Newport coach Mike Miller was somewhat at a loss for words following the Knights loss to Eastlake Friday night.
“I don’t have much to say, just that I’m totally disappointed,” Miller said. “I thought we could beat this team.”
In the early going, it sure looked like Newport would. The Knights forced the Wolves to turn the ball over on downs on their first possession, intercepted quarterback Keegan Kemp on Eastlake’s second possession and blocked a 37-yard field goal on the Wolves next drive.
But the Wolves turned the momentum early in the second half, then their defense held strong when the Knights had a shot to tie the game up late, as Eastlake beat Newport 34-21.
Eastlake (4-1, 2-0 KingCo 4A) led 28-21 and was looking to put the game out of reach when it fumbled deep in Newport territory with just 4:30 to play. The Knights recovered the ball at their 1-yard line. All that sat between Newport and a tie ballgame was 99 yards.
“99 yards to go,” said Eastlake senior cornerback Robert Sharps. “We could change the game by getting to their quarterback.”
Newport faced a 4th-and-11 from their 11-yard line when sophomore quarterback Isaac Dotson scrambled and was forced out of bounds by several Eastlake defenders downfield. The referees huddled, concluded the spot and Newport turned the ball over by less than a yard.
Eastlake would add a final touchdown by Sam Gilliss on a 4-yard run with less than 40 seconds to play to add to the final margin.
Things looked good for Newport (3-2, 0-1) early. The Knights led 7-0 just two plays after forcing Eastlake to turn the ball over on downs. Dotson went untouched for a 24-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper.
Eastlake tied things up halfway through the second quarter when Kemp hit a wide-open Brian Quick in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown strike. Newport again took the lead on their next drive as Dotson hit Kevin Martin on a perfectly executed slant route for a 65-yard touchdown reception.
After the teams traded punts, the Wolves needed just 11 seconds and two plays to tie things up as Gilliss scored his first touchdown of the night on a 4-yard run.
The second half opened up with a play that changed everything. After a touchback, the Knights fumbled on their first play – and Eastlake took complete advantage, as Quick scored his second touchdown of the night on a 5-yard end-around.
“Momentum killer,” Miller said. “I felt like we came out well, we had a good game plan and we just shot ourselves in the foot. We’ve been doing that the last couple of weeks. I’m just disappointed.”
Eastlake extended their lead when Kemp, son of former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jeff Kemp and grandson of longtime politician and professional football player Jack Kemp, hit 6-foot-6 Colin Nelson on a perfectly thrown ball in the back of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown. Kemp finished the game 10 of 17 for 157 yards and two scores.
“Keegan played a great game,” said running back and offense workhorse Kyle Lappano, who rushed for a team-high 116 yards on 24 carries. “He stayed composed, and when we needed a big play, he threw beautiful passes.”
James Dupar scored on a 7-yard run with 8:55 left to play for Newport’s final points. Dupar ended the game with 93 yards on 13 carries. Dotson led all rushers with 117 yards on 16 carries.
Eastlake’s win gives the Wolves a fourth-straight victory over Newport since the Knights entered KingCo 4A in 2008. Eastlake beat the Knights twice last season, the second time coming in a three-way mini-playoff for the conference’s final playoff spot.
“Huge win in terms of the standings,” said Eastlake coach Gene Dales. “Proud of our kids for the growth they made there.”
Other Scores
Bellevue 49, Mercer Island 31
Mount Si 28, Interlake 7
Lake Washington 38, Sammamish 14
