After a strong first half that saw Mercer Island leading the six-time defending 3A state champion Bellevue Wolverines on two separate occasions, Bellevue used three third-quarter touchdowns to pull away from the Islanders 42-21 Friday, Sept. 19 at Bellevue High School.

Few would’ve expected a contest deadlocked 21-21 at halftime, but the Islanders had the Wolverines on their heels at times in the first half of Friday’s matchup.

Bellevue running back Yofiel Wyle gave the Wolverines their first lead with a five-yard touchdown run, his first of four rushing touchdowns of the night. Alfonso Gonzalez responded for Mercer Island with a 77-yard touchdown pass to Jack Counihan to tie the game 7-7 in the first quarter. The Islanders took the lead in the second after Gonzalez found Steven Duchaine in the end zone with an 11-yard touchdown pass. After the Wolverines responded with a 15-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Gilchrist, a one-yard touchdown run by Gonzalez gave Mercer Island a 21-14 lead with just over four minutes left in the half. The Wolverines evened the score with another rushing touchdown from Wyle from two yards out just before the half.

But the Wolverines held the Islanders scoreless in the second half.

Bellevue scored the go-ahead touchdown after an unsuccessful onside kick by Mercer Island to open the second half, with Ercle Terrell running it in from 20 yards out.

The Wolverines extended their lead after recovering a fumble on the Islanders’ ensuing possession inside Mercer Island’s own 5-yard line. Yofiel Wyle extended Bellevue’s lead with a four-yard touchdown run to give the Wolverines a two-touchdown advantage. Wyle scored his second touchdown of the quarter on Bellevue’s next possesion, running it in from two yards out for the game’s final score.

Gonzalez finished the night throwing for 308 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while also rushing for a touchdown. Jack Counihan had six receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Mercer Island will take on Juanita at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26 at Islander Stadium. The Rebels are 3-0 this season and are coming off a 45-19 win over Lake Washington.