BLAINE – The Borderites scored their first touchdown since week two, and it gave them the lead. But, when Bellingham quarterback Morgan Cavalier hit halfback Towner Goodman with a short pass late in the third quarter, Goodman took it 80 yards up the left sideline for a touchdown which ultimately gave the Red Raiders the 14-13 win at Borderites Field on Friday night.
Bellingham opened the game throwing on four consecutive plays, which may have taken Blaine by surprise, although just two of them were completed. Senior Isiah Harrington scored on a 3-yard touchdown run which got Bellingham up early.
No stranger to field goals, Blaine senior kicker Bryce Kamrath kicked a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter, and a 21-yard field goal in the second quarter to close the gap to one point at half time.
Bellingham beat Blaine by one point last season, and this game looked to be just as close the whole way through.
Blaine also tried senior Alex Mercado at running back, after playing wide receiver in the beginning of the season. He responded well with 23 carries for 126 yards. He also scored Blaine’s lone touchdown on a 23-yard scamper in the third quarter, which ultimately set up Goodman’s heroics.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, but both teams got relatively close. Bellingham got into the red zone, but sophomore safety Seth Blomeen intercepted a pass and returned it 40 yards. Blaine had a few chances, too. But it was stopped on fourth down.
Bellingham (3-2) will play host to Anacortes (0-5) this Friday night at Civic Stadium, and the Borderites (2-3) will travel to Mountlake Terrace (3-2) to take on the Hawks on Friday night at 5 PM.
Bellingham 14
Blaine 13
BEL 7 0 7 0 – 14
BLA 3 3 7 0 – 13
BEL – Harrington 3 run (Kongshaug kick)
BLA – Kamrath 27 FG
BLA – Kamrath 21 FG
BLA – Mercado 23 run (Kamrath kick)
BEL – Goodman 80 pass from Cavalier (Kongshaug kick)
BEL BLA
49-146 Rushing Att-Yards 26-136
4-12-2 Comp-Att-Int 6-23-1
107 Passing yards 68
Individual Leaders
RUSHING – BEL: Cavalier 16-68, Kongshaug 7-32, Ninneman 2-25, Goodman 4-19, Harrington 8-12, Fields 6-10, Edwards 5-8, bad snap 1-(-28). Bla: Mercado 23-126, McKinney 3-10.
PASSING –BEL: Cavalier 4-12-2-107. Bla: McKinney 6-23-1-68.
RECEIVING – BEL: Lee 3-27, Goodman 1-80. Bla: Abshere 5-42, Reid 1-26.
