Curtis found a new playmaker.
Junior running back E.J. Deveaux shredded Rogers for 228 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Vikings to a 26-20 win Friday night in University Place.
“We thought E.J. has a lot of life,” Curtis coach Clay Angle said. “He’s got great moves, runs with a very low profile.”
After graduating every major offensive contributor from the team that rolled through the SPSL South undefeated and reached the Class 4A state semifinals last fall, the Vikings showcased a dominant rushing attack that gobbled up 388 yards on 49 attempts.
“We wanted to play some smash mouth,” Angle said.
Curtis trailed 14-0 early in the second quarter and began its comeback on its own 2-yard line. Ben Bream, who ran for 121 yards on 12 carries, ripped off back-to-back runs of 12 and 18 yards. Mitchell Hersey followed with an 11-yard carry. Deveaux ran on four of the next five plays, punctuating the drive with a 10-yard TD run.
Curtis (1-0 league, 1-0 overall) stuffed the Rams on fourth-and-1 at the Vikings’ 16 on the ensuing possession and four plays later Deveaux dashed 34 yards untouched into the end zone. The extra point missed and Rogers held a 14-13 lead at halftime.
Deveaux put the Vikings ahead for good when he raced for a 25-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He added a 2-yard scoring run in the fourth. Deveaux credited the offensive line with opening big holes and admitted he was surprised at the gaudy statistics he piled up.
“I wasn’t really expecting it,” the 5-foot-9, 175-pound junior said. “I always play my hardest.”
Rogers (0-1, 0-1) threatened late in the fourth quarter when quarterback Stefan Van Horn scored on a 9-yard keeper, pulling the Rams within a touchdown, 26-20 with three minutes left in the game.
Van Horn completed 14 of 44 passes for 289 yards.
Rogers’ offense clicked early, crossing midfield on its first three possessions, but none produced points. Aided by a pass interference penalty, the Rams took a 7-0 lead when DeWayne Scott barreled into the end zone on a 9-yard run. After forcing Curtis to punt, Van Horn connected with Max McIntosh for a 42-yard scoring play that gave the Rams a 14-0 lead.
Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271
blog.thenewstribune.com/preps
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