Moses Lake plays field position game to perfection
Chiefs 14, Falcons 7
RICHLAND - Special teams are usually the most overlooked aspect of a football game.
Moses Lake head coach Greg Kittrell wasn't about to gloss over its impact on the Chiefs' 14-7 victory over Hanford last Friday.
"As a group, those guys played really well," Kittrell said, noting that special teamers Matt Harris and Jacob Newton were given game balls.
The Chiefs' kickoff coverage unit made the first big play of the night on the opening kick. Harris pooched it - unintentionally - and the Falcons' return man dropped it, allowing Moses Lake's Jarred Walker to recover in Hanford's end.
"It was a huge play," Kittrell said. "It gave us great field position right out of the gate."
Junior quarterback Josh Loera immediately made the Falcons pay, scoring on a 5-yard run. Loera, making his second career start, finished with 73 yards on 16 carries and completed 13 of 19 throws for 154 yards.
Moses Lake's only other score of the evening came in the second quarter, when Loera hooked up with senior Ryan Coulston for a 34-yard play. Coulston has been the Chiefs' big play receiver through two games, scoring twice on 13 receptions. He caught eight for 108 yards against Hanford.
While Kittrell credited the Falcons' defensive scheme, he didn't let his team off the hook for missing opportunities to put the game away.
"We weren't executing enough. At times, we made them look better than what they were," Kittrell said. "We'd drive the ball like crazy, then get penalized and shoot ourselves in the foot. It was one of those nights where we were just struggling."
Moses Lake had 288 yards of total offense, but was penalized seven times for 62 yards.
The offense might have missed chances for more points, but the defense and special teams weren't about to cough up the lead. Solid punting kept Hanford backed up all game, and the Chiefs' defense took advantage. Kittrell cited lineman Cameron Dewitt, linebackers Tyler Harman and Taylor Stout, and defensive backs Walker and Randy Koon for especially good games.
Still, the Falcons made it interesting in the final quarter, drawing within a score when Kyle Wagar got behind the secondary for a 65-yard pass play from James Rogers.
"It was a blown coverage that gave them the score, and that's going to happen occasionally," Kittrell explained. "I thought coach (Todd) Griffith and his staff called a great game."
Hanford had the ball at midfield in the final minute, but Stout picked off a Rogers pass to seal the deal, Hanford's third turnover of the night.
At 2-0 in non-league play, the Chiefs open Columbia Basin League action this Friday in one of the toughest possible ways. They'll travel to Pasco to face a Bulldogs' squad still smarting from a 24-0 defeat to Kamiakin. In Kittrell's mind, that makes Pasco a more dangerous opponent.
"They're very aggressive and want to prove they're not down on their luck," he said. "If we get both teams to bring their 'A' game…we should have one heck of a ball game."