Medical Lake ends skid with win over Newport

Medical Lake's defense got pretty banged up over the past few weeks in one-sided losses.

But last Friday night during the Cardinals' annual Homecoming and Hall of Fame football game it was the defense that administered the first aid in a 39-12 Northeast A League win over the Newport Grizzlies at Holliday Field.

The Cardinals recorded 10 sacks and chased and harassed Newport quarterback Otis Smith all night. They forced him into an interception and an icing on the cake third-quarter safety. Smith was limited to 12 carries for a loss of 51 yards as Medical Lake (1-3 NEA, 2-4 overall) ended a four-game losing skid. Newport lost their fifth straight game, falling to 0-4 in league play and 1-5 overall.

"It's going to be a pleasure watching film this week," Cardinals' head coach Wes Hobbs said. "They had a very good quarterback and we were fortunate to get to him."

Medical Lake began the game with Jackson Tappero carrying all but twice in an 11-play, 70-yard drive, capped by Cory Wagner's 7-yard touchdown run in a drive that consumed 6 minutes, 15 seconds.

"We thought we could exploit some of their weaknesses by going up the middle," Hobbs said.

After the Grizzlies answered with their first score from Chris Burgess with 3:09 to play in the first quarter, Tappero's 1-yard run finished off a 10-play 60-yard drive and put Medical Lake up 15-6 after his 2-point run for the conversion.

Newport's next possession went just two yards, resulting in a punt. The Cards' Tellas Johnson zig-zagged his way into Grizzly territory at the 38 yard line. Four plays later Wagner dashed for 27 yards and a 23-6 lead with 6:05 to play in the half.

It looked as though Newport's next possession would end like their last after a Jacob Sutton sack had the Grizzlies' Smith facing a fourth and 16 at their own 15. But Chris Ownbey lined up uncovered and took the ball 20 yards for a first down to set up a Burgess touchdown with 1:55 left that cut the lead to 23-12.

The Cards got the ball back with 1:08 to play in the first half. Wagner found Brayden Hale on a drive that took just 30 seconds and sent Medical Lake into the locker room leading 30-12. "Obviously good throw, good catch," Hobbs said.

Medical Lake came out of halftime and served up a three and out on Newport's first possession. Tappero's second score with 7:43 remaining in the third made it 37-12. Dawson Lack's tackle of Smith in the end zone after a botched snap with 35 seconds to play in the third resulted in a safety and the final margin at 39-12.

The fourth quarter gave the bench a chance to play and no one seemed to embrace that more than sophomore Ty Masteller, who drove his 5-foot, 6-inch, 140-pound frame for 39 yards on eight carries.

Next up for Medical Lake is a game Friday night at defending state 1A champion, top-ranked Freeman (3-1, 5-1) who fell at Colville 28-7, their first loss in 20 games.

"They're not going to be mad at all after getting it handed to them," Hobbs said with a laugh.

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].