SEATTLE – It really doesn’t matter who schedules against the Mountaineers. It’s a shortened football season, with no playoffs, and in a season when Mount Baker head coach Ron Lepper had high aspirations… sure, why not have a game against a 3A private school from Seattle?
The Mounties were up for the challenge and defeated the Braves 22-16 on Friday night.
Mount Baker overcame early mistakes, including a muffed punt and a fumbled kickoff return, but Baker’s composure was kept throughout the contest.
Blanchet got into the end zone first, on a beautiful 21-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. But, Baker answered back quickly with a lengthy drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Toby Jefferson.
The Braves scored again before half time, and went into the break with a 14-7 lead.
Mount Baker junior running back Jesse Sande scored on a 13-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and Christian Zavala’s extra point tied the game at 14. Sande finished the game with a team-high 110 rushing yards on 21 carries.
Bishop Blanchet took it’s third lead of the game late in the third quarter when Mountie senior quarterback Mason Jacoby was sacked in the end zone for a safety, but another long drive by Mount Baker in the fourth quarter aided the Mountaineers and Jefferson was able to find the end zone for the second time. Sande’s 2-point conversion gave Baker the 6-point lead.
The Braves threatened late, but Jacoby made a huge play on fourth down from his safety position when he broke up a pass to give the ball back to the red and black.
Jacoby also intercepted a pass earlier in the game, and had six tackles. Senior Ayden Rodriguez also had an interception in the game. It was his second on the year, and the seventh of his career. He also led Baker in receiving with five receptions for 81 yards.
The Mounties also had strong contributions defensively from senior defensive end Aidan Corning who had 3.5 tackles, two tackles for loss and two passes batted down at the line of scrimmage, and junior linebacker Davin Beason who led his team with 8.5 tackles. He also had a tackle for loss.
Mount Baker (3-0) will travel to Anacortes (1-2) on Thursday to take on the Seahawks at 7:00.
Mount Baker 22
Bishop Blanchet 16
MB 0 7 7 8 – 22
BB 7 7 2 0 – 16
BB – 21 yard touchdown pass (kick good)
MB – Jefferson 1 run (Zavala kick)
BB – 6 yard touchdown pass (kick good)
MB – Sande 13 run (Zavala kick)
BB – Safety, quarterback sacked in the end zone
MB – Jefferson 5 run (Sande run)
MB BB
46-201 Rushing Att-Yards 18-31
7-11-0 Comp-Att-Int 12-26-2
99 Passing yards 143
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – MB: Sande 21-110, Jefferson 15-87, Rodriguez 3-9, Jacoby 7-(-5). BB: N/A.
PASSING – MB: Jacoby 7-11-0-99. BB: N/A.
RECEIVING – MB: Rodriguez 5-81, Sande 2-18. BB: N/A.
