Everything goes King’s Way in season-opening rout of Fort Vancouver

For all the unknowns every football team faces at the season’s beginning, King’s Way Christian is now certain of one thing.

Its 2017 season couldn’t have started any better.

King’s Way beat Fort Vancouver 56-0 on Thursday at Kiggins Bowl.

First-year coach Tom Schroeder wasn’t sure what to expect in the season-opener. No coach really does.

If you told him senior leader Michael Garrison would be unstoppable, he’d take it. The 6-foot-5 receiver caught seven passes for 116 yards and three touchdowns.

If you told him his sophomore quarterback Kemper Shrock would complete 13 of 17 passes for 200 yards, he’d take that too.

And if you told him his defense would pitch a shutout, allow 68 yards of offense and force three turnovers, he’d be understandably generous in his post-game praise.

“I can’t explain how excited I am,” Schroeder said. “This team came through. They stepped up big-time. For them to produce offensively and defensively like they did, it’s a dream come true for me getting this first victory.”

King’s Way, a Class 1A Trico League team, suited up 24 players Thursday, including nine underclassmen.

One of those was Shrock, who was a little jittery before his first varsity start.

But he settled in quickly, completing three of four passes on the game’s first drive, which ended with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Garrison.

“He was amazing,” Garrison said of his quarterback. “Before the game, he was psyching himself out. I told him, you’re going to do great.”

Shrock would throw two more touchdown passes in the first half to Garrison, who also returned a fumble for a touchdown. By halftime, King’s Way led 42-0.

“Michael is everything,” Schroeder said. “He’s one of the greatest kids I’ve coached so far. Everything is ‘yes coach, yes sir.’ He’s a man amongst boys out here.”

While having a target like Garrison helps, Shrock didn’t take long to find his comfort zone.

“I settled down after the first snap,” he said. “All the nerves just went away.”

Much of that was due to his offensive line.

“I only got hit once and I was back there for four of five seconds,” he said.

“Overall it was a fantastic game.”

Fort Vancouver is also starting anew with first-year coach Steve Broussard. As part of his fresh start, he had the home Trappers use the visiting sideline and locker room as a symbolic way of doing things different.

Fort Vancouver suited up 19 players Thursday, but it will get better. Several more will be eligible soon.

Broussard used Thursday’s loss as a teachable moment.

“We talked this week about narrowing that focus down until game day,” he said “I told them now you know, come Monday, where your focus needs to be.

“What we have to celebrate are those small successes and how you guys fought in the second half.”

Come Monday, King’s Way will also turn the page. But the Knights want to make what they achieved on Thursday a reoccurring chapter.

“We want to build the momentum,” Schroeder said. “We’re still a young team. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. But we’re going to put the work in and we’re going to get it done.”

KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN 56, FORT VANCOUVER 0

KW 21 21 7 7 — 56

Fort 0 0 0 0 — 0

First quarter

KW – Michael Garrison 29 pass from Kemper Shrock (Coby BurnsAtkins kick)

KW – Gideon Rounsley 1 run (BurnsAtkins kick)

KW – Garrison 7 fumble return (BurnsAtkins kick)

Second quarter

KW – Garrison 15 pass from Shrock (kick failed)

KW – Garrison 16 pass from Shrock (BurnsAtkins kick)

KW – Safety, punter tackled in end zone

KW – Mat Fronk 1 run (kick failed)

Third quarter

KW – Gage Koenders 6 run (BurnsAtkins kick)

Fourth quarter

KW – Mason Packer 3 run (BurnsAtkins kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — King’s Way: Gideon Rounsley 10-43, Gage Koenders 8-41, Mat Fronk 11-40, Mason Packer 1-3; Fort Vancouver: Rickie Williams 9-16; Nick Hawk 4-9; Joseph Endonino 4-(-30).

Passing — King’s Way: Kemper Shrock 13-17-0-200. Fort Vancouver: Joseph Endonino 9-19-2-73.

Receiving — King’s Way: Michael Garrison 7-116, Brannan Meriwether 1-15, Dylan Scott 2-27, Bryce Dodge 1-31, Bailey Meek 2-11; Fort Vancouver: Nick Hawk 3-(-6), Shawn Mintah 3-66, Angel Gonzalez 2-7, Austin Real-James 1-6.