EVERETT – After sticking with the Wildcats through the first quarter, it was the powerful run game that was tough to stop as Archbishop Murphy defeated Blaine 46-22 on Friday night.
The Borderites came out firing on their first drive, which culminated in a 32-yard touchdown strike from Avery Dohner to Scott Baldwin. In fact, the two seniors hooked up four times for 67 yards on the drive, but the Wildcats came right back and scored on their first possession.
Archbishop Murphy then scored again at the beginning of the second quarter to make it 16-8, and a 75-yard touchdown pass just before halftime gave the Wildcats all the momentum, as well as a 24-8 lead.
Blaine would get on the board again in the third quarter when Jaxon Kortlever scooped up a fumble from his safety position and raced 46 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. Kortlever also caught four passes for 43 yards, despite being double covered for most of the game.
The Wildcats finished the game with nearly 400 yards of total offense.
Senior quarterback Cole Thomas entered the game in the fourth quarter and led the Borderites’ final scoring drive. He had 26 yards rushing and 20 yards passing on the drive, and ultimately hit senior tight end Aiden Holley on a 6-yard touchdown pass.
Baldwin had a huge game, as he hauled in 10 passes for 145 yards, and Dohner completed 14-of-28 passes for 175 yards.
The Borderites (2-1) will host Shorewood (0-5) on Friday night.
Blaine 22 Archbishop Murphy 46 BLA 8 0 6 8 - 22 ATM 8 16 16 6 - 46 BLA - Baldwin 32 pass from Dohner (Thomas run) ATM - 10 yard touchdown pass (run good) ATM - 1 yard touchdown run (run good) ATM - 75 yard touchdown pass (run good) ATM - 5 yard touchdown pass (run good) BLA - Kortlever 46 fumble return (run failed) ATM - 2 yard touchdown run (run good) ATM - 15 yard interception return (kick blocked) BLA - Ai. Holley 6 pass from Thomas (Baldwin pass from Thomas) BLA ATM 20-65 Rush Att-Yards 44-212 16-33-1 Comp-Att-Int 8-16-0 195 Passing Yards 183 Individual Leaders RUSHING - BLA: Thomas 3-26, Cranford 10-24, Ai. Holley 1-9, Dohner 1-3, Creasey 5-3. ATM: N/A. PASSING - BLA: Dohner 14-28-0-175, Thomas 2-5-1-20. ATM: N/A. RECEIVING - BLA: Baldwin 10-145, Kortlever 4-43, Ai. Holley 1-6, Creasey 1-1. ATM: N/A.
