Meridian’s defense and special teams took advantage of the rain and mud as the Trojans battled to a 48-20 win over Omak in non-conference action at home Friday, Sept. 13.
With poor weather conditions, both teams turned the ball over, committed several penalties and had a ton of slips on the grass field.
“Anytime you can get your hands on the ball on special teams or defense, it would be great,” Meridian coach Patrick Ames said. “I wish we capitalized every time but we didn’t.”
Meridian’s defense and special teams earned two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and an onside kick recovery.
Gallery: Meridian football takes down Omak
“We recovered the onside kick but didn’t score, and that is not how you want to start the game,” Ames said. “We know we can come back and get those momentum plays.”
Meridian struck first when quarterback Jaeger Fyfe found paydirt with 7-yard rushing touchdown to put the Trojans up 7-0. Meridian nearly recovered another kickoff when the Pioneers’ returner fumbled the ball, but it landed out of bounds.
Omak took advantage of a couple of Meridian penalties before setting up Payton Smith for a game-tying 20-yard screen pass touchdown to end the first quarter at 7-7.
In the second quarter, Meridian marched on the ground with Laden Downey and Kelley Gray, with Gray finishing the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked, making it 13-7 Trojans with just over five minutes left in the half.
Meridian scored on its next drive with a 26-yard pass from Fyfe to Downey to make it 20-7. Fyfe then intercepted a pass with seven seconds left before halftime. On the final play, the Trojans tried a hook-and-ladder trick play but fumbled the ball on the pitch to end the half.
Both teams found the end zone within the first minute of the second half. Kasey Brennan took a reverse on the kickoff return 75 yards for a touchdown, while Omak’s Taegan Mullin caught a screen pass and ran 70 yards to make it 26-14.
Fyfe threw his second touchdown pass to Trey Alexander for 45 yards to extend the lead to 33-14 with eight minutes left in the third quarter. Mullin ended the third quarter with a 27-yard touchdown run to slim the lead to 33-20 as the extra point attempt was no good.
Fyfe picked up his third passing touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 21-yard pass to Pierce Brzozowski. Fyfe ran the two-point conversion into the left corner of the endzone to make it 41-20. Later, Omak snapped the ball over the punter’s head and Meridian took over on the Pioneers’ 3-yard line. Gray rushed it into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night.
Once Gray scored, the starters were pulled and the reserves played the final few minutes. Fyfe finished 13-for-22 for 208 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for a touchdown and had an interception on defense.
Gray was the leading rusher for the Trojans, rushing 14 times for 46 yards and two touchdowns
Meridian (2-0, 0-0 Northwest Conference) continues non-league play when it travels to Class 3A Kamiak at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
