Given that Cedarcrest scored 89 points on Sultan the week before, the matchup between winless King’s and the Red Wolves Oct. 6 looked like a possible all-out-rout in the making.
King’s, however, proved it had a bit more fight in it than it showed in previous weeks before succumbing 34-12.
The score remained 0-0 until two Cedarcrest touchdowns late in the first half broke the game open.
In the end, a fine defensive effort by the Knights against Cedarcrest’s wing-T and a breakout game by quarterback Kevin Tranter demonstrated that the Knights’ October agenda to improve is off to a good start.
Cedarcrest’s Brady Paxman, who finished with 11 carries for 86 yards, scored on a 6-yard run touchdown run with 3:47 left in the first half. He added a 4-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left in the half.
The Knights’ defense, which King’s head coach Jim Shapiro said “played lights out,” came up with two first half turnovers, an interception by King’s Sean Brugger and fumble recovery by Elliott Bowman, that squelched Cedarcrest drives.
King’s contained Cedarcrest’s running attack which forced them to throw more, but the Red Wolves were able to pass effectively, especially in the second half.
Backup quarterback Tommy Edwards threw three third quarter touchdown passes to put the game out of reach. Edwards threw a 11-yard strike to Josh Stark, a 41-yard pass down the right sideline to starting quarterback Ernie Child and 13-yarder to running back Darren Collinwood.
Edwards completed 7-of-10 passing 94 yards for the game.
King’s got on the board in the fourth quarter when John Burley, who caught six passes for 111 yards, caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Tranter.
Three minutes later, Tranter found Sean Brugger in the end zone from 15 yards out.
Tranter completed 15-of-35 passes for 199 yards in the game, a season-best for the first-year starter.
“The game plan was to attack the air,” Tranter said. “It showed in film that’s their weak spot.”
Both Tranter and Shapiro credited the offensive line for its play.
“Our offensive line stepped up tonight,” Shapiro said. The pass protection gave him the time he needed.”
Cedarcrest improved to 3-1 in Cascade Conference play and 5-1 overall. King’s fell to 0-4 in conference and 0-6 overall.
The Knights play Coupeville at 4 p.m. today, Friday, Oct. 12. Coupeville, the other Class 1A team in the conference, is vying with the Knights for the top district playoff seed from the conference so this is a pivotal game.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
