BLAINE – The Borderites got back in the win column, and did it in a dominating fashion by defeating Friday Harbor 36-13 on Friday night.
After trading possessions to begin the game, Blaine senior Logan Villareal made a one-handed interception to give his teammates great field position. The Borderites took advantage and scored 11 plays later when senior running back Jaiden Paez darted into the end zone from five yards out to open up the scoring.
The Wolverines were then forced to punt, and Blaine went back to its strong running game to put together another time-consuming drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown run by Paez.
Paez then closed out the second quarter with a dazzling 47-yard touchdown run, and both teams ran into the heated locker rooms at the half with Blaine leading 22-0.
The Borderites received the second half kickoff, and moments later junior wide receiver Kai Kerwin took a short shovel pass on a sweep behind the line of scrimmage and sped 60 yards before being tackled at the Friday Harbor 3-yard line. Senior running back Colby Shipp pounded the ball into the end zone one play later to give Blaine a 28-0 lead.
The Wolverine defense then made some stops, and forced the Borderites to punt for the first time of the night. A short punt, going into an extremely strong wind, put Friday Harbor in business at the Blaine 31-yard line.
A few “slight-of-hand” and misdirection plays by the Wolverines were awarded with first downs, and Friday Harbor was finally able to find the end zone.
Blaine had the ball for just two plays on the following drive because of an errant snap that went over the head of senior quarterback Colin Davis, and was recovered at the 4-yard line by the Wolverines, who was able to score another touchdown just a few plays later.
Paez then ripped off his fourth touchdown of the game on an 80-yard scamper, but it was called back due to a block in the back near midfield. No worries, Paez then scored on the next play on a 55-yard touchdown run.
Paez had multiple first down runs in the fourth quarter, to keep the clock running, and keep the ball away from Friday Harbor, and he finished the game with 316 yards rushing on 23 carries. It’s the 15th most rushing yards in a single game in Whatcom County history.
The Blaine defense also had a tremendous game as it allowed just 60 yards of total offense from Friday Harbor. Leading the way was senior defensive end Zi Yu who had six tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback sack. Blaine also received multiple stops behind the line of scrimmage from seniors Thomas Cox, Malloy Messenger, Otto Shelton and Villareal.
The Borderites (5-2) will be back in conference play on Friday when they travel to Mount Baker (4-3) to take on the Mountaineers at 7:00.
Blaine 36 Friday Harbor 13 FH 0 0 13 0 - 13 BLA 7 15 14 0 - 36 BLA - Paez 5 run (Villareal kick) BLA - Paez 24 run (Villareal run) BLA - Paez 47 run (Villareal kick) BLA - Shipp 3 run (kick failed) FH - 8 yard touchdown run (kick good) FH - 1 yard touchdown run (pass failed) BLA - Paez 55 run (Villareal run) FH BLA 36-50 Rush Att-Yards 38-347 1-5-1 Comp-Att-Int 5-7-0 10 Passing Yards 117 Individual Leaders RUSHING - FH: N/A. BLA: Paez 23-316, Shipp 4-19, Davis 11-12. PASSING - FH: N/A. BLA: Davis 5-7-0-117. RECEIVING - FH: N/A. BLA: Kerwin 4-104, Paez 1-13.
