KENNEWICK -- The Kennewick Lions turned one of sports' oldest axioms on its head Friday night, proving that a bad practice makes perfect.
A sloppy effort midweek had coach Bill Templeton spitting fire, which in turn fired up the Lions and led to a 41-0 rout of the Eastmont Wildcats in the CBBN 3A opener for both teams at Lampson Stadium.
"If you've ever seen Coach Templeton mad ... I tell you what," said Kennewick receiver Reggie Clinton, who had two big catches and two nice punt returns in a perfect first half of football for the Lions.
Kennewick (3-0) did all of its scoring in the first half, converting all six possessions into touchdowns. Quarterback Bryce Leavitt was 8-for-9 for 208 yards and four touchdowns: 50 and 22 yards to Chase Reining, 40 yards to Clinton and 10 to Brock Schuh.
Garrett Woods and Bodie Simpson each ran for a score, Woods racking up 103 yards on six carries as the Lions outgained Eastmont (0-3) 351-69 in the first two quarters.
"You see that scoreboard -- that shows it all right there," Clinton said. "That's hard work and dedication right there."
"Did you see that first play?" he asked, referring to Woods' 50-yard sprint through a gaping hole. "That doesn't happen if Ivan Diaz doesn't do his job, if Jarrod Howell doesn't do his job, Garrett Wilz, Jarod Gonzales, T.J. Fields."
Yes, the offensive line was superb, the skill position guys untouchable, the defense at its ball-hawking best in pitching its second straight shutout.
And all of it, Templeton said, seemed about as likely after that bad practice as Seahawks fans throwing a surprise party for NFL (and Super Bowl XL) referee Bill Leavy.
"The kids came out with a really good edge," he said. "But as sharp as we were tonight, that's how dull we were Wednesday."
Sharp certainly describes how Leavitt played in his third varsity start under center. After spending the first two weeks mostly throwing short in big wins over Pendleton and Hermiston, the lanky senior stretched the field against an inexperienced Wildcats secondary.
His first throw was on third-and-21 on the Lions' second series. Clinton had one-on-one coverage and got behind the corner, making a terrific catch above his head while twisting back and managing to keep his feet to find the end zone pylon.
"Me and Bryce are best friends, and we work on routes even if we don't get to them in practice," Clinton said.
Of Leavitt's eight completions, five were for 20 yards or more.
"Every game slows down a little more," he said. "Our offense is doing what it takes to win."
Just like the defense, with Fields stuffing the run from his linebacker spot, Schuh and Woods bringing the lumber from the corner and Diaz mucking everything up in the middle as an immovable, 295-pound block of granite.
The Lions will need all those weapons and maybe a little more next week with a big rivalry game against Kamiakin, the defending league champ and state runner-up.
"All summer, all offseason," Leavitt said, "this game has been in the back of our minds."
* Kevin Anthony: 509-582-1403; kanthony@tricityherald.com
Kennewick 41, Eastmont 0
Eastmont 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Kennewick 20 21 0 0 -- 41
SCORING PLAYS
K--Grant Woods 8 run (Paul Martinez kick)
K--Reggie Clinton 40 pass from Bryce Leavitt (kick fail)
K--Bodie Simpson 4 run (Martinez kick)
K--Chase Reining 50 pass from Leavitt (Martinez kick)
K--Brock Schuh 10 pass from Leavitt (Martinez kick)
K--Reining 22 pass from Leavitt (Martinez kick)
STATISTICS
RUSHING--E, Lucas McGill 13-39, Darin Hardgrove 9-34, John Wehrer 6-30, Berlie Walker 2-21, Aaron Mancayo 1-(minus 4), Team 1-(minus 7). K, Woods 6-103, Hunter Scantlin 14-53, Shaun Smith 1-26, Simpson 3-19, Jesse Salazar 3-7, Leavitt 4-(minus 5).
PASSING--E, McGill 3-5-0-18, Camden Wheatcroft 1-1-0-11. K, Leavitt 8-9-0-208.
RECEIVING--E, Sam Deich 1-11, Zach Scott 1-10, Dalin McDonnell 1-7, Hardgrove 1-1. K, Simpson 3-45, Clinton 2-81, Reining 2-72, Schuh 1-10.
FIRST DOWNS--E 9, K 14. FUMBLES-LOST--E 2-0, K 2-0. PENALTIES-YARDS--E 3-19, K 2-25.
