EDMONDS A year ago, the Meadowdale Mavericks required a last-second, go-ahead touchdown to defeat Edmonds-Woodway 34-31 in a tightly contested matchup. On Friday evening, the Mavericks executed a decisive blowout, securing a 38-14 victory over their rivals to improve to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in league play, while the Warriors fell to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in league action.
The contest concluded with a 48-yard scoring pass completed with 24 seconds remaining. The Mavericks head coach explained that he inserted his backup quarterback, a sophomore who missed his entire freshman year due to a fractured leg sustained in eighth grade, to provide valuable experience. The coach noted that while the opposing sideline may have objected to the play call, his priority was building the team's future and granting the young player confidence. The coach characterized the atmosphere as a Super Bowl-like scenario, a sentiment he noted was echoed by the opposition the previous year, and stated that his team treats such matchups with the utmost seriousness. He referred to the rivalry as his program's version of the Apple Cup. The opposing head coach was unavailable for comment following the conclusion of the game.
Meadowdale’s defense proved to be the deciding factor, limiting the opposition to an average of 12.8 points per game this season. A senior defender emphasized that the unit's success stems from physicality, specifically the defensive line's ability to establish dominance at the point of attack to enable secondary players to create turnovers. The Mavericks recorded interceptions from a defensive back and a junior defensive back, while other seniors and a sophomore contributed significant plays. The opposing team's senior wide receiver accumulated 132 receiving yards and 51 rushing yards, accounting for two touchdowns.
The game initially appeared poised to become a high-scoring affair as both offenses converted on their opening drives. The Warriors marched 69 yards over 13 plays, capping the sequence with a one-yard rushing touchdown. This drive was aided by a 15-yard completion on third-and-long and a subsequent 15-yard roughing the passer penalty.
Meadowdale’s quarterback, a senior, completed 21 of 31 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. A senior running back contributed 94 rushing yards and 140 total scrimmage yards with a touchdown, while a defensive back recorded six receptions for 62 yards.
Meadowdale answered with a scoring drive of its own. Zekiah Gamble gained 24 yards on a play-action fake to Rivera before completing a 39-yard pass to junior Kevaughn Steich down the right sideline, tying the score at 7-7.
"I believe in my abilities and the training I put in in the offseason," Gamble said. "I really rely on my receivers, too. If I get the ball out there, they can catch it."
Following stops by Swanson and junior Isaac Wirtz on fourth-and-one to force a turnover on downs, the teams exchanged punts before the Mavericks advanced into Edmonds-Woodway's red zone. Penalties pushed the offense back, however, leading to a 44-yard field goal by senior Holden Johnson for a 10-7 advantage.
Brown put Meadowdale in control by intercepting a deep pass and returning it to the Warriors' 35-yard line, giving his team strong field position. Five plays later, Zekiah Gamble threw a screen pass to Swanson, who broke through defenders for an 11-yard touchdown, making it 17-7 with 3:45 left in the half.
"It brings the team a lot of energy," Brown said of the interception. "That's what we need to go beat Woodway."
The Warriors punted on their next series, but the Mavericks muffed the return, giving Edmonds-Woodway new life. The defensive line maintained pressure and forced a fumble to regain possession while holding the 10-point lead.
With 1:33 remaining and 63 yards to go to extend the lead before halftime, Meadowdale drove near the goal line but fumbled inside the red zone with five seconds left.
Turnover troubles persisted into the second half when the Warriors blocked a field goal attempt and recovered the ball near midfield to end the opening drive of the period.
"I try and always stay calm, cool, collected, but three turnovers in critical situations... But the defense had our back, and then our special teams had our back and came out," Antwoine Gamble said. "It was a full team win. Offensively, yes, we're averaging 40-plus points a game [35.3 after Friday]. It'd be nice to be able to keep that up, especially if we shoot ourselves in the foot like that."
The defensive support continued in the third quarter as the Meadowdale defense forced a punt, a turnover on downs and another punt on three straight series. With timely outside blitzes, Edmonds-Woodway was forced into rushed throws that fell incomplete.
The offense responded with consecutive 11-yard runs to close the third quarter, and Rivera carried the first play of the fourth for a 20-yard touchdown to give the Mavericks a 24-7 lead.
Meadowdale nearly forced another long fourth-down situation, but a roughing-the-passer penalty kept the Warriors' drive alive, which ended with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Schlack on fourth-and-17 to cut the deficit to 24-14 with 8:18 remaining. Meadowdale answered in 2:57 with an eight-play, 67-yard touchdown drive capped by a 19-yard pass to senior Owen Fulford to restore the three-possession lead.
Edmonds-Woodway’s season-defining opportunity slipped away late, sealed by a critical interception in the end zone by Wilson. The Mavericks responded with purpose, advancing the ball downfield before Green connected with Baker for a decisive touchdown. Baker’s performance stood out, as he hauled in two key receptions totaling 81 yards, including the game’s pivotal score.
The victory over a longstanding rival preserved an undefeated record and marked a strong start to league action. Meadowdale’s focus extends beyond wins and losses, it’s about cohesion, with the program emphasizing unity over isolated talent. Players and coaches alike celebrate each snap, and the team has fully embraced a rugged, physical identity developed over recent seasons.
“We don’t just stand, we bend, but we don’t break,” noted Antwoine Gamble. “Above all, it comes down to heart and belief. I always point to my head, there’s control there, and to my heart, where control lives too. That’s what we focused on this game: keeping our minds and spirits locked in. We held that ground, and it showed in how we took over.”