Playing through a steady downpour, the Coupeville football team sloshed and slugged its way to a 36-17 homecoming victory over Lakewood at Mickey Clark Field Friday.
The Wolves’ nasty defense, aided by the horrid weather conditions, helped slow down the Cougars’ high-flying offense. Lakewood entered the game averaging 33 points a game, led by quarterback Justin Lane, who tops the Cascade Conference with over 260 passing yards a game.
Coupeville kept Lane uncomfortable in the pocket with heavy pressure, particularly in the first half when the Wolves rolled to an 18-0 lead.
Coupeville coach Ron Bagby was pleased on how the Wolves dominated the first half. He said, “We controlled the ball and stopped them from doing what they wanted to do.” The Wolves ended the first two quarters with 180 yards offense while holding the Cougars to just 73 (minus 3 rushing).
Lakewood took the opening kickoff and drove to what appeared to be the game’s first score but the TD was erased with a holding call. On fourth-and-14 Jason Ornburn intercepted Lane at the goal line to stop the threat.
The Cougars soon had the ball again, but on fourth-and-1 at the Coupeville 44 the Wolves held, momentum shifted, and the home team took over.
The Wolves zipped down the field, fueled by 30 yards on two carries by Chase Griffin, and Justin Adams scored from 5 yards out. Adams ran in the PAT and CHS was up 8-0.
On Coupeville’s next possession it was forced to punt, and Adams boot was downed at the Lakewood 2. The Coupeville defense held and blocked the Cougars’ punt to take over at the 11. Jason Bagby polished off the short drive with a 4-yard pass to Dalton Engle for the score. Adams kicked the point after and the Wolves were ahead 15-0.
The Wolves got the ball back with 3:19 left in the half at their own 11. Three big plays — a Bagby to Griffin screen picked up 15 yards, a Bagby quarterback draw added 22, and a Bagby to Engle pass netted 15 more – were the highlights as Coupeville moved all the way to the Cougar 1. Adams kicked a field goal and the Wolves headed to the locker room with an 18-0 cushion.
Because of the weather conditions and the healthy lead, coach Bagby decided the Wolves would be more conservative to start the second half. They went three-and-out and Lakewood was knocking on the door in two plays, a 40-yard pass and 19-yard draw. In moments Lakewood scored and it was 18-6. And, more importantly, the Cougars woke up.
Spirited by the score, the Lakewood defense stopped Coupeville again, then its offense raced down to the CHS 6 where a holding penalty halted the drive and the Cougars were forced kick a field goal to make it 18-9.
At that moment, the Lakewood sidelines were rocking and things looked dicey for Coupeville.
Not for long. Adams then crushed the Cougars’ momentum with a 59-yard bolt over left tackle. Ian Smith ran in the extra points, Coupeville led 26-9, and Lakewood started to fall apart.
The Cougars completed a 30-yard pass play only to lose a fumble at the end of the catch on the last play of the third quarter.
Their next possession, Lane mishandled a snap and as he raced back to pick it up, he was picked clean by Davion Watkins who took it 10 yards for another Coupeville score. Adams converted the PAT kick and Coupeville led 33-9.
Lakewood’s misery continued when they lost 10 yards on a sack, then the punter failed to snag the snap on the next play and Coupeville recovered at the 14. Adams finished the Wolves’ scoring with a 31-yard field goal.
The Cougars scored a meaningless TD late in the game.
Ron Bagby said one of the keys to the game was Lakewood’s inability to hold onto the ball while his club did. “We took care of the ball, even in those conditions.” He added, “I’m really proud of them (his players). They played hard.”
Coupeville is now 2-3 in conference play and 4-3 overall. Lakewood dropped to 0-5 and 2-5.
