EDMONDS — With Naji Moore-Taylor back in the lineup, Mountlake Terrace’s dreams of another eye-opening upset over district rival Meadowdale faded.
Quickly.
Last year when the Mountlake Terrace High School football team pulled off a surprising overtime win against the Meadowdale Mavericks, Moore-Taylor was powerless to do anything about it. The talented running back sat out the 2008 game as part of a suspension for an athletic-code violation.
This time Moore-Taylor was back and Meadowdale was in business.
Propelled by its offensive line and Moore-Taylor’s running, Meadowdale drilled Mountlake Terrace 49-7 Friday in a non-league game at Edmonds Stadium.
Moore-Taylor rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries for Meadowdale (3-0), which has scored 116 points this season. Class 3A Meadowdale passed and ran effectively on offense, and its defense held 4A Terrace (2-1) in check on all but one drive.
“It was huge,” versatile Meadowdale senior Sam Werner said, “because last year we were expected to kill them and then they come back and get us for a tough (23-17 overtime) loss. They had bragging rights up until today.”
Werner and his teammates made sure there was no upset this time.
Meadowdale built a 28-0 lead by halftime, outgaining Terrace 214-36 in offensive yards. With 58 yards passing and 156 yards on the ground, Meadowdale was balanced, efficient and nearly unstoppable.
Displaying power and speed while taking advantage of wide openings at the line, Moore-Taylor led the Mavs’ rushing attack. He had 110 yards and two scores on a dozen carries in the half. His 35-yard TD burst around the left end made it 21-0 with 2:28 to go in the half.
Quarterback Danny McDonald completed 7 of 8 passes for 58 yards and two TDs in the half. His top target was Werner (four receptions, 37 yards, one TD).
Before the game, Meadowdale coach Mark Stewart said this might be the best offense he’s had.
“From a sheer skill position (perspective), yes. Right now we’re looking pretty darn good, skill-wise,” Stewart said. “So it’s a matter of us being able to keep that part of it going.”
Meadowdale kept it going on Friday.
After struggling in the first half, Terrace started well in the third quarter. The Hawks had an impressive nine-play, 73-yard scoring drive, finally tallying some points.
But after Werner’s 35-yard kickoff return, Moore-Taylor broke free along the sideline for a 60-yard TD, his third score of the game. That made it 35-7.
It was Moore-Taylor’s third trip to the end zone in a stretch of four carries.
How fun is it to play offense for Meadowdale?
“It’s so nice because we have Naji running up the middle and around the corner, and we have me on the outside and (tight end) Connor Hamlett, the tall receiver,” said Werner.” And then (QB) Danny McDonald proved to be a fast (runner).”
McDonald, a first-year starter, scrambled and threw TD passes to Sam Thomas and Werner in the first quarter. Meadowdale, which plays host to Kamiak on Sept. 25, never looked back.
Terrace’s offensive leader was hard-running back Casey Ellersick (137 yards on 25 carries). No one else stepped up as a consistent threat for the Hawks. QB Brandyn Eckhart scored Terrace’s only TD on a short run.
Hamlett, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound senior, made a huge impact on defense. In addition to a sack and two tackles for loss, he scored on a 62-yard fumble return.
Terrace, which had minus-2 yards passing and lost three fumbles, plays Glacier Peak next.
At Edmonds Stadium
Meadowdale1414714—49
Mountlake Terrace0070—7
Meadowdale—Thomas 4 pass from McDonald (Werner kick)
Meadowdale—Werner 14 pass from McDonald (Werner kick)
Meadowdale—Moore-Taylor 35 run (Werner kick)
Meadowdale—Moore-Taylor 3 run (Werner kick)
Mountlake Terrace—Eckhart 4 run (Ryals kick)
Meadowdale—Moore-Taylor 60 run (Werner kick)
Meadowdale—Hamlett 62 fumble return (Hamlett pass from McDonald)
Meadowdale—Dever 5 run (kick blocked)
Records—Meadowdale 3-0 overall. Mountlake Terrace 2-1.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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