ISSAQUAH – It sure didn’t look like a week one game for Meridian as the Trojans made few mistakes on their way to a 28-7 win over Deer Park at Issaquah High School on Saturday night.
The game was originally scheduled to be played at 1:00 at Cashmere High School, but was moved late due to poor air quality.
Right out of the gate, Meridian went to the air as junior quarterback Trey Alexander was 6-for-7 for 65 yards on the opening drive, which included receptions by four different receivers. The drive concluded with a 25-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Daniel Larsen on a middle screen.
Alexander then showed his deep ball ability on the following drive when he lofted a pass deep down the seam which landed perfectly in the hands of streaking sophomore River Todd for a 49-yard touchdown.
The Trojan passing game continued on point in the second quarter, and Alexander tossed his third touchdown of the half when he hit junior Kayson Culp on a 3-yard corner route.
Larsen caught his second touchdown of the game in the third quarter, an 8-yarder from Alexander, who finished the game competing 21-of-26 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns. Larsen and Todd each had seven receptions, and combined for 188 yards receiving. Junior wide receiver Kasey Brennan added six catches for 58 yards.
The Stags ripped off a 34-yard run with 4:40 remaining in the game, and up until that point, the Meridian defense had only given up 24 total yards of offense. Deer Park found its way into the end zone on its final drive of the game.
Senior linebacker Xavier Perrin led the defense with 7.5 tackles, including two quarterback sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss. Junior safety Pierce Brzozowski added 5.5 tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass defended and an interception which he returned 32 yards.
The Trojans (1-0) will travel to Omak (1-0) to face the Pioneers at 6:00 on Friday.
Meridian 28 Deer Park 7 DP 0 0 0 7 - 7 MER 14 7 7 0 - 28 MER - Larsen 25 pass from Alexander (Virk kick) MER - Todd 49 pass from Alexander (Virk kick) MER - Culp 3 pass from Alexander (Virk kick) MER - Larsen 8 pass from Alexander (Virk kick) DP - 1 yard touchdown run (kick good) DP MER 30-70 Rush Att-Yards 17-50 3-9-1 Comp-Att-Int 24-30-1 22 Passing Yards 253 Individual Leaders RUSHING - DP: N/A. MER: Valich 7-28, Perrin 1-21, Strunk 3-13, Alexander 2-4, Manzer 2-2, Brzozowski 2-(-18). PASSING - DP: N/A. MER: Alexander 21-26-1-245, Brzozowski 2-3-0-8, Burgess 1-1-0-0. RECEIVING - DP: N/A. MER: Larsen 7-98, Todd 7-90, Brennan 6-58, Culp 3-7, Brzozowski 1-0.
