EAST WENATCHEE – Eastmont revealed the blueprint in slowing Moses Lake star quarterback Brady Jay in Friday night’s CBBN showdown.

The Mavericks, however, demonstrated that they’re more than video game-like numbers, and can grind out a victory when the aerial assault is grounded.

With junior running back Elijah Burns rushing for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries – including all 80 yards of a fourth quarter touchdown drive – seventh-ranked Moses Lake topped Eastmont 21-0.

The victory gives the Mavericks the inside track for their second straight conference championship.

How Moses Lake won was the surprising part of Friday’s victory. Eastmont dropped as many as eight defenders and wouldn’t allow Jay to dissect its defense the way he had the Mavericks’ first six opponent.

Jay attempted just 11 passes – two in the second half – and was intercepted twice before intermission, the first on a tipped ball and the second an overthrow. He finished with 38 passing yards.

The Wildcats were determined not to let Jay, who entered the game with 41 scoring passes against a lone interception, beat them.

Moses Lake obliged.

“We knew we had that (ground game), and last year that happened a couple times when teams dropped everything,” Mavericks coach Brett Jay said. “We know we have the guys up front and the back that if they do that, and we’ll take what they give us.”

Before Friday, Moses Lake had gained less than 80 yards per game on the ground. The Mavericks had reached that mark by halftime and finished with 182.

“It was great, the O-line did their job and that’s it,” Burns said. “We’re going to grind through the whole game.”

Eastmont’s gameplan worked well, and the Wildcats had a couple opportunities stymied by Moses Lake or the Wildcats themselves.

Twice Eastmont drove within the Mavericks’ 20-yard line. The first trip ended with a second quarter interception by Moses Lake junior Taggart Rathbun.

Moses Lake then drove 70 yards, capped by a 2-yard scoring run and a 7-0 lead the Mavericks would take into halftime.

Coming out of the break, Moses Lake went three-and-out – the only plays it ran in the third quarter – and the Wildcats followed with a 22-play drive that reached the Mavs’ 1-yard line.

However, Eastmont senior running back Bodie Yale was whistled for a personal foul when he tried to leap over the pile and into the end zone, a no-no in high school football.

The Wildcats would have to settle for a field goal, which was no good.

“It’s what happens when good football teams play each other – the one that makes the least amount of mistakes and takes advantage of their opportunities (wins),” Eastmont coach Jay Foster said.

Burns took over, carrying the ball 10 times for 80 yards with a 15-yard scoring scamper the capper.

Mavericks senior Carter Anderson doused any hopes of a comeback by stepping in front of a Peyton Zelinski screen pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown with just a few minutes left.

“We look forward to this type of game because we haven’t gotten many and we need them,” Brett Jay said.

The Mavericks (4-0 CBBN, 7-0 overall) hosts West Valley next Friday before visiting Davis to cap conference play.

Eastmont (4-1, 4-2) visits Enumclaw next Friday and finishes its CBBN schedule at West Valley the following week.