MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks earned a statement win on Friday, defeating the Richland Bombers 34-14 in the first game of the football season.   

The Mavericks started strong, claiming a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Bombers responded in the second quarter with 14 unanswered points of their own to tie the game before halftime. From there, Moses Lake turned on the afterburners in the second half, outscoring Richland 20-0 as they stormed to a win at Lions Field.  

“We shot ourselves in the foot a couple times with some penalties, and we know our offense is better than that,” Haneberg said. “Setback-comeback is what we talk about. It helps getting that missed field goal at the very end (of the first half). Gives us an opportunity to get some momentum, and then we just rode with it from there.” 

First half 

The Mavericks scored on their second drive after a fumbled Richland punt snap gave them excellent field position. However, the Richland defense wasn’t going to make it easy, forcing the Mavs against the wall on third-and-16. John Rainey still broke through for the touchdown run to give them the 7-0 lead. 

The Mavs defensive line continued to torment the Richland backfield, refusing to let them get their run game going.  

On the Mavericks next offensive drive, quarterback Nolan Decubber led the team downfield before finding Grady Green over the middle for a 20-plus yard touchdown and increasing their lead to 14-0 just before the end of the first quarter.  

In the second quarter, the Mavs offense was rolling, and Decubber showed poise in the pocket, being mobile on his feet to find open receivers and convert fourth downs. However, on multiple occasions, promising drives were stunted by penalty calls. 

The Bombers utilized sideline passes to open up the offense and move the ball downfield. A deep pass set them up in the redzone before completing an 18-yard touchdown to put the game within one score at 14-7.  

After another Mavs offensive drive was stunted by penalties, the Bombers came out and scored quickly on a 66-yard touchdown pass over the middle to tie the game 14-14. In the final minutes of the half, Richland forced another Moses Lake three-and-out.  

The Bombers initially returned the punt for a touchdown, but a penalty called it back but still gave them an advantage with field position. With about 10 seconds left, they opted to try a field goal. Haneberg called a timeout, icing the kicker, which proved to work as on their next attempt it missed the posts, leaving the game tied at halftime.

According to Taggart Rathbun, the message at halftime was simple – flush the first half. 

“No matter where the score is. Zero-zero, come out at half, reset, no matter what, and we're going to come out and we're going to punch them in the face. Doesn't matter what first half was,” Rathbun said.  

Second half 

The Mavericks opened the second half with the ball and did not waste their time taking the momentum back. Decubber found Case Anderson on a screen pass, a few shaken tackles later and he sprinted down the sideline for a 45-yard touchdown, reclaiming the lead 21-14. 

Another Richland kick return gave them strong field position, but the Mavs defense rose to the occasion and eventually forced a turnover on downs. After the Mavs went three-and-out, the Bombers took over on offense once again. While the trenches continued to plug gaps and prevent the run game from warming up, Rathbun made one of the highlights of the night.  

He picked off the Bombers quarterback, but it was called back due to a holding penalty taking place just before the catch. However, that was no issue for him as he proceeds to pick off the Richland quarterback on the very next play, this time it stood.  

“He's good at not letting little things stop him and get in the way,” Haneberg said. “He's good about flushing stuff, and so he flushed it immediately after, and then getting a pick on the very next one, a play that we'd practiced numerous times. We knew was coming, and so he was ready for it.”  

The Mavs took over on offense, and they got back to work. They started to lean on the run game to move the chains. Petrah Mackenzie channeled his inner ‘Beast Mode’ as he steam rolled a Bombers defender on his way into the endzone for another Mavericks touchdown, increasing their lead to 27-14 heading into the fourth quarter.  

From there, the Mavericks had complete control of the game, finding the endzone once again on a short rushing touchdown for Rainey, who leaped over a defender and trucked another on his way to his second score of the night.

The Mavericks defense held Richland scoreless the rest of the way as they sealed the win – the first win under Haneberg who was named the head coach in the spring.  

“Just getting to this point and seeing all the hard work pay off and seeing the culture that I've put in and help extend is working,” Haneberg said. “These guys are all bought in, my job is easier when all my guys are bought in, and I just have so much love for all these guys and everyone for being here. All my family that came, it means a lot to see everyone here.”  

Also ushering in a new era for the Mavs is Decubber, who takes over for former Maverick Brady Jay. He credited his teammates for making his transition into the starting role smooth and praised the team for how they responded in the second half.  

“I think it's a really good sign,” Decubber said. “They come down, score two touchdowns in a row before halftime. We just go in there and collect ourselves again and come out ready to go and punch them back.” 

The Mavericks are on the road next week for another non-league challenge at Coeur d’Alene.  

“Can't let it get to our heads,” the coach said. “Good win, now Coeur d’Alene, number three team in Idaho. Enjoy this for tonight, and then right back to CDA.”