Colton-Pullman stops Soap Lake

by Miles Douglass<br>Herald Staff Writer
| September 8, 2008 9:00 PM

Colton-Pullman 40; Soap Lake 0

Colton-Pullman 40

Soap Lake 0

SOAP LAKE - The Soap Lake Eagles kicked off the 2008 football season with a non-league match up against the Colton-Pullman Christian Wildcats Friday night at Soap Lake High School.

Fourth-year head coach John Turner and a young Eagles team dropped their season opener 40-0 to a Colton-Pullman team that fielded 11 players in the match up.

The Wildcats played 11 players on the field for the first time since 1987. Colton-Pullman is an eight-man football team.

Turner called the game a learning experience and the Eagles were slow on the field during the first half.

"We were lethargic in the first quarter," Turner said. "We're a whole lot better team than we were Friday night."

Sophomore quarterback Kyler Moats led the Eagles Friday night but threw two interceptions in the contest.

The Wildcats were led by two quarterbacks, freshman Josh Straughan and junior Nate Jacobs. The pair of signal callers combined to complete 13 of their 18 attempts for 197 yards passing in the lopsided contest.

Junior running back Sam Robertson led a balanced Wildcats rushing attack with 189 yards rushing on 29 carries. The Wildcats scored 24 first-half points against a tired Eagles defense.

The Eagles came out in the second half charged up and didn't allow any Wildcat points in the third quarter.

The Wildcats added 16 points in the fourth quarter to take a commanding 40-0 lead. The Wildcats went for 2-point conversions following each of their touchdowns. The Wildcats were unsuccessful in their first two attempts.

Following his team's loss, coach Turner is still convinced the Eagles are still a playoff contending team.

"We're getting back on the right page," he said. "All the kids have to do is knuckle down, put their nose to the grindstone and take care of business."

Soap Lake students, parents and fans filled the stands to support the Eagles and Turner took notice.

"(It's) a great thing that all those kids were there," Turner said.

The Eagles travel to Liberty Bell Friday night in an important league contest.

"In order to get to the playoffs we have to beat Liberty Bell," he said. "It's unfortunate we have to take them on next week rather than after we get things together."