EDMONDS – It was a close game throughout. And in close games, it’s the small details, line-play and guts that usually win out. When it was 3rd and short, or 4th and short for the Red Raiders, they would get the first down. When it was 4th and short for the Hawks, it was Bellingham’s 285-pound junior defensive lineman Butch Mullins making a play to get the ball back for his offense. Big plays like that allowed the Red Raiders to win their fifth game in a row by defeating Mountlake Terrace 17-7 at Edmonds District Stadium on Friday night.
Bellingham did get out to an early lead when running back Isiah Harrington scored from seven yards out, capping a long drive. Elijah Kongshaug added a 30-yard field goal just before half time to give the Red Raiders a 10-0 lead at the break.
The third quarter was a stalemate. Bellingham’s defense clamped continued to clamp down in the second half, with Mullins making numerous plays. Kongshaug also shot through the line from his linebacker position and had three tackles for loss. Senior linebacker Jacob Hallock also had a huge tackle for a loss on a third down pass play.
However, when the Red Raiders would get the ball back on downs, or from forcing the Hawks to punt, they were shooting themselves in the foot by fumbling the ball back to Mountlake Terrace. It was something that the red-hot Red Raiders hadn’t been used to this season, but their defense kept answering the bell. The Hawks did finally use one of their short fields to their advantage, and scored on a 28-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to make it a 10-7 ball game.
Bellingham would then keep the ball on the ground, and do what it does best. Run the clock, run the ball and get the win. Strong blocking and tremendous running allowed the Red Raiders to march down the field, and junior fullback Jack Fields ultimately scored on a seven yard touchdown run when he ran behind senior center Christian Butenschoen and junior left guard Chris Oesterling, before ultimately breaking a tackle and crossing the goal line.
Fields finished the game with 124 yards rushing on 24 carries, and Harrington totaled 116 yards on the ground with 15 attempts.
Bellingham, who is 5-2 for the first time since 1993 (when they finished 6-3) will face its number rival Sehome (4-3) at Civic Stadium this Friday night.
Bellingham 17
Mountlake Terrace 7
BEL 7 3 0 7 – 17
MLT 0 0 0 7 – 7
BELL – Harrington 7 run (Kongshaug kick)
BELL – Kongshaug 30 FG
MLT – 28 yard touchdown pass (kick good)
BELL – Fields 7 run (Kongshaug kick)
BELL MLT
61-310 Rushing Att-Yards 30-81
1-2-0 Comp-Att-Int 9-21-1
34 Passing yards 104
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – BELL: Fields 24-124, Harrington 15-116, Goodman 6-27, Ninneman 3-20, Cavalier 9-12, Kongshaug 2-7, Edwards 2-4. MLT: N/A.
PASSING – BELL: Cavalier 1-2-0-34. MLT: N/A.
RECEIVING – BELL: Goodman 1-34. MLT: N/A.
