Cruisers pick up first win of the season
After a rough start to the season, the Cruisers welcomed Orting to B.W. Lyons Stadium this past Friday.
Orting would come into the game with a 1-0 record after beating Renton 28-7 in a lightning shortened game last week. Their season opener against Cascade Christian was called due to lightning as well 6 minutes into the game with the cardinals down 14-0.
The Cruisers would be their 0-2 record into the game following two tough games against the #1 team in the state (Archbishop Murphy) for the 2A classification and the #3 team in 1A Cascade Christian.
What we have learned over the years in this rivalry that started back in the 1940’s is, records mean nothing. It seems to always be a close game. This year’s match up was just that.
The Cruisers would strike first. After Zach Smith’s opening kick return touchdown was called back due to holding, the Cruisers would keep to the ground with Zach Smith and Alex Brymer doing all the work. They would march 76 yards down the field and cap the drive off when Alex Brymer dove into the endzone from 1 yard out. Job Kralik’s extra point kick would sail through the uprights to give the Cruisers a 7-0.
The Cardinals would waste not time answering back. After a great kick return to their own 49-yard line, they would rely heavily on the run game and march down the field. Ethan Hobart would run the ball in from 8 yards out for the score. Job Kralik would block the ensuing extra point and the Cruisers would still lead, 7-6.
The two teams would give the ball back to each other via punts, until midway into the 2nd quarter. Orting’s Ridge Salazar was trying to get the ball to Torrey Bannan but mistimed his throw and it was intercepted by the Cruisers Jager Roulst. That would set the Cruisers up 1st and 10 at the Orting 22-yard line. A few plays later the Cruisers would capitalize on the Cardinal turnover when Zach Smith would find Job Kralik in the endzone for a 22-yard Cruiser touchdown. Kralik would kick the extra point through and the Cruisers would take a 14-6.
On their next drive, Orting would go 65 yards down the field and would cap the drive off with another Ethan Hobart score from 5 yards out. The Cardinals would attempt a two-point conversion, but the Cruiser defense would smother the ball carrier and the attempt would be unsuccessful. Eatonville would take a 14-12 lead into halftime.
Orting would receive the ball to start the second half. After another great return, they would get their offense started at their 49-yard line and the Cruiser defense wouldn’t allow them to go anywhere with the ball and they would punt. Orting’s defense would return the favor and force the Cruisers to punt. Eatonville’s Zach Smith would uncork a beautiful kick that would pin the Cardinals back on their own 15-yard line. It would be a 50 plus yard punt for Smith.
Orting would put together a long drive all the way to the Cruiser 13-yard line where a bad snap would result in a fumble that would be recovered by Eatonville’s Alex Brymer.
After a long reception by Kralik and a long run by Brymer, the Cruisers would capitalize off the Orting fumble when Alex Brymer would find the endzone again for his second touchdown of the night. Kralik’s extra point kick would be good and Eatonville would take a 21-12 lead.
Like they had done all night, Orting would answer back with a score of their own when quarterback Ridge Salazar would find Daniel Hobart wide open in the endzone for the score. After the extra point, the Cardinals would pull within two point, 21-19 as the third quarter would end.
Both teams would trade punts back and forth. With a little over wo minutes left in the game and the ball on the 5-yard line, the Cruisers would run a designed quarterback keep and Zach Smith would run it in from 5b yards out. Kralik’s kick would be good to extend the Cruiser lead to 28-19.
With 2:13 left in the game, after the kick, Orting would start at their own 21-yard line. The Cruiser defense would come up big and the Cardinals would turn the ball over on downs. The Cruisers would then kneel the ball to run the clock out and take the 28-12 victory.
The Cruisers stuck to the run for most of the night and would finish would 273 yards rushing. Brymer would finish with 144 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Smith would chip in 75 yards on the ground and a touchdown and Kralik would have three catches for 55 yards and a score.
Up next for Eatonville will be a home game against the Washington Patriots (1-2). This will be the Cruisers first league game of the season.
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