ARLINGTON — After losing to Lakewood the past four seasons, the Archbishop Murphy football team was looking for some payback on Friday night.
The Wildcats ended up getting payment in full.
Visiting Archbishop Murphy broke open a close game in the second quarter with 17 unanswered points to close the first half, and then tacked on two early third-quarter touchdowns on the way to a 45-13 Cascade Conference victory over the Cougars.
It was Archbishop Murphy’s first victory over Lakewood since the 2010 season.
The Wildcats won with a potent passing game that saw quarterback Connor Johnson complete 10 of 21 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns. His scoring strikes, all in the first half, covered 46, 47, 51 and 73 yards.
Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound junior, had 293 of his passing yards and four TDs in the first half. Those totals included five receptions, three touchdowns and 190 yards on catches by wide receiver Anfernee Gurley, a 5-11, 175-pound junior.
Gurley left the game late in the first half with what appeared to be a leg injury. He apparently did not return.
Even with the game well in hand in the late minutes, Archbishop Murphy wanted more. After stopping a Lakewood march at the 1-yard line, the Wildcats called five straight passing plays with several offensive starters still on the field, including Johnson.
The possession reached midfield before stalling and Archbishop Murphy set up for a 59-yard field goal attempt by place-kicker Ryan Henderson, though a delay of game penalty moved the ball back 5 yards and the Wildcats ended up punting.
The Wildcats scored on five of their six first-half offensive possessions. Archbishop Murphy reached the end zone on its first three possessions with marches of four, four and five plays.
The Wildcats ended their next possession by turning the ball over on downs, but followed that with a five-play, 97-yard TD drive. The final 73 yards came on a Johnson-to-Gurley connection that covered 73 yards, with the receiver making a short reception and then outrunning the secondary to the end zone.
At the end of the half, Henderson booted a 31-yard field goal as time expired.
Senior running back Kerry Jackson had 16 carries for 80 yards for Archbishop Murphy, but was ejected in the second half after a personal-foul defensive penalty.
Lakewood quarterback Austin Lane, a 6-2, 185-pound sophomore, completed 18 of 35 passes for 246 yards with one touchdown.
At Lakewood H.S.
Arch. Murphy 14 17 14 0 — 45
Lakewood 7 6 0 0 — 13
L—Tyler Courtney 4 run (Austin Hudson kick)
AM—Anfernee Gurley 46 pass from Connor Johnson (Ryan Henderson kick)
AM—Kyler Gordon 47 pass from Johnson (Henderson kick)
L—Matt Ramirez 15 pass from Austin Lane (pass failed)
AM—Gurley 51 pass from Johnson (Henderson kick)
AM—Gurley 73 pass from Johnson (Henderson kick)
AM—Henderson 31 FG
AM—Kerry Jackson 1 run (Henderson kick)
AM—Gordon 30 run (Henderson kick)
Records—Archbishop Murphy 1-0 league, 3-0 overall. Lakewood 0-1, 0-3.
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