Homecoming win

MOSES LAKE — A slow start in the first quarter was quickly shaken off by the Moses Lake Mavericks on Friday night, who improved to 6-0 after a 59-14 win over Davis.

“We feel good,” Moses Lake coach Brett Jay said. “It’s two games in a row we’ve had a slow first half, so that gets to us a little bit, but we went back to our fundamentals and that helped us have a solid second half. We’re seeing some different looks each week, which is interesting (because it’s different) than what we’ve seen on tape, so we’re just going to keep taking what they give us. I’m proud of the way we finished tonight.”

Sophomore quarterback Brady Jay threw an interception on Moses Lake’s opening drive, which the Pirates returned deep into Maverick territory and later scored the game’s first touchdown on a 13-yard run by quarterback Jason Chavez.

“As much as we throw it, it’s going to happen,” Brett Jay said. “It’s not his first pick, it’s not going to be his last. We just try to preach ‘Next rep, play the next play.’ We’re all going to make mistakes, and the quicker we can get to the next play the better we’re all going to be.”

It didn't take long for the Mavericks to answer, scoring on a 10-yard touchdown reception by senior receiver Joel Middleton, his first of three touchdown catches Friday night. Moses Lake took an 8-7 lead after a two-point conversion run by senior Kyson Thomas, a lead they held on to for the rest of the night.

Middleton scored again, this time from 25 yards out, on the next Maverick drive, which put Moses Lake up 16-7 at the end of the first quarter. After a short Pirate punt, junior running back Tommy Ransom Jr. had runs of 32, 17 and eight yards that set up Middleton for his third touchdown catch of the night. The touchdown put Moses Lake up 24-7 midway through the second quarter.

“That’s what I was going for, I’m trying to get three every game,” Middleton said.

Davis was able to answer with another touchdown on its ensuing drive, with Chavez scampering in from 14 yards out to put the Pirates within 10 with 3:18 remaining in the half. The drive was surged by powerful runs by Davis running backs, breaking tackles by the Maverick defense.

“The main thing we’re taking away is we need to start off better,” Moses Lake senior defensive lineman Hunter Blackman said. “That was rough at the beginning.”

Moses Lake was able to respond with another touchdown before halftime, with Brady Jay finding Thomas for a 25-yard touchdown to put the Mavs up 31-14 at the break.

Another Maverick touchdown, a 19-yard reception by senior tight end Keston Roylance, put Moses Lake up 38-14 to begin the second half. Moses Lake’s defense came out firing on the Pirates’ first drive of the third quarter, a trend that continued through the remainder of Friday’s win.

“Tackle to tackle, they were doing some things to us there (in the first half),” Brett Jay said. “We made some adjustments, one of them was a personnel change, and we started playing as a unit. When we play together, 11 guys, we’re pretty good.”

Thomas, Ransom Jr. and senior Jonah Robertson scored on the Maverick’s final three drives of the game, giving Moses Lake its 59-14 win to improve to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big 9. While the passing offense had another successful night with Brady Jay throwing six touchdowns, the Moses Lake run game was also able to rip off some big runs in Friday’s win.

Having a successful run game opens up more opportunities in the passing game, the sophomore quarterback said.

“It brings more people in the box, and less people in the open field guarding us,” Brady Jay said. “It creates more one-on-ones.”

Moses Lake’s special teams were active once again on Friday night, converting on all four of its two-point conversion attempts. After reaching the end zone, Moses Lake typically lined up in a swinging gate formation with sophomore Grant Smith as the long snapper, Thomas holding the snap and Brady Jay behind Thomas.

“Our whole mentality is aggressive – how aggressive can we be in every facet,” Brett Jay said. “We want to make teams for everything. Our goal is to score points on special teams, our goal is to force takeaways on special teams, so how can we do it? It’s just our mentality as a program.”

The Mavs return to the field on Friday, traveling to Sunnyside. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

“We’re just going to stay focused,” Brady Jay said. “Watch film, prepare for Sunnyside.”

Box score

Mavs: 16-15-14-14: 59

Pirates: 7-7-0-0: 14