SEATTLE – It was a fast start for Meridian as it scored four touchdowns in the first quarter as the Trojans beat Nathan Hale 48-15 at the Northeast Athletic Complex on Friday night.
The first touchdown was scored just few plays into the game after Meridian forced the Raiders into a 3-and-out situation. That was when junior Kelley Gray busted through the middle to block a punt, which was caught out of the air by junior Ross Driscoll, who then muscled his way through would-be tacklers for 16 yards and into the end zone.
Moments later it was senior linebacker Joshtyn Elmer who intercepted a pass, and he returned it inside the Nathan Hale 5-yard line, where junior quarterback Jaeger Fyfe would score a few plays later.
Two plays later, on the next Raider possession, an errant snap was fumbled by the quarterback and Driscoll was on the spot once again as he scooped up the football while in the end zone.
Junior running back Landen Downey also scored a pair of touchdowns for the second week in a row, and led the Trojans in receiving with five catches for 106 yards.
Fyfe completed 10-of-20 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns. His other two touchdown passes were completed to Elmer and senior wide receiver Cohen Fuller.
Elmer did his normal double-duty, as he rushed for 81 yards and had two receptions for 81 yards. He also led the defense with 8.5 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions.
The Trojans (3-1) will begin conference play on Friday when they host Nooksack Valley (3-1) at 7:00.
Meridian 48 Nathan Hale 15 MER 28 14 0 6 - 48 NH 0 6 2 7 - 15 MER - Driscoll 16 blocked punt return (Downey kick) MER - Fyfe 2 run (Downey kick) MER - Driscoll recovered fumble in end zone (Downey kick) MER - Downey 1 run (Downey kick) NH - 68 yard touchdown pass (kick failed) MER - Downey 15 pass from Fyfe (Downey kick) MER - Fuller 5 pass from Fyfe (Downey kick) NH - Safety, ball fumbled through back of end zone MER - Elmer 31 pass from Fyfe (kick failed) NH - 3 yard touchdown run (kick good) MER NH 27-150 Rush Att-Yards 18-2 10-20-1 Comp-Att-Int 12-31-2 224 Passing Yards 247 Individual Leaders RUSHING - MER: Elmer 11-81, Downey 5-29, Larsen 1-21, Valich 2-11, Gray 2-8, Klinkhammer 1-6, Driscoll 1-5, Alexander 1-(-2), Fyfe 3-(-9). NH: N/A. PASSING - MER: Fyfe 10-20-1-224. NH: N/A. RECEIVING - MER: Downey 5-106, Elmer 2-81, Fuller 2-28, Haugen 1-9. NH: N/A.
