Tristan Ridley went for over 100 yards on the ground, four Pirates scored touchdowns, and the Adna defense kept the Morton-White Pass offense out of the end zone in a 38-6 win at home Saturday afternoon.
With the rain falling, and conditions slippery and wet, the Pirates (2-1) ran the ball 31 times for 174 of their 219 total yards. Ridley led the way, with 109 yards and two touchdowns, but quarterback Lane Johnson also scored twice and Luke Mohney was the third Pirate to score on the ground in the second quarter. Aaron Aselton accounted for the Pirates last touchdown, a 69 yard punt return for a score in the third quarter.
After a tough loss to Napavine out of the gate in Week 1, this win is just what the doctor ordered for Adna and head coach KC Johnson.
“I was really proud, they’re getting better every game, that’s what we need to do,” he said. “We’ve got 45 guys out and 30 of them are freshmen or sophomores. We know we’re young and we know it's tough to be physical with big teams with Napavine, Kalama, and Ony. We gotta do what we gotta do and just get better every week and I’m seeing that. I’m pretty happy with these kids.”
The Pirates led from start to finish, scoring three touchdowns in the first half to take a commanding 18-0 lead, and late in the fourth, leading 38-0 before the JV offense coughed up the football and allowed the Timberwolves (2-1) to get a scoop and score. It was MWP’s only points of the game.
“They have some really good athletes, and we knew every time they got a broken play they could get some explosive plays,” Johnson said of MWP’s offense. “They have some fast kids and some big guys up front.”
The Pirates defense gave up just 66 yards of total offense, and stuffed the Timberwolves running game, holding them to -29 rushing yards. Additionally, junior lineman Kody Christen created havoc for MWP’s punter, blocking two punts.
Though the loss against Napavine two weeks ago hurt, Johnson is seeing a newfound confidence in his team as they head into yet another tough matchup with Kalama next week.
“We know we have a tough task going to Kalama,” he said. “We just want to go compete and get better and maybe shock them. We’ve done it before, we’re one of the few schools that have beaten them in the last few years. Hopefully we can go play well.”
