The Bothell High School football team began its playoff run like it finished the regular season – with a blowout win. The Cougars beat Bethel 56-7 at Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell Friday.

And while it took Bothell an entire quarter of play to get rolling, its momentum during the second quarter was unstoppable.

Jackson Keimig scored the first points of the game with a 20-yard touchdown run on Bothell’s first possession but the Cougars missed the extra point.

Bothell found itself in a rare position during the opening moments of the second quarter, as Bethel took the lead with a touchdown and successful extra-point attempt.

But the rest of the game would be all Cougars and Bothell wasted no time taking the lead back. Quarterback Ross Bowers threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to Dayzell Wilson for a 13-7 Bothell advantage.

An interception by Keimig gave the Cougars the ball back and Caleb Meyer scored a touchdown on an ensuing 20-yard running play from scrimmage.

Another Bethel turnover gave Bothell the ball back and Bowers once again found Wilson, this time for a 40-yard touchdown pass.

Meyer finished off the scoring for the Cougars during the first half with a two-yard touchdown run, as Bothell took a 34-7 lead into halftime.

Bothell’s Shawn Munro began the second half like the first half ended, with a two-yard touchdown run for the Cougars, as they extend the lead to 42-7.

A 30-yard touchdown pass from Bowers to Wilson, along with a rushing touchdown during the fourth quarter, finished off the contest’s scoring.

Bothell improves to 10-0 with the victory and moves on to the round of 16 in the State playoffs next weekend.