Mavericks take command of Big 9 race with 40-20 win over Eastmont

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (7-1) essentially locked up the Big 9 league title with a 40-20 win over the Eastmont Wildcats on Friday. After a postgame Gatorade bath, Head Coach Kyler Haneberg praised his team for finding a way to win.

 "I was cold a minute ago, but now I'm feeling a lot warmer now that the victory is setting in a little bit," he said. "Feeling good, feeling proud of my guys, love them all to death. They make my job the easiest job in the world when they go out there and do their job, and I just got to call the plays for them. They're just going to go out there and do it."  

Through three quarters, this looked like a battle among the top two teams in the league, as each team traded shots throughout. Moses Lake scored a last second touchdown to close the first half to give themselves a 14-6 lead.  

However, Eastmont came out swinging in the third quarter to tie it 14-14. Despite the Wildcats' defensive adjustments, Nolan Decubber, Elijah Burns, John Rainey, Petrah Mackenzie, Taggart Rathbun and Case Anderson strung together a dominant 20-0 fourth quarter to seal the win.  

"We got some turnovers, and then we got some dudes that went out there and made some plays," Haneberg said. "We slowly wore them down here and there, and then finally were able to pop a couple (big plays). That's the difference, was sticking to our run game a little bit when we knew that was our strength coming in, and then eventually wearing them down to where we can get the big chunks." 

The Mavericks leaned on the run game early, utilizing Burns to move the ball downfield on their opening drive. Their effective running allowed Moses Lake to call a shot play which Decubber capitalized on as he found Anderson over the middle for a deep touchdown pass, putting them on the scoreboard.  

Wildcats offense moved the ball well throughout the first half, but it took until the second quarter to get on the board off a deep pass play over the middle converted into a 55-yard touchdown. After a missed extra point, the game stood at 7-6 for most of the remaining first half. The two teams traded drives before Rainey recorded an interception with under two minutes to go.  

Moses Lake continued to put the ball in Decubber's and Burns' hands as they moved downfield into the redzone. With about two seconds left in the half, Decubber scrambled around in the pocket until he found an open Anderson in the endzone, allowing the Mavericks to extend the lead to 14-6 at halftime.  

The Wildcats showed their adjustments early, finding a wide-open receiver along the left sideline for another long touchdown pass, which allowed them to tie the game 14-14. From there, the Mavericks defense imposed their will on the Wildcats, holding them scoreless the rest of the way.  

Meanwhile, MLHS remained committed to the run game despite the Wildcats' adjustments, slowing their production briefly in the third quarter. Now rotating in players like Rainey and Mackenzie alongside Burns, it didn't take long for the run game to return to form. After a touchdown catch by Rathbun helped Moses Lake regain the lead in the third, it was the running backs who put the finishing touches on the win with 20 points in the fourth quarter.  

Though the Wildcats seemed to be slowing down the run game throughout the second half, Haneberg's confidence in that part of his offense never led him to look elsewhere for offensive production.  

"Now we've got, I think, a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time in years, and so that definitely helps," said the coach. "Then having the five seniors up front, we got big dudes up there that are all super strong, and so I trust those guys full heartedly. When I want to do a bigger package, I've got my big package to go in there, get me the short yardage when I need it, and so I just trust those guys. If I need a yard, they'll go get a yard." 

Mackenzie not only brought a powerful boost to the run game but was also a consistent spark on defense as a thumper for the Mavericks in the middle of the field. Though 5'9, he is 220-lbs, making him consistently one of the tougher players to bring down, which earned all the praise from his coach.  

"He's a freaking mad man out there," Haneberg said. "You don't want to see him if you're on the defense running at you. Those guys are getting out of the way, and they're like, 'All right, I've only got to tackle him by the ankles, but he's strong enough to get through those ankle tackles.' He's not a guy we want to meet head on." 

Though the win and Gatorade bath felt great in the moment, Haneberg emphasized to his team that their job isn't done just yet. While they've essentially locked up the league championship, their focus is on defeating Eisenhower next Friday at 7 p.m. before the postseason begins.  

BOX SCORE: 

ESMT: 0-6-8-6: 20 

MLHS: 7-7-6-20: 40 

    Running back Elijah Burns (23) stiff arms an Eastmont defender on his way to the endzone Friday.
  

    The Mavericks' John Rainey (8) celebrates a big gain that resulted in a first down against Eastmont Friday night.
  

    The Moses Lake Mavericks Head Coach Kyler Haneberg reacts to an Elijah Burns touchdown on the sideline.