A happy group of Medical Lake football players gathered for a team photo following their 22-6 win over the Cascade (Leavenworth) Kodiaks on Saturday, Nov. 4.
LEAVENWORTH - Medical Lake football brought some sunshine into a dull and dreary day Saturday, Nov. 4.
The Cardinals (1-9) snapped a 24-game losing streak and rewarded second-year head coach Nick Puzycki with his first victory, 22-6, in a season-ending crossover game against the Cascade Kodiaks (0-10).
"Oh, yeah, definitely," was the Cardinal coach's reply when asked if a big weight had been lifted. "The guys played well."
The Cardinals made the best of the moment following the final horn.
"They were jumping around and having a blast," Puzycki said. "I mean, even before we got in the locker room, they were sliding around in mud. It was it was a weight lifted off their shoulders."
The win was the first for the program since Sept. 3, 2021, when Medical Lake defeated Priest River, Idaho, 28-0.
Clinging to a 13-6 lead going into the fourth quarter on a pair of touchdowns from Aiden Suddeth - one for 40 yards to Josh Henry and the other 60 yards to Dakotah Phillips - the Cardinals pulled away in the final 12 minutes.
Kaden Rudy gave Medical Lake a 10-point lead with his 35-yard field goal and Cylas Puzycki plowed into the end zone from a yard out.
"It was, it was a downpour from the time we got there until about halfway through the third quarter," Puzycki said.
Puzucki credited both the offensive and defensive lines their efforts.
"I think that game was won based on our O-line and our D line," Puzycki said, noting Cylas Puzycki had a 100-yard rushing day and Suddeth threw for 125 more. "None of that happens in a rainy game unless our O-line is fighting play in and play out, our D-line fighting, play in and play out."
Just four seniors will graduate from the team.
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