Fuchs scores 3 TDs, Moses Lake pulls away from Eisenhower

MOSES LAKE — Sometimes a team needs a break to collect itself.

Moses Lake overcame a penalty-riddled and turnover-filled second quarter, morphing a one-point halftime lead into a 29-point win against Eisenhower 42-13.

“The coaches came in and told us what we were doing — what we needed to do — to get past that,” wide receiver Kyler Haneberg said. “Get past all the picks and the fumbles and everything and their game plan really worked for us in the second half.

“It was mostly run, run, run, run, run — doesn’t hurt. And then once they started biting on the run, pulled it out and threw the pass and everything just worked out the way we wanted to in the second half.”

That run-first approach was spearheaded by quarterback Dominic Signorelli and back Rodney Fuchs.

After leading rusher Brandon Swett left the game with a leg injury, Moses Lake turned to the read option and power run game.

Fuchs tripled his season total of touchdowns, scoring three times in a span of about 10 minutes.

Fuchs capped Moses Lake’s opening drive of the second half with a four-yard score. Later in the period, Fuchs rumbled in from seven yards out and, at the start of the fourth quarter, dragged multiple defenders in for a three-yard touchdown to complete the trifecta.

“He does a good job and we think Mason (Campos) can run for us, too,” head coach Todd Griffith said. “We figure we’ve got three good backs. Hopefully Brandon’s going to be alright and he’ll be back next week, but if not then we’ve got some other guys that can play, too.”

The success of the second half appeared briefly in the first.

Moses Lake chewed up over six minutes of game time on its first drive, which ended in a 15-yard touchdown strike from Signorelli to Brandon Griffith on third-and-15.

However, things began to unravel in the second quarter.

A double pass that ended in a 73-yard touchdown to Haneberg was wiped away due to an illegal formation penalty.

Next, a short punt and pass interference penalty preceded a 26-yard connection from Drew Kornegay to Drew Reyes and three-yard touchdown reception by Tony Barajas, drawing the Cadets within one point.

Eisenhower was in business again after Moses Lake fumbled the snap on the first play of its ensuing drive.

But the threat was ended when Reyes stumbled on a comeback route and Josh Williams stepped in front for an interception. Williams returned the pick for a touchdown, but the points were erased after a block in the back.

Signorelli got the touchdown back, finding Haneberg crossing the back of the end zone for his second scoring strike.

Haneberg entered the game as the Columbia Basin Big Nine’s leading receiver. After 6-foot-3 senior Gio Walker broke his foot in the second game of the season, Haneberg has become the go-to target in the Chiefs’ aerial attack.

“It’s been difficult in the beginning, getting used to going in every time,” Haneberg said. “Usually I’m the guy that comes out, but now I’ve got to get used to staying in the whole time and it’s sad to see a guy like Gio go down with all that talent and the size.

“He’s definitely missed, but I feel like the coaches have really helped me physically and mentally to get ready and stay in the game and prepare myself for not coming out.”

Moses Lake attempted the double pass again before halftime, but Brandon Griffith was intercepted by Barajas with 42 seconds left. Kornegay found a wide open Reyes to make the score 14-13 just before intermission.

“We’ve just got to be more consistent and play harder and not make those little mistakes like we were making. It’s just frustrating,” Todd Griffith said. “I don’t know what the penalty yardage was, but I bet we’re in the 150-plus ... We’ve just got to focus a little harder — that’s what it is. You’re not going to beat good teams if you’re making those kind of mistakes.”

Score by quarters

ML — 7 7 14 14 42

E — 0 13 0 0 13

Scoring

ML — Griffith 15 pass from Signorelli (Skeesick kick)

E — Barajas 3 pass from Kornegay (PAT blocked)

ML — Haneberg 11 pass from Griffith (Skeesick kick)

E — Reyes 25 pass from Kornegay (Kick good)

ML — Fuchs 4 run (Skeesick kick)

ML — Fuchs 7 run (Skeesick kick)

ML — Fuchs 3 run (Skeesick kick)

ML — Mason Campos 2 run (Skeesick kick)

Quincy 35, Wapato 15

WAPATO — Quincy outscored Wapato 21-8 in the second half to win 35-15.

The Jacks held a 14-7 advantage at halftime.

Warden 35, College Place 0

WARDEN — Warden ground College Place down with 316 rushing yards and won 35-0.

Kevin Garcia was the workhorse back, totaling 21 carries for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Tito Rodriguez recorded 48 yards on the ground and also scored a touchdown. Holden Haworth added 74 yards.

Defensively, Garcia also had an interception and Tucker Roden led the Cougars with six total tackles.

Royal 69, Wahluke 0

ROYAL CITY — Royal led 56-0 at halftime and routed Wahluke 69-0.

Sawyer Jenks completed nine passes, five went for touchdowns.

Corbin Christensen caught two touchdown passes in the first quarter, finishing with three touchdowns and 79 receiving yards. Lorenzo Myrick had 57 total yards and two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving.

Wahluke managed just 67 yards of total offense. Rock Foristiere rushed for 33 yards.

Liberty 24, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague 8

SPANGLE — Lind-Ritzville/Sprague was shut out for the first three quarters and lost to Liberty 24-8.

Conrad Ziemer broke off a 55-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the Broncos’ lone touchdown.

Jawuan Nave led Liberty led Liberty with 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Brewster 42, Soap Lake 13

SOAP LAKE — Brewster outscored Soap Lake 28-0 in the second and third quarter to pull away and win 42-13.

Both teams were tied 7-7 after one quarter.

Soap Lake’s defense was unable to corral Ernie Nanamkin. The junior running back had 25 carries for 232 yards and three touchdowns.

Austin Herrera led Soap Lake with 104 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Almira/Coulee-Hartline 50, Pateros 14

COULEE CITY — Almira/Coulee-Hartline racked up 42 first-quarter points to beat Pateros 50-14.

Maguire Isaak totaled four touchdowns for the Warriors, who scored all 50 points in the first half.

Parker Zappone had a 22-yard rushing touchdown and caught a 24-yard touchdown.

ACH scored the game’s first six touchdowns before Pateros was able to run a kickoff back 70 yards to get on the board.