Stingy ‘D’ helps Coupeville cut down Kittitas / Football

There were plenty of stars in Coupeville’s 28-0 win over the Kittitas High School football team Saturday, Oct. 5, in Central Washington, but none sparkled more than the Wolves’ defensive unit.

Led by three interceptions by Dakota Eck and the running-stopping tackles of middle linebacker Andrew Martin, Coupeville recorded its second consecutive shutout and raised its record to 3-2. Kittitas fell to 0-4.

“The whole defense the past two weeks has been outstanding,” head coach Marcus Carr said.

After the Wolves lost big to Friday Harbor three weeks ago, the players decided they didn’t like “getting beat,” according to defensive coordinator Bennett Richter.

“They decided they wanted to win,” Richter added. “The intensity in practice picked up; they became more serious about film sessions.”

Those positive steps led to shutting down Kittitas. The Coyotes produced only 80 yards of total offense against the fired-up Coupeville defense. Lead running back Dawson Byers finished with only 12 yards on 23 carries. Thirteen of his runs resulted in zero or negative yardage.

Kittitas quarterback Blake Catlin hit only six of 22 throws for 43 yards, and three of the passes were picked off by Eck, leaving Eck one short of the single game interception record of four set by Brian Fakkema in 2002.

Coupeville opened the scoring with a touchdown in its second possession. A 35-yard run by Ben Smith and a 15-yard pass from Dawson Houston to Sean Toomey-Stout set up a 2-yard keeper by Houston for the score. Daylon Houston kicked his first of four PATs.

Eck’s first interception set up the next touchdown, returning the pick 29 yards to the Kittitas 1. Again, Dawson Houston punched it in with a keeper and the Wolves led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, the Wolves drove 52 yards for their next score. The drive featured three completions from Dawson Houston to Toomey-Stout, including a 24-yarder for the TD.

Late in the third quarter, the two teams traded interceptions on consecutive plays, and Eck’s pick gave the Wolves the ball at the Kittitas 19. From there on fourth-and-10, Dawson Houston found Toomey-Stout for the final touchdown.

Houston finished the day hitting seven of 16 passes for 131 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Toomey-Stout grabbed five of the throws for 99 yards and the two scores.

Smith led all the rushers with 70 yards on 18 carries. He, however, suffered a concussion late in the game that required a trip to the hospital. Smith was released after a short stay but will most likely miss the next game.

Other than Smith, the Wolves struggled on the ground and finished with 61 yards rushing on 32 carries.

“Things are coming around a little bit right now,” Carr said after the game. “I like how we ran the ball in the first half and how it opened up our passing. I like what we saw today.”

Carr praised the efforts of several plays, including Tim Ursu.

Ursu, a 5-3, 105-pound freshman, made a difficult catch for a big gain and first down in the second half, all while absorbing a late hit.

“Little Timmy – I’m proud of that guy,” Carr said. “He has been working hard, making those catches in practice.”