Moses Lake cages Bulldogs

KENNEWICK — Moses Lake found themselves in an early hole for the second straight week Friday night, but for the second straight week Todd Griffith’s Chiefs dominated the second half to wrap up a Columbia Basin Big Nine Conference Columbia Division victory.

MOSES LAKE — Pasco rolled onto the Lions Field turf in Moses Lake looking to bounce back from last week’s 28-22 loss to Wenatchee, but the Chiefs had different plans for their Columbia Basin Big Nine Conference rival.

The Bulldogs jumped on the Chiefs on the first play from scrimmage, scoring on an 80-yard touchdown run and Pasco led 13-0 early in the second half following a touchdown run from Brandon Search.

While Pasco scored the first 13 points of Friday night’s contest, Moses Lake would score the next 37 and the Chiefs cruised to their first conference victory of the season with a 37-13 victory.

Moses Lake head coach Todd Griffith said his team battled back following the early deficit.

“The game didn’t start out like we expected, but it ended like we had hoped,” he said. “Being down 13-0 and coming back from that deficit right away shows a lot of character. They are a good football team.”

Moses Lake senior quarterback Dylan Signorelli was a jack of all trades Friday night, throwing a pair of touchdown passes, running for a score and kicking a 31-yard field goal to help lift the Chiefs to the victory.

After Pasco took the 13-0 lead in the second quarter, Moses Lake exploded onto the scoreboard with 37 unanswered points, including 17 to close out the half as the Chiefs led 17-13 heading into the break.

Moses Lake’s first score came when Signorelli connected with senior wide receiver Jordan Wilks for a 62-yard touchdown pass and the Chiefs pulled within a score of Pasco at 13-7.

The Chiefs continued to capitalize on big plays Friday night when junior linebacker Brian Chamberlain gave Moses Lake the lead on a 56-yard touchdown on an interception return, Griffith said. 

“(Chamberlain’s) job was to drop back and cover the third receiver,” he said. “The kid made a play earlier and I think (Chamberlain) remembered that and when he dropped back, he happened to get underneath it.”

Chamberlain’s score gave the Chiefs a 14-13 lead, a lead Moses Lake would never relinquish.

Moses Lake took the 14-13 lead over Pasco late into the first half and with the clock winding down on the second quarter, Signorelli kicked a successful field goal from 31 yards out and the Chiefs led 17-13 heading into the half.

Moses Lake added to their lead with a one-yard touchdown run from Fabian Camacho and Moses Lake led 24-13 heading into the fourth quarter.

Signorelli opened the fourth with a two yard touchdown run to give Moses Lake a commanding 30-13 lead over Pasco.

With the game out of reach late in the contest, Signorelli put Pasco away with a 50-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Mitch Hill and Moses Lake wrapped up the 37-13 conference victory at home.

While Moses Lake’s offense capitalized on big plays to drive the Chiefs to victory, Moses Lake’s defense terrorized Pasco. The Chiefs defensive line pressured Pasco quarterback Josh Morris all night while the Moses Lake secondary intercepted three passes.

Moses Lake seemed to cause turnovers at will Friday night. In addition to three interceptions, Moses Lake forced a trio of Pasco fumbles, recovering two of them to force five Bulldogs turnovers and Moses Lake held Pasco to just nine first downs.

Signorelli finished the night 20-for-34 passing for 350 yards and two touchdowns.

Griffith said Signorelli is a talented football player.

“The kid is an absolute competitor and he is a tough kid, too,” Griffith said of his senior quarterback. “He competes as well as anybody we have had at that position.”

Hill led Moses Lake in receiving, pulling down 12 passes for 182 yards while Wilks finished with one catch for 62 yards and a score. Senior Randy Koon had three catches for 56 yards.

Moses Lake improved to 1-1 in Big Nine play with the win and Griffith said he was impressed how his team responded following a 27-7 loss to Southridge in their conference opener Sept. 18.

“The worst thing about losing last week is that we knew we could have beat them,” he said. “I told the guys we are on our way, but it is a journey. Like the old cliche goes, we have to take it one week at a time.”

Moses Lake travels to Kennewick Friday night to take on the Lions at 7:30 p.m. in Kennewick, Wash.