BELLINGHAM – From week one to week six, the Borderites just kept improving. They just weren’t winning. A large group of first-year varsity players picked up their first varsity win on Friday night in a 44-18 victory over Bellingham at Civic Stadium.
The Bayhawks started out hot when senior running back Logan Steeves ripped off a thrilling 62-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the contest.
Blaine answered when sophomore sunning back Colby Shipp scored from six yards out. The Borderites then scored again in the second quarter when senior quarterback Kael Evinger connected with junior wide receiver Riley Ihde for a 34-yard touchdown to give Blaine a 14-6 lead at halftime.
The Borderites had a huge third quarter which started with a 27-yard field goal by junior Matthew Hayes. Evinger then hit junior Hunter Vezzetti for a deep 70-yard touchdown pass, and just moments later it was junior cornerback Jesse Deming that intercepted a pass near the Bellingham sideline and returned it 26 yards for a score.
Both teams scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Blaine became the first team in Whatcom County this season to have a pair of 100-yard receivers in the same game, as Vezzetti finished with nine receptions for 131 yards and Ihde had seven catches for 104 yards. Evinger completed 17-of-26 passes for 245 yards.
Shipp had a game-high 121 yards rushing on 27 carries with two touchdowns. Steeves led Bellingham on the ground with 99 yards on 22 carries, and he also had 50 yards receiving on four catches. Senior Lucas Cousens led the Bayhawks in receiving with five catches for 64 yards and a score.
The Borderites (1-6) will return to league play on Friday when they host Lynden Christian (7-0) at 7:00, and the Bayhawks (2-5) will host Friday Harbor (3-4) on Saturday at 1:00.
Blaine 44 Bellingham 18 BLA 7 7 17 13 - 44 BEL 6 0 0 12 - 18 BEL - Steeves 62 run (run failed) BLA - Shipp 6 run (Hayes kick) BLA - Ihde 34 pass from Evinger (Hayes kick) BLA - Hayes 27 FG BLA - Vezzetti 70 pass from Evinger (Hayes kick) BLA - Deming 26 interception return (Hayes kick) BLA - Ihde 35 pass from Evinger (kick failed) BEL - Steeves 15 run (run failed) BLA - Shipp 2 run (Hayes kick) BEL - Cousens 45 pass from VanHofwegen (run failed) BLA BEL 31-110 Rush Att-Yards 26-82 19-32-0 Comp-Att-Int 13-32-3 257 Passing Yards 156 Individual Leaders RUSHING - BLA: Shipp 27-121, Paez 2-5, Davis 1-0, Evinger 1-(-16). BEL: Steeves 22-99, Frost 2-(-4), VanHofwegen 2-(-13). PASSING - BLA: Evinger 17-26-0-245, Davis 2-6-0-12. BEL: VanHofwegen 13-30-2-156, Steeves 0-2-1-0. RECEIVING - BLA: Vezzetti 9-131, Ihde 7-104, Dalry 2-15, Shipp 1-7. BEL: Cousens 5-64, Steeves 4-50, Poulton-Claypool 4-42.
