Medical Lake head football coach Jeremy Bahr sensed going in that last Friday’s Northeast A League football game with Colville had some sort of ominous cloud hanging over it.
“It was one of those things where the kids were ultra-intimidated by the history of playing these guys,” Bahr said after his team took a 58-7 pounding from the Indians. “Colville’s the real deal, there’s a reason why they’re ranked No. 2 in state.”
Scoring in quick bunches, first four minutes into the first quarter with 20 points in less than six minutes, and then to open the second quarter with a pair of touchdowns in just 28 seconds, Colville improved to 5-0 (6-2 overall) and in the league lead.
“Their size, they were very aggressive, they were very physical, and we just don’t hold up well against that type of attack,” Bahr said. Quarterback John Knight and Trevor Morrison each scored a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Indians who rushed for 309 yards on 33 carries.
Colville also executed an efficient passing game where Knight was 5 for 7 and 172 yards, but surprisingly, no touchdowns.
And Knight also did damage on the defensive side, many times as a lead blocker. “He was flat-backing D-linemen,” Bahr said, adding that Knight was a state wrestling finalist.
By contrast, Medical Lake was a -14 in total yards, 17 passing and a -31 on the ground. The Cardinals had just one first down. Brandon Giles had ML’s only touchdown on a fumble recovery with 3 minutes, 12 seconds to go in the first half.
Medical Lake (1-4, 2-6) closes out the regularly-scheduled part of the season Friday at Holliday Field when they host Deer Park (2-3, 4-3) at 7 p.m. on Senior Night.
“Deer Park is coming off a time when they struggled due to injuries,” Bahr said. “They got all their guys back last week for Freeman,” and won easily 41-6.
The Stags lost to Colville and Newport by identical 34-0 scores and topped another common opponent, St. Maries, 27-6. They also beat Greater Spokane League East Valley, 21-6.
“They’re going to be a power-I, run it down your throat until you stop us type situation,” Bahr said. “We’ll have our hands full.”
The game will be a farewell of sorts for a big group of seniors, but not their final football game. The Cardinals will also host a cross-over game either Friday, Nov. 2 or Saturday, Nov. 3 against Chelan of the Caribou Trail League.
“I hope we finish the season on a high note and compete like we’re capable of,” Bahr said.
The group of 20 players who will graduate next June have had their share of challenges for the Cardinals and had limited success on teams that have been a combined 4-31. “It should be a good night to celebrate our seniors and what they’ve done for our program,” Bahr said.
“You have to keep in mind these are kids that have played under three different schemes with (Wes) Hobbs, Mo (Owen) and now me. I could not be more proud of their effort and all the adversity they have dealt with in their high school careers,” Bahr said.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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