Cedarcrest, fueled by its vaunted running attack, rolled by visiting Coupeville 48-18 Friday, Oct. 7, in Duvall.
The Red Wolves (3-1, 4-2) raced to a 27-0 first-period lead behind the running of Martin Vakamoce, who finished with 216 yards on only six carries after scoring on runs of 48, 94 and 17 yards in the opening quarter.
Coupeville coach Jay Silver said his club made some adjustments and, from the middle of the second quarter on, the Wolves slowed Cedarcrest’s running attack but the damage was done.
In fact, Coupeville limited the Red Wolves to a minus 10 yards rushing in the third quarter and a minus 18 in the fourth, according to Silver.
Silver said the Coupeville offense moved the ball well but couldn’t finish drives. The Wolves penetrated the Cedarcrest 10 four times in the first half, Silver said, but couldn’t produce any points.
Not until Mitch Pelroy scored on an 85-yard kick off return in the second period, and down 41-0, did the Wolves break through.
The return was Pelroy’s fifth of the season and the 10th over the past two years.
Silver joking said, “Somethings I think kick off return is our best offensive play.”
Dalton Engle scored two second-half touchdowns for Coupeville, the first on a six-yard run and the second on an eight-yard pass from Jake Tumblin.
Tumblin had a fine game, hitting 18 of 26 passes for 227 yards. His one interception was a ball that bounced off a receiver.
Pelroy was Tumblin’s top target, catching six for 76 yards. Engle pulled in four passes for 69 yards, Brandt Bodamer three for 69 and Riley Boyd three for 48.
Danny Savalza led the ground game with 62 yards on 14 carries, Engle added 35 on 16 carries, and Pelroy ran once for 35 yards.
Cedarcrest played its starting defense the entire game, Silver said, and the Wolves nearly caught the Red Wolves in total yards, 400 to 365, by the end.
Coupeville was also stung by penalties, being hit with flags, three for personal fouls, on six of the game’s first eight plays.
Silver said, “It took 60 minutes to play the first quarter.”
Silver was pleased with his team’s effort: “They played hard, fought hard…I am super proud of the kids; they didn’t give up.”
Coupeville (0-5, 1-5) entertains league co-leader Archbishop Murphy (4-1, 5-1) Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Wolves’ homecoming game.
