FORKS – A pin-point passing game, coupled with power runs, elevated Meridian over Forks in a 54-7 win on Friday evening.
The Trojans methodically marched down the field on their first drive of the game, which took more than half of the first quarter, and ultimately scored a touchdown on a one-yard plunge by senior Landen Downey.
After forcing a punt, Meridian did the same, and Downey scored his second touchdown of the game, a 17-yard run around right end, in the early stages of the second quarter.
The strong Trojan defense, led by junior linebacker Xavier Perrin, was able to force quick 3-and-outs, in which Meridian took quick advantage of.
Senior quarterback Jaeger Fyfe called his own number on the following Trojan drive, and he weaved through the Spartan defense for a 35-yard touchdown run. An interception by sophomore defensive back Pierce Brzozowski set Meridian up again with a short field, and Fyfe found sophomore Trey Alexander for a 7-yard touchdown to close out the first half scoring.
The Trojans led 27-0 at the half.
Forks was set to receive the second-half kickoff, but the returner was drilled by Perrin which caused the ball to pop loose, and it was quickly recovered by Alexander. Moments later, Fyfe hit Alexander on a corner route for an 18-yard touchdown.
Alexander led Meridian with seven receptions for 118 yards.
Fyfe threw his third touchdown pass of the game later in the quarter, when he found senior running back Ross Driscoll out of the backfield for a 6-yard touchdown.
The Spartans scored their lone touchdown of the game late in the third quarter on a 46-yard touchdown pass.
The Trojans scored twice more in the fourth quarter, one on a 2-yard run by Perrin, and the other came late in the game when junior linebacker Cooper Marum scooped up a fumble and ran it in from 22 yards out.
Fyfe completed 21-of-31 passes for 273 yards, and Perrin led defensively with 11 tackles, one sack and the forced fumble. He was joined by senior defensive tackle Carson Campbell who finished with 8.5 tackles and a stop behind the line of scrimmage.
The Trojans (3-1) will host South Whidbey (1-2) on Friday at 7:00.
Meridian 54 Forks 7 MER 7 20 14 13 - 54 FOR 0 0 7 0 - 7 MER - Downey 1 run (Downey kick) MER - Downey 17 run (Downey kick) MER - Fyfe 35 run (kick failed) MER - Alexander 7 pass from Fyfe (Downey kick) MER - Alexander 18 pass from Fyfe (Downey kick) MER - Driscoll 6 pass from Fyfe (Downey kick) FOR - 46 yard touchdown pass (kick good) MER - Perrin 2 run (Downey kick) MER - Marum 22 fumble return (kick failed) MER FOR 32-147 Rush Att-Yards 29-76 24-34-0 Comp-Att-Int 6-12-1 317 Passing Yards 81 Individual Leaders RUSHING - MER: Downey 11-60, Gray 11-56, Fyfe 5-35, Driscoll 1-4, Perrin 1-2, Alexander 3-(-10). FOR: N/A. PASSING - MER: Fyfe 21-31-0-273, Alexander 3-3-0-44. FOR: N/A. RECEIVING - MER: Alexander 7-118, Hedahl 6-60, Brennan 4-65, Larsen 2-35, Downey 2-19, Todd 1-11, Driscoll 1-6, Gray 1-3. FOR: N/A.
