Quincy defense keeps Tigers down

TONASKET – It figured to be tough going for the Tonasket offense when it traveled to Quincy for a Caribou Trail League football matchup on Friday, Oct. 13.

And it was, indeed, as the Jackrabbits blanked the Tigers 42-0 as the Quincy defense posted its fourth consecutive shutout. The Jacks haven’t allowed a touchdown since a Sept. 7 loss to Royal and haven’t given up a point since a 10-7 defeat to Cascade in which the Kodiaks scored all their points on special teams.

It was the defense that got Quincy rolling early in this one, posting the first points of the game on a fumble recovery in the end zone by Steven Gamez.

That started a four-score avalanche in just a 4:30 span of the first and second quarters that put the Tigers in a 28-0 hole from which they never recovered.

Quincy keyed on the Tigers’ leading rusher, Michael Orozco, holding him to minus-6 yards rushing on seven carries.

Austin Booker led the Tigers with 39 yards on eight carries, with Jeff Stedtfeld adding 33 yards on three carries. Trevor Terris threw for was 4-of-7 passing for 77 yards, including a 58-yarder to Ian Young. 

Orozco, Stedtfeld and Booker each intercepted Quincy passes, but the Tigers also fumbled the ball away three times and tossed one interception.

Andy Vargas led Quincy with 98 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, with John Lindquist rushing for 59 yards and two scores.

The Tigers (3-4, 1-4 CTL) host Omak (1-6, 1-4) on Friday, Oct. 19. Quincy (4-3, 4-1), tied for second place in the league with Cascade, will try to hold onto that spot as it travels to Okanogan (4-3, 3-2) on Friday. With a win over the Bulldogs, Quincy will have a chance to play for at least a share of the league title when it hosts Cashmere on Oct. 26.