A lot went wrong in Mo Owen’s high school head coaching debut for Medical Lake, a 29-24 loss on the road to the Kellogg Wildcats, Sept. 2.
The good news is that what led to the defeat is fixable, Owen said of his Cardinals, who sprinkled a number of bright spots amidst some stumbles that ultimately decided the game.
Kellogg (1-1) from Idaho’s Intermountain League, got three touchdowns from running back Ryan Morgan, including the score that put host team in the lead for good, 29-22 with 5 minutes, 15 seconds to play.
Medical Lake scored a safety with 2:34 to play as Ben Wells and Devonte Ratslaff sacked the Kellogg quarterback in the end zone.
“Technique-wise, we were just not very good,” Owen said. “Effort, for the most part was really good.”
After trailing 7-0 on Raiden Rickets’ 1-yard run with 6:45 to play in the first quarter, the Cardinals answered quickly, just 44 second later, when Phillip Murray raced 56 yards for a touchdown that closed it to 7-6 following a failed 2-point passing conversion.
Medical Lake got the lead on Ty Masteller’s 45-yard field goal, the longest in at least the past 10 years, with 7:14 to play in the first half.
Things got lively in the final minute of the opening half as following Morgan’s first touchdown, a 1-yard run that gave the Wildcats a 13-9 lead with 38 seconds to play, Grant Vercoe of the Cardinals caught a pass from Kyle Thompson for 42 yards and a 16-13 ML lead at the break.
Kellogg took its time to regain the lead as Morgan had his second score, this one from 25 yards out with 59 seconds to play in the third quarter and the Wildcats enjoyed a 21-16 edge.
Dylan Vercoe gave Medical Lake one last lead at 22-21 with his 16-yard touchdown reception from Thompson with 10:46 to play.
The game ended with Morgan’s third score and the ML safety.
One stat jumped off the page at Owen and that was five lost turnovers, three fumbles and a pair of interceptions.
“Late in the game we were up and turned the ball over, and that’s on me,” Owen said. “We (the coaches) didn’t go over when we’re up (ahead), how we protect the ball.”
The running game was a bright spot for the Cardinals as they rushed for 219 yards on 32 carries. Murray ran for 108 yards on 12 carries while Masteller had 65 on seven carries.
Thompson, who had not played football since middle school, but managed to throw for 159 yards, earned compliments from Owen.
“For the most part he ran it right,” Owen said. “Option football is all about reading defenses. No one has played option football at Medical Lake. We were 8 of 22 but I think the percentage is going to go up.”
Medical Lake has its home opener Friday at Holliday Field at 7 p.m. versus Priest River (0-1), who is also from the Intermountain League.
“After watching film, they’re not afraid, they bring it all the time,” Owen said of the Trojans.
Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.
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