Deer Park’s running back receives the pass, and the QB helps the refs with the result of the play during the Football Jamboree at Deer Park.
Photos by: Campea Photography
The Deer Park Stags football season started off with a Jamboree, which included the Lakeside Eagles and Newport Grizzlies. Unfortunately, the Riverside Rams would not join the event. During the initial game of the season against East Valley, the Stags took their first triumph.
Due to the impacts of the Oregon Road Fire, the Riverside Rams could not participate in the Jamboree as planned. The evacuations and smoke had disrupted the lives of many; as a result, too many team members were ineligible to partake.
Deer Park’s receiver turns up the field for more yards.
The Deer Park receiver takes the pass away from the Lakeside defender for the TD.
Deer Park Stags At East Valley
The 2023 Deer Park football squad, playing up in class against class 2A East Valley from the Greater Spokane League, opened the season with a resounding 35-7 win on the turf at Union Stadium last Friday.
The Stags struck quickly, taking the opening kickoff 62 yards in nine plays and finding the end zone. A gadget play, with wide receiver Decader Bird throwing a 19 yard dart to quarterback Aiden Martin, opened the drive and six plays later, fullback Bryon Newby scored from a yard out.
The Knights lost a fumble on their second offensive play with Evan Henry recovering the loose ball. A seven-play, 49-yard drive culminated with Newby scoring from the nine to put Deer Park on top 14-0.
East Valley was threatening at the end of the first half, but the Deer Park defense turned them away as time expired, and their 12-play drive netted no points.
Martin, making his varsity starting debut, called his own number from the one on the opening drive of the second half to end a five play, 58 yard drive.
Following the Knights only score of the contest, Martin took to the air, connecting with speedy Gavin Carnahan for a 64-yard score on the third snap of the series. Martin would finish perfect on his five passing attempts for 104 yards.
Martin got his second rushing score from the two in the games waning moments.
The Deer Park rushing attack totaled 259 yards with a mix of three versatile backs with different running styles. Newby provided the power at fullback with two scores and averaged better than five yards per carry. The senior, also a standout wrestler, caught two passes as well. Carnahan provided the speed element with 77 yards on the ground to go with the long receiving score, showcasing the speed that was displayed last spring as part of the fifth-place 4×100 relay team at the state track meet. Junior Jack Martinez, running both inside and outside, was tops with 132 on 18 carries.
The next three weeks will be pivotal in the outlook for the 2023 campaign. A trip to Cashmere, a team that is ranked in the top 10 of several ranking services, is first, followed by two-time defending Northeast “A” League champion Lakeside visiting, and ends with a road game at highly regarded Omak.
