On their first offensive play, the snap sailed over the head of Moses Lake junior quarterback Jonathan Ferguson (5), where it was buried in the end zone under a pile of Comet defenders, with senior Caiden Burke (26) emerging with the ball and the touchdown that gave Naselle a 14-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.

SOUTH BEND — After a week off, any thoughts about whether the Naselle football team would have any rust heading into the state playoffs were answered on the opening drive.

Senior Naselle pulling guard William Anderson (57) crumpled two Moses Lakes/Covenant Christian defenders on the opening series, setting the tone and paving the way for the first Comet touchdown by senior running back Jack Strange (44) in a 70-0 shutout win over the Lions in the first round of the WIAA 1B state football tournament, Saturday, Nov. 16, in South Bend.

Following the week off, Strange ran like a running back that missed the contact, punctuating several first-half runs by punishing Moses Lake defenders.

Things quickly slipped away from the visiting Lions (5-5) in the frigid South Bend rain, who entered having won four of their previous five games.

On their first offensive play, the snap sailed over the head of Lions junior quarterback Jonathan Ferguson (5), where it was buried in the end zone under a pile of Comet defenders, with senior Caiden Burke (26) emerging with the ball and the touchdown, giving Naselle a 14-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.

Much like the Comet’s final regular-season game against Oakville, the home team was off to an early, insurmountable start.

Following a Lions punt on their second series, Strange quickly extended the lead to 20-0 after ripping off a 49-yard touchdown run down the Moses Lake sideline, just minutes into the first quarter.

Burke continued the onslaught by adding his second touchdown of the game, this time torching the Lion defense for a 23-yard score and extending their lead to 27-0. Burke would finish the first half with three touchdowns, including two on offense and one on defense.

Meanwhile, Strange continued his typical first-half reign of terror, this time against the Lions special teams unit.

After witnessing Strange demolish the Lions defense on the first few series, the Moses Lake special teams players wanted no part in attempting to block the 5-foot-10, 162-pound back as he streaked downfield on ensuring kickoffs, twice crushing senior Levi North (1), drawing an empathetic “Oooooooo” from the stands.

Following another Moses Lake three-and-out, Strange returned the ensuing Lion punt 33 yards to pay dirt, pushing the Naselle lead to 33-0 to end the first quarter.

In a highlight-laden first half for Naselle, junior quarterback Leith Chadwick (15) had a couple clips of his own, including an improbable, zig-zagging, stiff-arming 27-yard run on a broken play before bursting across the goal line, giving Naselle a 49-0 lead and initiating the mercy-rule running clock four minutes before halftime.

Stout Comet defense starts up front

As awesome as the Comet offense has been all season, the defense has been historic over the last several weeks, with the Comets’s latest shutout being their sixth in the last seven games.

The Naselle defense all starts up front with stout linemen and long defensive ends, including 6-foot-2 junior defensive end Leith Chadwick, 5-foot-10 junior nose guard Carsen Bisbing (55), 5-foot-11, 210-pound senior nose guard William Anderson (57) and 6-foot-2 sophomore Kyle Pakenen (87), with two senior all-league linebackers in Caiden Burke (26) and Jack Strange (44) lurking behind. Athletic and speedy defensive backs, including freshman Gus Burkhalter (24) and junior Scott Henington (13), hold down a secondary that hasn’t allowed big plays all season.

Game notes: Naselle finished with 359 total yards, including 342 on the ground, led by Strange with eight carries for 127 yards and one touchdown, followed by senior Caiden Burke with 103 yards on six carries with two touchdowns. Junior quarterback Leith Chadwick (15) added 53 yards and two touchdown on four carries.

Up next: The No. 3 seed Comets (10-0) advance to the second round, where they will face No. 6 seed Pomeroy (10-1) this Saturday, Nov. 23, in South Bend. Naselle overcame an early 14-0 deficit to defeat Pomeroy 78-58 in the state playoffs last season.