Tigers chomp T-Wolves
Defending 4A champs shut out Lake City 39-0
It’s hard to imagine the Lewis and Clark football team better last year than it was Friday.
The defending Washington state 4A champion Tigers picked up where they left off, steamrolling the Lake City Timberwolves 39-0 before an estimated crowd of 1,800 at Lake City.
Lewis and Clark handed Lake City its worst loss at home since 1996 when the T-Wolves succumbed to Sandpoint 59-26. It was the first time Lake City was shut out at home since 1995.
How well did things go for the Tigers in their season opener? Speedy senior Vaughn Kapiko broke seemingly a dozen tackles on his way to returning the game’s opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown.
Two more first-quarter touchdowns and the rout was on.
“We made some big plays,” said Tigers coach Tom Yearout, whose team has been picked to win the Greater Spokane League championship. “And I thought our defense – once we saw them for a series – we played pretty well once we adjusted to their speed and their athleticism. That’s a good football team.”
Kapiko’s stellar night was just getting started with the kickoff return. The 6-foot-1, 201-pound receiver added touchdown receptions of 28 and 13 yards, finishing with seven catches for 128 yards.
“We just came out here and did what we were coached to do all week,” said Kapiko, who also starts at defensive back. “We stopped their run game, their pass game and did our jobs. We tried to get 11 players to the ball on every play. Defense wins games. We pride ourselves on our defense.”
If Friday is any indication, the Tigers aren’t going to have much difficulty moving the ball – especially with Kapiko being a target for three-year starting quarterback Taylor Eglet.
Eglet threw several nice balls, completing 12 of 23 for 223 yards and three TDs.
Kapiko was impressed by his team’s debut.
“We came out and did what our game plan was,” Kapiko said. “We definitely have the talent (to win the GSL). We just need to stay focused throughout the season.”
Lewis and Clark took a 34-0 lead into halftime. Eglet’s final TD came when he found Austin Ehlo on a 7-yard fade with 37 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
The Tigers added a 27-yard field goal from Sam Waples and a safety in the third quarter to round out their scoring.
The T-Wolves (1-1) played much better on defense in the second half. But turnovers were a big part of their undoing. They fumbled seven times, losing four and they had two interceptions.
“Football is really a simple game,” T-Wolves coach Van Troxel said. “You block, you tackle and you hang on to the football. We didn’t do those things. Obviously, we haven’t worked hard enough on it.”
Troxel praised the Tigers.
“They’re the defending state champions. They’re not a piece of cake,” Troxel said. “I was very impressed. For a season opener they were very crisp, they were very sharp. They’re a definite contender in the state of Washington.”