First, Jesse Leuenberger cracked home a 25-yard shot into the lower left corner of the goal in the 56th minute.

Then, Nathan Sim volleyed the ball into the net off an assist from Sajan Nauriyal at the 61-minute mark.

Those Bear Creek goals gave the Grizzly boys a 2-0 victory over Grace Academy and a 1B/2B state title on Saturday at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner. It is Bear Creek’s first boys state championship since 2006.

“Saturday was a good day,” senior defender Alex Davisson said with a laugh. “It was exciting — a feeling of brotherhood with the guys I was sharing (the title) with.”

Added senior defender Stan Leszynski: “We came really close sophomore year (fourth place) — we got a taste of it. I feel the hard work we’ve accumulated over the years paid off. It’s great to be part of such an elite group of guys.”

Both all-state first-team members noted that team unity, talent and selflessness are what put Bear Creek over the top this year. Players not only scored goals, but they were equally as committed to setting up their teammates to hit the back of the net, Leszynski said.

Bear Creek (21-2-0) outshot Grace Academy, 17-1, in the final and Grizzly goalkeeper Blake Denniston earned the shutout. The Grizzlies’ “lockdown defense,” as described by coach Chad Pohlman, had 16 shutouts this season and the offense outscored its opponents, 87-7.

The locals’ only two losses came at the hands of Grace Academy; both of those matches ended in 0-0 draws and were decided in penalty kick shootouts.

“We wanted it badly. We knew there was some justice — payback had to happen,” Pohlman said of beating Grace Academy. “We had to control everything and not let the third one get by us.”

According to Davisson, the boys had a ton of adrenaline on their side after what transpired the night before.

Excitement reigned supreme for Bear Creek in the boys semifinal on Friday.

Bear Creek’s Nauriyal scored in the final seconds of stoppage time to punch the Grizzlies’ ticket to the state final with a 2-1 victory over previously undefeated St. George’s. Leuenberger began the scoring sequence by dribbling by two defenders and sending a low and hard pass to Nauriyal, who short-hopped the ball into the net.

Sam Humphries gave the locals a 1-0 lead in the 61st minute after the goalie saved Brandon Saw’s hard shot and the ball careened toward the waiting goal scorer. St. George’s equalized on a penalty kick in the 76th minute.

“It was pandemonium up in the stands. Pandemonium on the sidelines. Pandemonium on the field,” Pohlman said after the victory in a match he knew would be a battle and a true test of his team’s talent.

Added Leszynski: “It was one of the most exciting and difficult games I’ve had to play in my career. They were a great opponent and it came down to the wire.”

But there was still one game left to be played on Saturday. Pohlman felt his team exuded confidence, but also wondered, “How much is left in the tank?” after a hard-fought and emotionally taxing semifinal game.

With no score at halftime against Grace Academy, Davisson said that senior Luke Blankenbeckler gave an inspirational speech.

“He told us to step it up and go out and take it to ‘em — and that’s what we did,” Davisson said.