GRANITE FALLS – Meridian played at an extremely high level in all three phases of the game at the Trojans defeated Granite Falls 56-6 on Friday night.
Junior running back Joshtyn Elmer enjoyed a career-game with 211 yards from scrimmage (159 rushing and 52 receiving), and four touchdowns. His fourth touchdown came on a scoop-and-score while playing linebacker late in the game from 36 yards out.
The Trojans were in control the entire game, and scored on their first drive when sophomore quarterback Jaeger Fyfe found senior wide receiver Hunter Jones in the corner of the end zone for a 5-yard score.
Moments later, the Tigers were forced to punt, and when the ball hit the turf it took a very friendly Granite Falls roll. Jones retreated back to where the ball was, and slowly picked it up off the ground at his own 1-yard line, and it looked like he was a part of the punt team that was going to down the ball. Multiple Tiger players stood around Jones as Trojan head coach Patrick Ames was jumping up and down on the sideline for Jones to run. The 6-foot-3 165-pound senior then took off with the ball and raced 99 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown, the longest punt return in Whatcom County history.
The Meridian offense was very balanced, with Fyfe completing 22-of-34 passes for 258 yards and the one touchdown. Elmer led on the ground, and senior running back Marcus Castaneda picked up 56 yards rushing on 13 carries, and a touchdown.
Sophomore running back Landon Downey also scored a touchdown just before halftime.
The Trojan defense was stifling all game, allowing just 15 yards of total offense. Jones intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter, the sixth of his career. Sophomores Jaxson Hurlbut and Lincoln Hoefer were stout up front. Hurblut finished with three tackles for loss and sack, while Hoefer racked up two sacks, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Jones also caught six passes for 69 yards, while fellow senior Eli Jensen hauled in six passes for 73 yards. Jensen also connected on six extra points.
Meridian (1-0) will host Chelan (0-1) on Friday night at 6 PM.
Meridian 56 Grantie Falls 6 MER 15 7 13 21 - 56 GF 0 0 6 0 - 6 MER - Jones 5 pass from Fyfe (Jensen kick) MER - Jones 99 punt return (Haugen pass from Fyfe) MER - Downey 1 run (Jensen kick) GF - Adams 4 pass from McGill (run failed) MER - Elmer 61 run (Jensen kick) MER - Elmer 5 run (kick failed) MER - Castaneda 2 run (Jensen kick) MER - Elmer 8 run (Jensen kick) MER - Elmer 36 fumble recovery (Jensen kick) MER GF 36-250 Rush Att-Yards 19-(-20) 22-34-1 Comp-Att-Int 7-25-1 258 Passing Yards 35 Individual Leaders RUSHING - MER: Elmer 13-159, Castaneda 13-56, Downey 4-18, Fyfe 6-17. GF: N/A. PASSING - MER: Fyfe 22-34-1-258. GF: N/A. RECEIVING - MER: Jensen 6-73, Jones 6-69, Elmer 4-52, Nagra 4-30, Downey 2-34. GF: N/A.
