MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake High School football team overcame a slow start and some early-season miscues to take a 30-23 win over the North Creek Jaguars in the first home game of the year. 

Change is the only constant in high school sports, and the Mavericks are replacing what head coach Brett Jay called “a great class of seniors.” Some players are still working into new positions, adjustments are still being made, and that was reflected in a game that featured three Moses Lake touchdowns called back due to penalties. Three of North Creek’s four successful drives included runs or passes or 30 yards or more.  

Jay said the adjustments are being made, with clear improvement from the team’s opening game, a 40-6 loss to Rigby, Idaho.  

“Really proud of the guys that came out – they continue to grow,” Jay said. “A lot of new faces. We’ve seen a lot of growth tonight from our team.”  

The opening loss may help the Mavs in the long run, he said. 

“Last week we got whipped pretty good,” he said. “And it was good for us, because it was a real evaluation. We knew who wanted to play and who stepped back, And this week some guys took a step forward. Really proud of them.” 

Neither the Mavericks nor the Jaguars generated much offense in the first quarter; Moses Lake defensive back Ian Anderson intercepted a pass in the end zone to stop a Jaguar drive. The first quarter ended with no score. 

Moses Lake wide receiver Isiah Moreno-Jackson caught a 14-yard pass in the end zone from quarterback Brady Jay to give Moses Lake a 7-0 lead with 7:28 left in the second quarter, a lead they never relinquished. It was one of three touchdowns in the game for Moreno-Jackson. The Mavericks led 7-0 at the half and pushed it to 14-0 with 7:28 left in the third quarter on the second of Jackson-Moreno's two touchdowns. But North Creek came back immediately, scoring on a 53-yard pass with 6:36 left in the quarter. The Jaguars missed the extra point, and Moses Lake led 14-6 at the end of the third quarter. 

The Maverick defense trapped North Creek quarterback Jackson McGill in the end zone for a safety early in the fourth quarter, giving Moses Lake a 16-6 lead. Brady Jay ran the ball in from 14 yards out to push the lead to 23-6 with 9:36 left in the game.  

North Creek converted a fourth down on a run that left the ball on the Moses Lake 7-yard line. But the Mavericks held, and the Jaguars were forced to settle for a field goal. Burns caught a 25-yard pass from Brady Jay to give Moses Lake a 30-9 lead. 

But North Creek ran back the ensuing kickoff to the Moses Lake 27, and McGill scored to cut the Moses Lake lead to 30-15 after missing the extra point. Moses Lake had a touchdown called back on a penalty and the North Creek defense held. The Jaguars scored on a 60-yard pass play to cut the lead again, to 30-23. But Moses Lake ran out the clock. 

“A win is a win,” Brett Jay told his players after the game. “But we’re still figuring ourselves out.”

Moses Lake’s first league game will be against Sunnyside in Sunnyside Friday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. 

Box score 

Moses Lake 0-7-9-14  30 

North Creek 0-0-6-17  23 

    Mavericks quarterback Brady Jay goes back to pass in Moses Lake’s win Friday.
  

    The Moses Lake defense wraps up the North Creek quarterback.
  

    Isiah Moreno-Jackson (14) hugs the sidelines. Moreno-Jackson scored three touchdowns in Moses Lake’s win.