Chewelah Chews Up Lakeside

The chasm between Chewelah and the rest of the Northeast A swallowed up Lakeside on Friday.

Chewelah’s 42-0 demolition should be proof enough that the third-ranked Cougars (5-0, 7-0) are helmets and shoulder pads above the rest of the league.

After all, Lakeside (4-1, 4-3) is still the team to beat for the league’s second spot to the state playoffs.

“I’m new to this league and don’t know everything about it, but I do know we must have played a good game,” said first-year Chewelah coach Roy Albertson.

That the Cougars could score points was never in doubt, considering they have averaged more than 40 points and 400 yards per game.

From its first play, however, Lakeside sought to test Chewelah’s inexperienced defensive backfield. The Cougars passed the test, so to speak, by intercepting George Petticrew four times.

“Our main worry was to shut them out with our defense,” said Cory McLaughlin, who joined fellow senior Brett Skok with two interceptions apiece.

Chewelah scored on six of its first seven possessions. Running the option, Dan Macrae handed off to halfback Cody Katzer 20 times, gave the ball to fullback Greg Belzer another nine times, and mixed in a few quarterback keepers and passes to keep the Eagles defense honest.

When Lakeside possessions weren’t ending with interceptions, other poor luck transpired. Punter Ryan Chicoine - one possession after nearly pinning Chewelah at its 1-yard line - tried to sidestep a rush but had his kick blocked by Jason Landram and recovered at the Eagles 16.

Lakeside’s best drive of the half, to the Cougars 32 with time running down, ended on a QB sack.

The second half began no better for the Eagles. A flubbed Chewelah kickoff danced away from an up man, leaving time for Johnny-on-the-spot McLaughlin to collect another turnover.

“Usually I stay back (on kickoffs) but I saw Luke Sheppard hit the guy hard, and the ball popped out,” McLaughlin said.

Katzer gained 76 yards and Belzer 67 as the Cougars accounted for 244 rushing yards. Petticrew completed 8 of 19 for 94 yards; Macrae 4 of 7 for 70, with no interceptions.

Chewelah 42, Lakeside 0

Lakeside 0 0 0 0 - 0

Chewelah 6 18 6 12 - 42

C-Belzer 3 run (kick failed)

C-Belzer 9 run (pass failed)

C-Katzer 3 run (run failed)

C-Katzer 2 run (kick failed)

C-Katzer 5 run (kick failed)

C-Rogers 12 pass from Macrae (kick failed)

C-Miller 17 run (kick failed)

, DataTimes