Tight games have been the norm in recent years when the Liberty District rivals Langley Saxons and Yorktown Patriots met in high-school football action.
But not during the Friday (Oct. 18) regular-season clash. Host Langley won, 48-14, by taking control right from the start.
Langley improved to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the district with its second win in a row. Yorktown fell to 5-3 and 2-2 as its two-game winning streak was snapped.
With the win, Langley remained tied for second place in the district with the Marshall Statesmen (6-2, 3-1). The Washington-Liberty Generals (7-0, 3-0) hold down first.
Langley rolled up 564 total yards (408 rushing) and moved the ball running and passing right from the start, taking the opening kickoff and scoring on its opening drive.
The Saxons had several other long scoring drives, finding the end zone on all five first-half possessions. After Yorktown lost a fumble on its first offensive play, Langley took a 14-0 lead, then was ahead 35-7 at halftime.
Langley quarterback Cole Samburg and runningback Robert Roncskevitz led the Langley offense:
- Roncskevitz was productive, running for 184 yards and catching seven passes for 59 more. He scored four touchdowns and ran for a two-point conversion.
- Samburg ran for 162 and was 15 of 19 passing for 156 yards and two touchdowns for 318 combined yards.
Cannon Clarke caught four passes for 54, Mark Muehlheuser caught two for 25 and a touchdown, and Leej Evans caught one for 20 and a TD. Jackson Popovich had 37 yards rushing and a touchdown. Mateo Arboleda booted multiple extra points.
Samburg mainly hurt Yorktown with his option running from that position. “We couldn’t stop them. That was the big thing,” Yorktown coach Bruce Hanson said.
Yorktown eventually got its offense going, but was hurt by another turnover, an interception deep in Langley territory. The Patriots also had an early-game kickoff return for a touchdown nullified because of a penalty.
On defense for Langley, leading tacklers were Roncskevitz and Owen Slamowitz, each including two tackles for losses; Beckett Brown; Chandler Bowles; Hudson Eberline; Clarke with a tackle for a loss; and Chase Langpual and Ellington Roane, who also had an interception. Slamowitz recovered a fumble.
Langley has a bye this coming weekend and will host Washington-Liberty on Saturday, Nov. 2 in what likely will be a showdown for first place in the district.
