Chiefs bring down Wenatchee, 24-14
CASEY MCCARTHY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 7 months AGO
Lerenz Thomas runs toward his teammate ready to celebrate after scoring the touchdown in the first half and giving the Chiefs an early 14-0 lead over rival Wenatchee on Friday in Moses Lake.
Casey McCarthy/Columbia Basin Herald
Moses Lake quarterback Everett Ashley rushes in for the touchdown early in the first quarter to give the Chiefs an early 7-0 lead on Friday night at Lions Field.
Miguel Vela holds the football high after coming away with the interception late in the fourth quarter for the Chiefs in the 24-14 win over Wenatchee on Friday in Moses Lake.
Brandon Johnson hauls in the catch for Moses Lake near the sideline against Wenatchee on Friday night at Lions Field.
Moses Lake running back Sergio Guzman makes the cut upfield in the second half against Wenatchee on Friday night at Lions Field.
MLHS wide receiver Brandon Johnson makes the catch for a big completion in the first quarter to help set up the touchdown run by Everett Ashley on Friday night at Lions Field.
Moses Lake's Zach Reyer fights forward for more yards with a Wenatchee defender draped all over him in the first half on Friday night in Moses Lake.
Lerenz Thomas makes the catch for Moses Lake on his way in for the touchdown in the first half against Wenatchee on Friday night at Lions Field.
Senior Everett Ashley throws the pass downfield in the second half of the game against Wenatchee on Senior Night Friday at Lions Field in Moses Lake.
The Moses Lake defense combines to tackle the Wenatchee ball carrier for a loss in the first half at Lions Field in Moses Lake on Friday night.
Moses Lake High School football picked up a 24-14 win over rival Wenatchee as the Chiefs celebrated Senior Night on Friday at Lions Field.
Senior Everett Ashley scored first for the Chiefs with a quarterback sneak set up by a reception by Brandon Johnson. Ashley also picked up a passing touchdown on the final play of the quarter, connecting with Lerenz Thomas to put Moses Lake in front 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Wenatchee defense stripped the ball away from Ashley midway through the second to set up a passing score from 19 yards out. Up 14-7 with less than a minute to play, the Chiefs drove down the field and set up a field goal to end the half at 17-7.
Cruz Vasquez recovered a Wenatchee fumble early in the third quarter. Thomas recovered a second fumble minutes later, but the Chiefs were unable to capitalize on either turnover on offense. Wenatchee set up first and goal before rushing into the end zone as the fourth quarter opened, trimming the lead to 17-14.
After another turnover on offense, the Moses Lake defense held strong to force the punt. Thomas took the return all the way back for the score to Moses Lake in front 24-14. Miguel Vela came up with a big interception to put the final touches on the Chief victory.
After the win, Thomas talked about what was running through his mind before he ran back the punt.
“Coach was telling me, ‘Just catch it and make one guy miss and you have a chance at the end zone and it will ice the game for us, put the dagger in them,’” Thomas said. “Guys blocked, guys made the right blocks and made it happen.”
Thomas said the big defensive plays sparked the offense throughout the game.
As the Chiefs prepare for their final game of the season, against a red-hot Royal team, Thomas said the focus is the same as every week.
“We need to come out and play four quarters,” Thomas said. “We really only played two and a half tonight and got away with it. But next week, we’ll definitely have to play four.”
The Chiefs move to 2-2 for the season, taking on the Knights this Friday in Royal City.
Casey McCarthy can be reached via email at cmccarthy@columbiabasinherald.com.
