Despite losing their first two games of the season in disappointing fashion the Hazen Highlander football team kept believing in the process and were rewarded Friday night with their first win of the season, a 43-14 victory over Evergreen at Highline Stadium.

Marquise Lee, Nolan Hoover, Kaleb Magee, and Paul Charbonneau all had big games for Hazen in the victory. The win is also the first for rookie head coach David Kilpatrick-White.

Hazen started the game hot with quarterback Hoover completing a 62-yard touchdown pass to Lee early in the first and Kaleb Magee scoring again on a long, 68-yard run to take a 14-0 lead.

But the Wolverines came back strong in the second quarter and tied the game 14-14.

However, a fumble recovery and big third down completion to Eli Azecueta led to 12-yard TD pass from Hoover to Lee and a 22-14 lead at the half.

The Highlanders started the second half with another fumble recovery by Charbonneau followed by a 15-yard TD pass from Hoover to Kyle Hanis and a 30-14 lead.

In the fourth quarter Hazen’s running backs Lee and Magee each added TD runs. Kilpatrick-White said their success was due in large part to an offensive line led by center Parker Trewet, who was battling an injury from the previous week.

Hoover finished the game 17 of 32 for 211 yards, 3 TDs with no interceptions. Magee led the team in rushing with 16 attempts 179 yards and 2 TDs. Marquise Lee had 7 catches for 132 yards and 2 TDs plus 6 carries and a third TD.

Defensively Hazen was led by freshman Jacob Black who added a fumble recovery and point-after-touchdown kick to his 8 tackles. Sophomore Bryce Jenkins led the team in tackles with 10.5 in his first career start, while Charbonneau was credited with 2 tackles for a loss along with a key fumble recovery.

The Highlanders (1-2) host the Foster Bulldogs at 7 p.m. Thursday at Renton Memorial Stadium.