YAKIMA, Wash. — Recovering from a two-touchdown deficit to tie Kennewick at halftime, Davis’ often spectacular athleticism was finding a way to keep pace Friday night at Zaepfel Stadium.

But to have any chance in the second half against the physical Lions, who were commanding in the trenches, Davis needed to cut down or eliminate one specific misstep — turnover.

It was a hope that didn’t last long.

Kennewick erupted for 22 points in the first eight minutes of the third quarter — a sudden breakaway aided by consecutive short-field turnovers by the Pirates — and rolled to a 48-32 victory in CBBN Columbia play.

Sebastian Hunt of Davis closes in on Kennewick quarterback Trent Brown Friday, Sept. 25, 2009. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

Sebastian Hunt of Davis closes in on Kennewick quarterback Trent Brown Friday, Sept. 25, 2009. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

A fumble and interception were among Davis’ first four plays of the second half, and Kennewick turned both into quick touchdowns for a 32-19 lead.

The Lions’ defense followed with a safety, and two plays after Davis’ free kick the Lions were in the end zone again with their third rushing touchdown of the quarter for a 41-19 cushion.

“We made a lot of young mistakes,” said Davis coach Rick Clark. “We made some good plays, but the mistakes kept pulling us down.”

In all the Pirates had six turnovers, four interceptions and two fumbles. And Kennewick converted four into touchdowns.

With the Lions all but shutting down Davis’ ground game, the Pirates needed to go to the air more and even with the interceptions quarterback Deion Wright turned in some big numbers.

The 6-foot sophomore threw a career-high five touchdowns — more than the first three games of the season combined — and completed 17 of 28 for 250 yards.

Wright hit eight different receivers but David Trimble was clearly the troublemaker for Kennewick, catching touchdown passes of 12, 49 and 10 yards. The 49-yarder came with 10 seconds left in the first half, and it came with a leaping nab between double coverage near the 20-yard line.

Trimble finished with five catches for 93 yards and picked up 21 yards on a reverse run. He also had an interception and fumble recovery.

But Kennewick had big numbers, too, as quarterback Trent Brown ran for three touchdowns and threw for 169 yards and two scores out of a shotgun formation. The Lions rushed for 204 yards and amassed 377 in total offense, discouraging results for a Davis squad coming off a big defensive effort in last week’s win at Lake Washington.

“Up front they just beat us,” said Clark, who suspended two key defensive starters Friday for missing a practice earlier in the week. “They knocked us off the ball and we didn’t have an answer for that.”

The Pirates (0-2, 1-3) have a short week coming. They play Southridge at Lampson Stadium on Thursday.