Gonzaga Prep has won 16 straight. Are people taking them seriously enough in the 4A playoffs? 3 observations

SPOKANE - Sixth-seeded Gonzaga Prep defeated Moses Lake, 56-7, at Bullpup Stadium on Friday night to move into the quarterfinals of the WIAA Class 4A state football playoffs.

And that pleased the longtime coach of the Greater Spokane League champions.

"To come out of the first round of 16 is beautiful," Gonzaga Prep coach Dave McKenna said. "These kids work extremely hard. These coaches work extremely hard."

The Bullpups' undefeated season lives after after rushing for more than 300 yard and forcing four turnovers against the Chiefs. They will play the winner of the Lake Stevens-Richland first-round matchup Saturday.

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Here’s three observations from the Gonzaga Prep-Moses Lake game:

CHIEFS DIG THEMSELVES EARLY HOLE

Giving a juggernaut offense like the Bullpups extra possessions and opportunities is not a recipe for success for opposing teams.

Moses Lake found that early in the ballgame Friday.

After Brock Clark failed to convert a fourth down on the team's opening possession, the Bullpups took over and put together a methodical drive, picking up chunks of yardage on the ground.

And on fourth and 3, quarterback Ryan McKenna kept it himself for a 6-yard gain to keep the offense on the field.

On the next play, sophomore tailback Matteo Saccomanno rushed up the middle for a 15-yard score, putting the Bullpups up, 7-0.

The Chiefs' second possession was short-lived, too.

On the first play, Moses Lake mishandled the pitch in the backfield, and Gonzaga Prep's Luciano Reynolds scooped up the fumble and scored to give the Bullpups a 14-0 lead.

MCKENNA DOES IT ALL

Folks on this side of the mountains know plenty about the Bullpups' nearly-unstoppable tripe-option offense, orchestrated by McKenna.

His legs have been a big reason behind the team's undefeated run. That shows no signs of slowing down.

But for as much as he has thrived as a dual-threat quarterback, why not see what he can do as a kick returner?

After the Chiefs scored to cut it to 21-7, McKenna trotted onto the field with the special-teams unit. And taking a kickoff at the 10-yard line, he sped down the Bullpups' sideline for a 90-yard touchdown.

"The blocks set up perfectly, and we got our kick-out guys good," McKenna said. "It was perfectly blocked, and I didn't get touched, really."

The kickoff return was just one of his multiple highlight-reel plays.

Midway through the second quarter, McKenna started a Gonzaga Prep drive with a 51-yard scamper - down to the Chiefs' 21. Three plays later, he scored on a 5-yard run on first and goal, extending the Bullpups' lead to 35-7.

TIP OF THE CAP TO MOSES LAKE

The past two years of Chiefs's football has been quite a journey.

After a winless 2019 season, then a 2-3 campaign during the spring, Brett Jay took over as the coach. And the team has now returned to its winning ways.

Even after starting 0-2 this fall, the Chiefs rallied to win the 4A CBBN, winning seven of their final eight games to set up a showdown with Gonzaga Prep on Friday night.

"To start out 0-2 and to become league champs, it just says a lot about our players and our coaching staff," Jay said.

With a full offseason on the horizon, Jay and his staff are ready to get back to work soon

"We had an incredible group of seniors that laid the foundation for us," Jay said. "We can't wait for spring ball."

(Featured file photo by Andy Buhler)