Moses Lake clinches share of CBBN title, state berth with 38-0 win over Wenatchee
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake receiver Kyler Haneberg pulls down a long pass over Wenatchee defensive back Tony Esquivel Friday at Lions Field.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Action from Friday’s game between Moses Lake and Wenatchee at Lions Field. Moses Lake won 38-0.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake running back breaks a tackle on his way to a touchdown against Wenatchee Friday at Lions Field.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Action from Moses Lake against Wenatchee Friday at Lions Field. Moses Lake won 38-0.
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake took care of rival Wenatchee — and received a little help from Eisenhower — to clinch at least a share of the Columbia Basin Big Nine league championship and a state tournament berth.
Moses Lake (5-0, 5-3) created four takeaways and routed Wenatchee for the second straight season 38-0. The state tournament berth wouldn't come until after the game, when news of Eisenhower's 28-21 overtime win against West Valley surfaced.
Despite the fortunate outcome, focus on an outright league title didn't wane.
“We're ready for next week,” defensive lineman Chandler Fluaitt said. “That's the first thing on our mind is next week and West Valley then from there, if we win that, then it's time to celebrate. But until then it's all work.”
Playing with backup quarterback Austin Blakney, Wenatchee's offense mustered no real threat. A fourth down fumbled snap on Wenatchee's first series set Moses Lake up inside the red zone.
Brandon Griffith capped the Chiefs' abbreviated drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown.
Although Griffith moved the ball with his feet some, it was his arm that wowed the crowd. A 40-yard bomb to Kyler Haneberg down to the one yard line set up the first of three Draven Nevarez touchdowns.
After Jon Ochoa intercepted Blakney, Griffith completed a 42-yard pass to Haneberg and a 19-yard pass to Gio Walker. Once again, the drive was capped by Nevarez who shrugged off a face-mask penalty to rumble eight yards into the end zone.
“He (Griffith) likes to throw the deeper ball a lot, which is OK as long as we catch them,” head coach Todd Griffith said. “Sometimes it comes back and bites us... Brandon's got an arm. He can throw.”
Nevarez's third touchdown sent Moses Lake into halftime with a 28-0 lead.
Penalties and lack of execution in the second half prevented the Chiefs from completely putting away the Panthers. A safety by Fluaitt was negated by a face-mask penalty and a fumble return for a touchdown by Josh Williams was wiped away due to a block in the back.
“We've got to play better every week from here on out,” Griffith said. “And that was a great first half. I thought we played good.”
David Hersch provided the exclamation point on a tremendous defensive effort with a 10-yard scoop and score after Wenatchee receiver Tony Esquivel was stripped. Esquivel entered the game second in all-purpose yards, but was corralled by a wall of maroon for the entirety of the evening.
“Defense was lights out tonight,” Fluaitt said. “We were running to the ball, forcing turnovers, making good plays. All-around we were just out-hustling them and that's really what just did it, is the out-work and how much more we just wanted it.”
Score by quarters
Moses Lake: 7 21 7 3 — 38
Wenatchee: 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring summary
ML - Brandon Griffith 2-yard run (PAT good)
ML - Draven Nevarez 1-yard run (PAT good)
ML - Nevarez 8-yard run (PAT good)
ML - Nevarez 14-yard run (PAT god)
ML - David Hersch 10-yard fumble return (PAT good)
ML - Spencer Skeesick 33-yard field goal
Othello 41, Quincy 7
OTHELLO — Othello moved to 7-0 in the CWAC with a 41-7 win over Quincy.
The Huskies have won seven games in a row after a Week 1 loss to 1A power Connell.
Othello will have a chance to solidify its playoff spot against Prosser at home Oct. 28.
Grandview 33, Ephrata 16
GRANDVIEW — Zac Berryman rushed for 133 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown, but Ephrata fell to Grandview 33-16.
The Greyhounds outscored the Tigers 20-6 after the first quarter.
Maurice Pieto led Grandview with 101 yards on the ground. Ephrata quarterback Chris Walker found Jakob Oxos for a first-quarter touchdown pass.
No. 1 Royal 60, Columbia 13
ROYAL CITY — Kaden Jenks totaled 157 yards and four touchdowns, leading Royal to a blow out of Columbia 60-13.
Danny Cuevas added 133 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
The Knights led 53-6 at halftime.
Kettle Falls 33, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague 12
KETTLE FALLS — Lind-Ritzville/Sprague was stifled on the road and lost to Kettle Falls 33-12.
All 12 of the Broncos' points came in the second quarter. McKay Knowlton led Kettle Falls with 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
For the Broncos, Mason Brausen returned a fumble three yards for a touchdown and Damien Rouleau threw a 35-yard touchdown pass.
No. 2 Almira/Coulee-Hartline 58, Entiat 14
COULEE CITY — Second-ranked Almira/Coulee-Hartline led 44-6 at halftime and routed Entiat 58-14.
Charles Hunt rushed 10 times for 181 yards and three touchdowns. Maguire Isaak threw three touchdowns and scored defensively on a 65-yard interception return.
ACH hosts No. 4 Odessa-Harrington Oct. 28 for the Northeast 1B South league championship.