EVERETT – Perhaps college coaches may want to re-think their notion of pegging Raymond Fry as a defensive back next fall.
If his performance in Mariner’s 36-7 win over Kamiak in a Western Conference South Division game Friday night at Goddard Stadium is any indication, Fry should be raising some eyebrows with his running abilities.
He’s already raised one pair, that of Mariner coach John Ondriezek.
“He’s just incredible,” Ondriezek said. “He’s a real gamebreaker. He’s a tough kid, he’ll take you inside, outside.”
Fry came into the contest with a league-best 10 touchdowns and averaging better than 150 yards on the ground. The 5-8, 170-pound senior all-purpose back did nothing to stain his resume.
Fry was everywhere, dodging defenders at the line of scrimmage, scurrying around helpless linebackers and blowing past the Kamiak secondary en route to some mind-boggling numbers.
How’s four touchdowns and 261 yards sound? Or three scores and 186 yards in the first half alone?
While his 68-yard and 87-yard touchdowns were impressive, it was the 65-yarder in the third quarter that was the stuff D-1 scholarships are made of.
After it looked like he was going to be stopped at the line of scrimmage, Fry burst out around his line to the right.
From there, he took off around the corner and zipped down the right sideline. A couple of Kamiak defensive backs had the angle on Fry.
It didn’t matter.
“I just looked for daylight,” said Fry, who has phenomenal breakaway speed.
The Marauders (3-1 in league, 3-1 overall) have won two games in a row. The Knights (1-3, 1-3) have dropped two consecutive games.
After scoring the game’s first touchdown (a Clayton Phillips 9-yard pass to Skyler Stormo after a 14-play, 90-yard drive), Kamiak could muster nothing else against the Marauder defense.
“That’s where we won the game,” Ondriezek said. “They really rose to the occasion.”
With a failed aerial attack (Phillips, who was intercepted three times, had numerous balls dropped by his receivers) and top running back Josh Reed limited on the ground (23 yards), the Knights were halted at every turn offensively. Plus, star wide receiver Rebel Hall was held in check facing the speedy secondary of Fry and Jerrel Grant.
About the only Knight that found success was Bryson Kelly, who gained 84 yards.
After Fry’s first touchdown made it 7-7, the game was a defensive struggle as Kamiak managed two first downs in three possessions and Mariner had a couple of three-and-outs.
But at the 2:44 mark of the first half, Fry scored on Mariner’s first play from scrimmage after racing down the right sideline past a plethora of Marauders.
On Mariner’s next possession, sophomore quarterback Tyler Tuiasosopo completed two long passes to set up Fry’s 3-yard touchdown. A two-point conversion pass to Grant (who had Mariner’s final score in the fourth quarter after a Fry one-handed interception) made it 22-7 at halftime.
Next up for the Marauders is another home game vs. Mountlake Terrace on Friday. The Knights face Lynnwood in Edmonds.
At Goddard Stadium
Kamiak0700-7
Mariner02286-36
Kamiak-Stormo 9 pass from Phillips (Reitan kick)
Mariner-Fry 68 run (Rowland kick)
Mariner-Fry 87 run (Rowland kick)
Mariner-Fry 3 run (Grant pass from Tuiasosopo)
Mariner-Fry 65 run (Mwila run)
Mariner-Grant 7 pass from Tuiasosopo (run failed)
Records-Kamiak 1-3 in division and overall. Mariner 3-1, 3-1.
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