Soap Lake loses 22-0 to Bridgeport
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years AGO
Soap Lake’s Sam Schopf (22) runs to the outside during the Eagles’ 22-0 loss to Bridgeport Friday.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald
Soap Lake running back Anthony Contreras (53) fights off a Bridgeport defender.
The Soap Lake defense stacks up a Bridgeport running back during the Eagles’ 22-0 loss to the Mustangs.
Eagles running back Robby Fisher (10) breaks into the open field during the Soap Lake-Bridgeport game.
Sam Schopf (22) hands off to Giovanni Campos (15) on a reverse play that went for a big gain during the Soap Lake-Bridgeport game Friday.
Accompanied by his blockers, Soap Lake’s Sam Schopf (with football) heads downfield during the Eagles’ 22-0 loss to Bridgeport Friday.
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | September 17, 2022 11:10 AM
SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Eagles came close, but they couldn’t quite get into the end zone, losing to the Bridgeport Mustangs 22-0 Friday in Soap Lake.
“We had some mistakes, some penalties, that really hurt us,” said first-year head coach Garrett Devine.
With under a minute left in the game, receiver Alex Bustos got behind the Bridgeport defense, caught a pass from quarterback Jairo Lopez, and took the ball into the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown - only to have the play called back on a penalty. Devine said miscommunication on a play near Bridgeport’s goal line that led to a Mustang defensive stop also cost the Eagles.
A mishandled ball on a play deep in Soap Lake territory ended with Lopez being tackled in the end zone for a Bridgeport safety. Bridgeport also scored late in the game when Brandon Garcia intercepted Lopez and returned the ball about 60 yards for a touchdown.
Soap Lake did have some offensive success, fooling the Bridgeport defense with a couple of reverses and gaining significant yardage on some pass plays.
“We had some big plays, some big runs, but we just couldn’t capitalize,” Devine said.
But the Eagles, a very young team, made some progress. Devine said he was pretty pleased with the defensive play in particular.
The Eagle linebackers played well, he said, and the defensive line did a good job stopping the Mustang running game.
Bridgeport scored its first touchdown on a run by Tyrel Tonseth with about 8:29 left in the first quarter. The Eagles held on the two-point conversion attempt.
Garcia scored on an 80-yard pass with 5:18 left in the second quarter, but the Eagles defense stopped the Mustangs on the two-point try. Bridgeport led 12-0 at the half. That was the last score until the Bridgeport defense tackled Lopez for the safety, the interception return and successful two-point conversion, which resulted in the 22-0 final.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Devine said. “But there was a lot of stuff I really liked.”
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].
BOX SCORE
Bridgeport 6-6-0-10 22
Soap Lake 0-0-0-0 0
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Port of Coulee City receives grant for new library, clinic upgrades
COULEE CITY — The Port of Coulee City has received a $200,000 Strategic Infrastructure Grant to start design work for a new standalone public library. Some of the money will be used for upgrades to the ambulance entrance at the Coulee City Medical Clinic, according to a port press release. The grant was awarded by the Grant County Commissioners. “The award enables the port to move forward with construction-ready plans for a new library building. The library is currently operating inside the medical clinic, which restricts clinical space and prevents the facility from functioning at full capacity,” the press release said. “Prior facility assignments have documented the need for a larger, purpose-built library to meet current and future community needs.”
Ephrata man arrested near Quincy
QUINCY — An Ephrata man was booked into the Grant County Jail Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree burglary and resisting arrest after being sought for alleged burglaries and other offenses committed in the Ephrata and Coulee Dam areas. Cody Miller, 34, was also booked for attempting to elude law enforcement and two Grant County District Court warrants, said Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, in a media release. “They’ve been looking for him for a bit,” Foreman said in a separate interview. Miller ran from Quincy Police Department officers Wednesday morning, Foreman said.
PUD seeking comment on 2027 rates
EPHRATA — The public comment period is open for Grant County Public Utility District customers who want to weigh in on proposed 2027 PUD rates. Comments can be made on the PUD website, www.grantpud.org, under the "workshops and meetings" tab. Utility district commissioners will hold a public hearing at 2 p.m. Nov. 10 for additional customer response. People can attend the hearing in person at the commission hearing room, 30 C St. SW, Ephrata. Access also will be available online. The proposed 2027 rates include increases for all customers. The smallest increase, 3.5%, will be paid by residential, small business, irrigation and general service customers. They're designated as "core customers."