Yakima Herald

Mustangs find timing, win big
By PAUL SHUGAR
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
 

SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic Prosser's Kellen Moore, center, looks to pass as Selah's Trevor Leist (35) and Bryce Hodson defend on Friday night at Karl Graf Field in Selah.

SELAH — Something about the usually unstoppable Prosser offense looked a little off against Selah.

Quarterback Kellen Moore came out and missed his first three passes — a rarity for the top passer in the CWAC. The wide receivers struggled to get open against Selah's man-to-man defense at Karl Graf Field. With two Mustang wideouts just back from injury, the timing looked a little off.

Even with the sputters, top-ranked Prosser (6-0 in league, 7-0 overall) won 61-28 on Friday to remain undefeated. One of the two wide receivers back, Kirby Moore, caught three touchdown passes to finish with five catches for 94 yards. His quarterback brother, Kellen, finished 20 of 34 for 276 yards and five touchdowns.

So the offense was struggling against the Vikings (4-2, 4-3)?

"(Selah) did a really good job in man-to-man coverage," Prosser coach Tom Moore said. "It was tough for our
receivers to get open and they had to work to get open. It's really good to get that kind of work against that kind of defense."

Despite the so-called struggles, Prosser was in control from the start with Kirby Moore catching touchdown passes of 5 and 14 yards. He caught another on a 22-yard pass right before halftime to give the Mustangs a 34-7 lead at the break.

Kirby Moore was playing in his first game back since suffering an ACL strain. The other Moore, Andy Moore, was seeing his first action since breaking his collarbone at the start of the season. With tight end Kellen Crawford still on the sidelines with an ankle injury, this has Kellen Moore getting to know his favorite targets once again.

"We're still off a little bit," Kellen Moore said. "I was overshooting them by a foot sometimes. We've not really been on the same page."

The running game is part of the reason why the passing problems seemed nonexistent. Jarod Leighty led the way with 15 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns — 28 and 7 yards.

SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic Selah's Kyle Washut lets fly with a pass Friday night against Prosser at Selah.

With the people chasing him on the depth chart — Kody Frank and Steve Natho scored on a 90-yard kick return and on a 45-yard run, respectively — having great days, Leighty notched his second touchdown after fumbling on the drive before.

That bobble allowed Selah's Jeremy Franck to score his second of three touchdowns on the day — he closed the big day with a 50-yard punt return. Leighty responded, running six times for 67 yards before falling into the end zone from seven yards out.

Getting the ball that much was exactly what he wanted.

"The drive before I had a fumble and I needed to make up for it," Leighty said. "We have a lot of good running back and it's a battle in practice every week.

"No. 20 (Natho) is really good and he's right on my tail. I want to stay ahead of him."

Prosser 12 22 20 7 — 61

Selah 0 7 7 14 — 28

Pros — Kirby Moore 5 pass from Kellen Moore (kick failed)

Pros — Ki. Moore 14 pass from Ke. Moore (pass failed)

Sel — Jeremy Franck 5 run (Trevor Leist kick)

Pros — Kody Frank 90 kick return (pass failed)

Pros — Cody Bruns 10 pass from Ke. Moore (Bruns pass from Ke. Moore)

Pros — Ki. Moore 22 pass from Ke. Moore (Bruns pass from Ke. Moore)

Pros — Jarod Leighty 28 run (Trevor Fox kick)

Pros — Steve Natho 45 run (Fox kick)

Pros — Cory Engbretson 17 pass from Ke. Moore (kick failed)

Sel — Cameron Eaton 39 pass from Kyle Washut (Leist kick)

Sel — Franck 9 run (Leist kick)

Pros — Leighty 7 run (Fox kick)

Sel — Franck 50 punt return (Leist kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Pros, Ke. Moore 2-(negative 26), Leighty 15-149, Steve Natho 5-65, Frank 2-8, Jordan Heintz 5-8. Sel, Trevor Leist 5-11, Mike Surratt 10-18, Washut 7-(negative 34), Franck 3-12, Bryce Hodson 4-23, Floyd Wade 1-(negative 5).

PASSING — Pros, Ke. Moore 20-34-0 276, Jordan Durbin 1-2-0 3. Sel, Washut 12-26-2 133, Justin Windsor 0-3-0 0.

RECEIVING — Pros, Cody Bruns 7-95, Serg Torres 3-34, Ki. Moore 5-94, Leighty 1-4, Engbretson 4-40, Andy Moore 1-12. Sel, Cameron Eaton 5-84, Josh Thompson 1-5, Cody Collier 2-2, Leist 2-8, Casey Gentz 2-34.