Edmonds-Woodway defeats Meadowdale
Published 7:16 pm Monday, September 20, 2010
EDMONDS — Cameron Berlin-Day will never forget the first field-goal attempt of his high school career.
In an intense, rain-soaked rivalry game Friday at Edmonds Stadium, Berlin-Day’s 34-yard field goal in the third quarter provided the winning margin in the unbeaten Edmonds-Woodway High School football team’s 10-7 triumph over the Meadowdale Mavericks.
Points were few and far between on a night when hard-hitting defenders and a constant downpour dominated the action. Berlin-Day’s strong kick with 7 minutes, 5 seconds to go in the third quarter gave Edmonds-Woodway (3-0) a 10-0 lead, and the Warriors fought off Meadowdale (2-1) for a hard-fought nonleague win.
“I’d never kicked. That’s my first field goal,” said Berlin-Day, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior who also plays linebacker and made several nice defensive plays. “I kick in practice all the time and just prepare.”
Preparation sure paid off. Besides being 1-for-1 on field goals this season, Berlin-Day is 14-for-14 on point-after-touchdown kicks, including one PAT against Meadowdale.
After scoring a total of 91 points in victories over Monroe and Marysville-Pilchuck to start the season, E-W was largely held in check by Meadowdale’s impressive defense. The Mavericks’ defense allowed its first TD of the season — E-W’s Zack Berg scored on a 29-yard run less than 2 minutes into the game — but E-W gained just 59 offensive yards in the first half.
Berg finished the game with 103 yards on 20 carries.
Meadowdale cut the deficit to 10-7 late in the third quarter. Powerful running back Michael Dever capped his team’s lone scoring drive with a 1-yard plunge.
Dever finished with 70 yards on 16 carries.
Sparked by its stingy defense, Meadowdale had several chances to try for a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. But on its last possession, which started at the Mavericks’ 19-yard line, Meadowdale got no farther than its 29. Quarterback Nathan Ball’s incomplete pass to Anders Peterson on fourth-and-16 essentially clinched the win for E-W, which gained a first down and ran out the clock.
On two pass plays during Meadowdale’s final drive, E-W defenders appeared to make contact with Mavericks receivers too early, including Meadowdale’s final offensive play when Spiral Horn collided with Peterson while the ball was in the air along the left side. No penalty was called.
Meadowdale coach Mark Stewart had no complaints.
“It’s not about the officials. We’ve just got to make some plays,” Stewart said.
Meadowdale certainly had plenty of chances. It moved the ball fairly well, especially in the first half, but E-W had three takeaways (one fumble recovery, two interceptions). The Mavericks attempted and missed two field-goal attempts as well. Renn Smith missed a 27-yard kick late in the first quarter and was short and wide on a 33-yard kick in the final minute of the half.
In terms of first-half offensive yardage, Meadowdale outgained E-W 135 to 59.
“Our defense held really tight. I was really proud of us,” Berlin-Day said.
“Our kids played hard,” Meadowdale’s Stewart said, “and I’m proud of what they did. We’re going to improve on that and get better next week.”
In its first two games, Meadowdale blasted Shorecrest 34-2 and routed Lindbergh 48-7. Next up for the Mavericks is Wesco 3A foe Mountlake Terrace (2-1), which shut out Bishop Blanchet 28-0 in the early game Friday at Edmonds Stadium.
Edmonds-Woodway’s next game is a Wesco South 4A battle against Mariner (2-1). The Marauders beat Stanwood 39-17 on Friday.
At Edmonds Stadium
Meadowdale0070—7
Edmonds-Woodway7300—10
Edmonds-Woodway-Berg 29 run (Berlin-Day kick)
Edmonds-Woodway-FG 34 Berlin-Day
Meadowdale-Dever 1 run (Smith kick)
Records-Meadowdale 2-1. Edmonds-Woodway 3-0.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam and follow Cane on Twitter at MikeCaneHerald.
