Moses Lake escapes Ferris

SPOKANE — It was a rough day at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane where the Chiefs took on the Ferris Saxons and held them off for a 14-13 win.

"I felt like it was a strong showing for the whole game really," said Moses Lake head coach Greg Kittrell. "I think we showed a great deal of character in the fourth quarter. It's a situation you just have to deal with when it comes."

With just under five minutes left in the game Ferris scored their first touchdown of the day and then set up for an onside kick. The Moses Lake fans held a collective breath as Ferris kickoff and then recovered their own kickoff.

Despite a solid effort from the Moses Lake defensive unit, Ferris managed a touchdown pass to make it 14-13. With the game on the line, the Saxons went for a 2-point conversion but were met by Moses Lake's Ryan Carpenter who stopped the Ferris runner just short of the goal line.

After running some time off the clock, Moses Lake lost the football on a miscommunication during the punt snap and gave Ferris one more chance at the win. Luck was with the Chiefs who saw the Ferris field goal attempt go wide left to end the game.

"Tactically, I may have done it a little differently but you only have 25 seconds to make a decision," Kittrell said.

In the early going, it took the Chiefs half of the first quarter before they were able to score on a (41) yard touchdown pass from Ben Waites to Josh Loera. Loera reached up, and over, his defender to make the catch and hit the end zone turf to give Moses Lake the 6-0 lead. Mick Aney finished off the scoring drive with a point-after. The drive began with an interception by Carpenter.

"On offense I think sometimes we weren't on the same page and it held us back," said Kittrell.

The Chiefs' defense began the second quarter with a crucial stop that began when Ferris took the field at their own 29-yard line to try to retaliate for the Moses Lake touchdown.

On first-and-goal from the Moses Lake 6-yard line, Ferris began to creep nearer to the end zone but three consecutive plays by Jordan Yettick kept the Saxons from breaking the plane. The last of those efforts was from the Moses Lake 1-yard line.

"Goal line stands are huge because they really deflate the other team," said Kittrell. "We made some big plays on defense and in the playoffs that's what you have to do."

Both teams punted away the rest of the half.

With rain coming down in the second half both teams took the third quarter to duke it out on defense. The only drive approaching a scoring opportunity came late, when Moses Lake lined up for a field goal but was not able to earn it.

Ferris began the fourth quarter punting away on fourth-and-five from the 50-yard line. Moses Lake took over and benefited from encroachment and late hit penalties against Ferris. Marching downfield on carries by Aaron Wafer and Mike Wentworth. On second-and-goal from the Saxons' 1-yard line Waites took the ball in to put Moses Lake up 14-0.

Moses Lake plays Gonzaga Prep this coming weekend. The game date and time have yet to be determined.

"They are a ground-oriented team, more so than us," Kittrell said. "It should be quite a game. They are as yet undefeated and the number one team in the state right now."