E-W puts talent on display
Published 12:52 am Saturday, September 1, 2007
EDMONDS Despite missing several top players from last year’s Class 4A state semifinal team, Edmonds-Woodway still has a strong core of veterans plus some promising newcomers.
The Warriors put all that talent on display Friday night as they opened defense of their 2006 Western Conference South Division title with a convincing 35-13 football victory over Meadowdale at Edmonds District Stadium.
Leading the way for the Warriors was a trio of offensive stalwarts. First, quarterback Kyle McCartney, who completed 12 of 20 passing attempts for 170 yards and two touchdowns.
Also, running back Tony Heard, the younger brother of 2006 standout running back Josh Heard, who had 22 carries for 138 yards and three touchdowns.
Lastly, wide receiver Antoinne Wafer, who had seven receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
As a team, Edmonds-Woodway totaled 353 yards of offense, and the Warriors dominated the time of possession, 31:05-16:55, with their sustained marches.
Edmonds-Woodway scored on the game’s opening possession, covering 72 yards in 11 plays to reach the end zone. On that march, the Warriors overcame a costly holding penalty that took away a near touchdown, and McCartney executed a tricky fourth-down scramble to avoid a sack and find a receiver for a drive-sustaining first down.
On its next possession, Edmonds-Woodway needed just five plays to travel 56 yards for a touchdown. Forty-two of those yards came on the fifth play, a play-action pass from McCartney to Wafer that dropped neatly over the receiver’s right shoulder as he ran in full stride behind the Meadowdale secondary.
Minutes later, the Warriors were on the board again, this time after a 63-yard, 11-play march. McCartney again linked with Wafer for the TD, this time on a crossing route. Wafer worked his way to the left sideline and stayed just inbounds as he raced the last 15 yards.
The Warriors did not have a possession that ended short of the end zone until the final seconds of the first half when a fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
The Mavericks finally got on the board in fact, crossed midfield for the first time after taking the second-half kickoff. Meadowdale, which reached the Class 3A state playoffs a year ago (losing the opener to Eastside Catholic), covered 60 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. Mavericks quarterback Matt McDonagh went to the air five times on the drive, completing four for 50 yards, including the final 2 yards to Jacob Clampitt to make it 21-6.
Whatever momentum Meadowdale might have gained from that score vanished moments later. On the third play after the kickoff, Heard shot through a seam on the right side and went untouched down the right sideline for a 44-yard scoring scamper.
When Meadowdale fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Edmonds-Woodway was back in business. Starting from the Mavericks’ 40, the Warriors were in the end zone six plays later, with Heard bulling through the right side for the final yard.
The Mavericks put up their second touchdown in the final quarter on a 13-yard scoring burst by running back Nick Montanari.
On occasion, Meadowdale was its own worst enemy. Late in the first quarter, Montanari went around the left side, and then cut back to the middle and found open field. He dashed 71 yards to the Edmonds-Woodway 24 before being knocked down from behind on a cutback, but the nifty dash went for naught. The Mavericks were cited for holding at their own 7-yard line.
Despite having his long run taken away, Montanari led the Mavericks with 119 yards on 12 attempts.
At Edmonds Stadium
Meadowdale006713
Edmonds-Woodway14714035
E-WHeard 6 run (Milone kick)
E-WWafer 42 pass from McCartney (Milone kick)
E-WWafer 21 pass from McCartney (Milone kick)
MeadowdaleClampitt 2 pass from McDonagh (kick failed)
E-WHeard 44 run (Milone kick)
E-WHeard 1 run (Milone kick)
MeadowdaleMontanari 13 run (Werner kick)
RecordsMeadowdale 0-1 division and overall, E-W 1-0.
