.”

SUMMARY

Southridge 35, Juanita 29

at Bergh Field, Kirkland

S 7 7 8 13 — 35

J 6 0 15 8 — 29

SCORING

First quarter

J — Andrez Trahan 5 run (kick missed), 6:12

S — Corey Bibe 53 interception return (Hunter Spiva kick), 2:48

Second quarter

S — Zayid Al-Ghani 13 run (Spiva kick), 4:47

Third quarter