Young Wolves Feast on Kangaroos
The Eastlake Wolves C team started their long-delayed season on Saturday, March 20th. For the returning players it was their game since the youth championship 18 months (and a lifetime) ago. For the many new players on Eastlake's roster, Lake Washington represented their first real game action. Thanks to last second Covid phase loosening, the Wolves were able to invite four family members per player and the visiting Kangaroos were allowed to bring two fans per player. So the players and teams gathered on a gray Saturday morning excited to see the team go to work.
Nearly three hours later the Wolves went home with a lot to cheer about in a 46-0 victory. The Wolves started fast and scored seven touchdowns despite having four TDs called back on penalties. The Eastlake defense held LW just offensive three first downs.
For the game, the Wolves ran a balanced offense which featured 50-50 mix of running and passing. Quarterback Grady Woodward targeted 10 different receivers and completed 11 of 20 passes for 180 yards and four touchdowns. Woodward added a fifth touchdown with his legs, taking a 56 yarder to the end zone. Running back Caleb Mohrhardt carried 8 times for 50 yards and a touchdown but more damage as a receiver, adding 75 yards and three more touchdowns. The offensive performance was more than a two-man show as Woodward also connected with Caden Cross, Marcus Angiuli, Brady DiRamio and Jack Edmunds. The Wolves offense was aided by good field position as the LW offense struggled with execution, turnovers, a lack of big plays.
On defense, the Wolves dominated. Eastlake's rotation of big powerful defensive lineman control the line of scrimmage, gave LW ball carriers no room to run and their quarterback no time to throw. Andy Villegas, Connor Ware, Tyler Brown and Kyle Rickets bottled up the center of the line well ends Jackson Ashford, Alex Dreher, Blake Sehlin, and Asir Jackson contained the edges. In the rare moments when LW players found a seam, the Wolves linebackers pursued with speed and hard hitting. Linebacker William Miller played physical football while Brady Cardwell and Steven Plummer played like veterans despite being new to the position. However, the star of the Wolves defense was undoubtedly outside linebacker Carter Thompson. Thompson was a matchup nightmare for the Kangs, stuffing ball carriers in their tracks and pursuing the quarterback like a hungry man after a cheeseburger. Thompson repeatedly sacked the quarterback and added to LW's nightmare when he blocked a punt, scooped up the ball and ran it in for a score.
Wide receiver and punt returner Marcus Angiuli had a strange day when he crossed the goal line with the ball four times but was credited with no touchdowns. All four of Angiuli's TDs (3 punt returns, one leaping reception) were called back on penalties. Even with the four touchdowns called back Angiuli was an impact player reeling in four of Woodward's passes for 49 yards. On special teams, kicker Alex Dreher converted several PATs and attempted 2 field goals. Although the field goal attempts didn't find the uprights, Dreher showed a strong lag.
Its said that turnover differential wins football games and that was certainly true Saturday. The Wolves took the ball away four times on interceptions by Jack Morgan and Plummer and fumble recoveries by Ware and Villegas. The Wolves committed no turnovers.
Despite the big win, Coach Zach Myers should find plenty to work on in practice. The Wolves committed numerous penalties and struggled with snaps, issues which will be fatal against stronger competition. Next Saturday, the team travels to the Juanita Ravens. The Wolves saw the Ravens last weekend in a scrimmage so they have some scout film to work with. But, a game is more intense and exciting than a scrimmage so it will be fun to see how the young Wolves respond to another conference opponent.