Moses Lake opens CBBN play with rout of Davis

MOSES LAKE — First, Lerenz Thomas took a pitch 26 yards for a first-quarter rushing touchdown. Next, on defense, Thomas ripped the ball away from Davis running back Dimitri Rodriguez and went 34 yards in the opposite direction for another touchdown. Finally, Thomas returned a punt for a touchdown in the third quarter to enact a running clock.

Not bad for a sophomore.

“I liked all of them,” Thomas replied when asked to choose a favorite.

Thomas scored in all three phases, Dominic Signorelli tossed three touchdown passes in the first half and Moses Lake won its Columbia Basin Big Nine opener with its best scoring output in recent memory, 63-23.

“Things happened to work great for us,” head coach Todd Griffith said. “We started off well. Both halves our first drive was a touchdown so that always makes you feel good.”

Moses Lake didn’t have to travel far for its first touchdown of the game.

After a Davis three-and-out, Thomas returned the ensuing punt to the opposition’s eight yard line. Signorelli found Mason Campos for the first of his three first-half passing touchdowns two plays later. On the Pirates’ next drive, Moses Lake defensive lineman Carson Evans chased down quarterback Angel Amenzola to force a fumble, which turned into Thomas’ rushing touchdown. Rodney Fuchs returned from injury to score on a 2-yard plunge and Thomas added his defensive touchdown.

Just like that, it was 28-0 at the end of one quarter.

“It gives us some confidence, for sure,” Griffith said. “Coming in after those first two games we kind of got beat up a little bit and then we got a reprieve last week and played better. Really today the offensive line played really good.”

Signorelli utilized his full complement of receivers with the added protection, totaling 126 yards through the air on eight completions. In addition to Campos, Dalenh Anderson and Ricardo Santillan caught touchdown passes in the first half.

Moses Garza, Campos and Fuchs provided an effective rushing attack. Garza racked up 169 yards and a touchdown. Fuchs added a workmanlike 27 yards on seven carries and Campos provided 54 rushing yards to go along with his touchdown reception.

Led by Signorelli, Moses Lake’s offense has found its groove the last two weeks.

“He’s a really good quarterback,” Griffith said. “Sometimes he tries a little hard, but when he settled down and just running the offense he’s super.”

ML — 28 14 14 7 63

D — 0 15 8 0 23

ML — Mason Campos 5 pass from Dominic Signorelli (kick good)

ML — Lerenz Thomas 27 run (kick good)

ML — Rodney Fuchs 2 run (kick good)

ML — Thomas 33 fumble return (kick good)

ML — Dalenh Anderson 11 pass from Signorelli (kick good)

ML — Ricardo Santillan 12 from Signorelli (kick good)

Dav — Miguel Ceja 41 pass from Angel Amezola (pass good)

Dav — Tyler Girard 60 pass from Amezola (pass good)

ML — Moses Garza 5 run (kick good)

ML — Thomas 71 punt return (kick good)

Dav — Ceja 54 pass from Amezola (pass good)

ML — Everett Ashley 2 run (kick good)

Other Basin scores

Ellensburg 47, Ephrata 20

Warden 41, River View 8

Connell 42, Wahluke 3

Royal 56, Okanogan 17

Soap Lake 40, Mary Walker 28

ACH 79, Yakama Tribal 24

LRS 20, Columbia 6