TACOMA — The Burlington-Edison football team has faced plenty of challenges, from last year’s bruising championship game against Prosser to this year’s minefield of a schedule in the competitive Northwest Conference.

On Friday, the Tigers showed how much they learned from those challenges.

Cole Sager scored four touchdowns and the Tigers turned in a fierce defensive performance in the second half Friday to come back from a two-touchdown halftime deficit and beat Steilacoom 38-21 in the first round of the state Class 2A playoffs.

Sager had touchdown runs of 1, 2 and 2 yards and a 13-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Dylan Boe, Stetson Shearer added an 8-yard touchdown run and the Tigers held the dangerous Sentinels scoreless in the second half on their way to the victory.

“This is one of the greatest wins I’ve ever been involved with,” Burlington-Edison coach Bruce Shearer said. “They willed this win.”

The game started off tough for the Tigers, with Steilacoom quarterback Greg Herd, a Division I-level prospect who is reportedly being eyed by Washington State University, scampering 64 yards for a touchdown on his first carry.

The Sentinels, who were undefeated at 10-0 coming into the game, stretched the lead to 14-0 after a 16-yard run from Kris Ortiz, one of the team’s many weapons.

Sager cut into the lead with a 1-yard touchdown run — and helped fuel the drive with a 28-yard run — but Burlington-Edison still went into halftime behind 21-7 after Steilacoom’s Phil Puccino hauled in a touchdown pass on a halfback option pass from Jesse Newhouse.

It could have been a pessimistic halftime break for the Tigers, but it wasn’t.

“We went to the locker room, and I’ve never seen my teammates get so serious,” Sager said. “There was so much heart in there, it was amazing.”

Bruce Shearer said, “I didn’t say much. The seniors did it all.”

The Tigers responded by pitching a second-half shutout on defense.

On offense, they pulled within seven with a shovel pass from Boe to Sager; tied the game with a 2-yard run from Sager; and took the lead on Shearer’s run in the fourth quarter.

Andrew Furney added a 34-yard field goal and Sager tacked on a 2-yard run late.

Sager ended the game with 162 yards on 16 carries and an interception on defense. Shearer chipped in with 66 yards on 15 carries, and linebacker Jacob Bates added an interception.

Troy O’Neill scooped up a Steilacoom fumble for the Tigers as well.

Bruce Shearer said he was proud of the entire team, from the veterans to the less experienced players such as Boe, a sophomore with limited experience behind center.

“Dylan Boe showed his maturity tonight,” he said.

Bruce Shearer said he wasn’t surprised by the comeback.

“I never thought they wouldn’t win,” he said. “They just figured out how to do it.”

Herd ended up with 14 carries for 121 yards for the Sentinels. He also had a 66-yard kickoff return stopped short of a touchdown when Furney tripped up the elusive threat before he broke free.

Burlington-Edison will face the winner of today’s game between Pullman and Tumwater on the road next Saturday.

• Trevor Pyle can be reached at 360-416-2156 or by e-mail at