The Rainier football team started league play off on a high note on Friday, as the Mountaineers toppled Morton-White Pass, 64-34, in Morton.
The Mountaineers had no problem scoring throughout the contest, as they scored nine touchdowns, including at least two in all four quarters.
Rainier took advantage of several big plays, including touchdowns of 87, 68 and 40 yards, and they also took advantage of short fields on five Morton-White Pass turnovers.
“It was really good to improve to 2-1 and get our first league game. This one felt good,” Rainier football head coach Andy Bartell said. “Going into next week, we have a lot of confidence, and we feel like we can keep rolling if we have a hard week of practice and stay disciplined to our assignments.”
In all, Rainier tallied 456 total yards of offense, including 377 yards on the ground.
Kaden Goodman led the team with 91 yards on just three carries, as most of his production came on an 87-yard touchdown in the fourth. He also punched in an 8-yard TD, while Dorien Cano added 88 yards and a TD on 12 carries, and Hunter Howell tallied 85 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries.
Outside of the turnovers, the T-Wolves had some success offensively, as Judah Kelly led the way with two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and a kickoff return touchdown.
“We were running the ball so well that we didn’t take many shots and just stuck with what was working,” Bartell said. “We did hit Hunter (Howell) for a 40-yard reception, and his brother Keagin opened the scoring with a 45-yard touchdown catch.
“We kept rotating young guys in and out,” Bartell added. “We got good nights from Dominick Cano, who had to start for us as a freshman. Also, Kaden Goodman ran the ball well and had two fourth quarter touchdowns.”
Rainier will return home to host Onalaska at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27.
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Nisqually Valley News reporter Jacob Dimond contributed to the story.
Box Score
At Morton
MOUNTAINEERS 64, TIMBERWOLVES 34
Rainier 16 12 22 14 — 64
MWP 0 16 6 12 — 34
Scoring Summary
RAIN (Q1) — Jacob Meldrum 40-yard pass to Hunter Howell (Two-point good)
RAIN (Q1) — Dorien Cano 27-yard run (Two-point good)
MWP (Q2) — Gatlin Fuller 12-yard run (Two-point good)
RAIN (Q2) — Jayden Alegarbes 68-yard kickoff return (Two-point failed)
MWP (Q2) — Judah Kelly 62-yard pass to Kohen Ingalsbe (Two-point good)
RAIN (Q2) — Howell 5-yard run (Two-point failed)
RAIN (Q3) — Meldrum 2-yard run (Two-point failed)
MWP (Q3) — Kelly 86-yard kickoff return (Two-point failed)
RAIN (Q3) — Meldrum 1-yard run (Two-point good)
RAIN (Q3) — Howell 7-yard run (Two-point good)
MWP (Q4) — Kelly 22-yard pass to Noah Troy (Two-point failed)
RAIN (Q4) — Kaden Goodman 8-yard run (Two-point good)
RAIN (Q4) — Goodman 87-yard run (Two-point failed)
MWP (Q4) — Kelly 14-yard run (Two-point failed)
Team Stats RAIN, MWP
First Downs 18, 16
Rushing Yards 377, 295
Passing Yards 79, 79
Total Yards 456, 374
Comp-Att-Int 2-3-0, 5-11-2
Fumbles/Lost 1/0, 5/3
Individual Stats
Rushing: RAIN — Goodman 3/91/2 TDs, Cano 12/88/TD, Howell 10/85/2 TDs; MWP — Logan Mays 9/120,
Kelly 12/88/TD
Passing: RAIN — Meldrum 2-3/79/TD; MWP —
Kelly 5-11/79/2 TDs
Receiving: RAIN — Howell 1/40/TD; MWP — Race McKenzie 1/30
