LAKE STEVENS It took all of 11 seconds for this cat to jump out of the bag.
Dustin Adams touched the ball just four times, but the resultant four touchdowns he produced were more than enough to power the Lake Stevens Vikings to a thoroughly dominant 41-14 victory over the Stanwood Spartans in the Western Conference North Division opener for both teams Friday night.
“D.A. was our secret weapon, but he’s not going to surprise too many teams now,” Lake Stevens coach Tom Tri said. “He’s a very special football player, he really is.”
Adams, a back-up to Herald Defensive Player of the Year David McMurray in 2006, not only dazzled the home crowd with TD receptions of 28, 69 and 37 yards, but made nine tackles and recovered a Stanwood fumble in the end zone to account for another score.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound wide receiver/defensive back made a nifty inside-out move to haul in a 28-yard touchdown pass from junior southpaw quarterback Nick Baker (7-for-9, 172 yards, three TD passes) to make the score 13-0 with 2:51 remaining in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff Devin Papka (10 tackles) forced a Stanwood fumble near the Spartans’ 20-yard line and the ball was knocked backwards by, among others, Kelly Kurisu before the speedy Adams swept up the pigskin and dived into the end zone to give the Vikings a three-touchdown lead with 2:40 to play in the opening quarter.
While the Spartans struggled, the Vikings were relentless in overcoming Stanwood for the first time since 2002.
“It’s been a few years since we’ve beaten (Stanwood),” Tri said. “Finally, tonight we showed we were really ready to play on Friday night.”
Adams used a double move to blow past a defender and catch a perfectly thrown 69-yard TD pass from Baker to increase the lead to 34-0 midway through the second quarter.
In the final quarter Baker rolled left and fired another pass to Adams, who juked the defenders and streaked into the end zone for his fourth TD.
“(Adams) is amazing,” said fullback/linebacker Clark Ferrucci, who led Lake Stevens with 14 tackles. “A rising star.”
Adams’ lightning-quick antics were complemented nicely by Vikings running back Isaac Molstre, who had 14 carries for 154 yards, including a 56-yard TD run on the first play of the second quarter.
Stanwood regrouped behind workhorse running back Ryan Norman (25 carries, 133 yards), who scored twice in the second half, including a 36-yard TD run on the Spartans’ first series of the third quarter.
At Lake Stevens H.S.
Stanwood007714
Lake Stevens21130741
Lake StevensBaker 1 run (McCord kick failed)
Lake StevensAdams 28 pass from Baker (McCord kick)
Lake StevensAdams fumble recovery in end zone (Molstre run)
Lake StevensMolstre 56 run (McCord kick failed)
Lake StevensAdams 69 pass from Baker (McCord kick)
StanwoodNorman 36 run (Pilcher kick)
Lake StevensAdams 37 pass from Baker (McCord kick)
StanwoodNorman 1 run (Pilcher kick)
RecordsStanwood 0-1 division and overall, Lake Stevens 1-0.
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