ORTING – The names are new, but the results remain the same as Squalicum topped Orting 28-21 on the road.
The Storm broke a 21-21 tie with 3:53 left in the game when sophomore running back Marcus Nixon broke a wheel route out of the backfield and junior quarterback Josh Leonard found him down the right sideline for the eventual game-winning touchdown.
It was Leonard’s third touchdown pass of the game, all three were to different receivers.
Squalicum scored the first touchdown of the game when Leonard put the ball right in the bread basket of junior wide receiver Nevhye Egging from 37 yards out in the first quarter. The Cardinals retaliated with a touchdown pass of their own, but Leonard then found a wide-open Jacob Sorenson on a 4th-down play, which resulted in a 35-yard touchdown to give the Storm a 14-7 halftime advantage.
Squalicum kept a steady balance of running and passing throughout the game, and its offensive line was able to get stronger as the game wore on. As an example, Nixon had 34 yards rushing on 11 carries at halftime, but he ended up with a game-high 152 yards on the ground on 28 carries. He also totaled 75 yards on four kickoff returns. The “lightning” was for real.
Junior running back Deandre Dunmore was also able to break a few long runs, including a 30-yarder on the first play from scrimmage. He finished with 66 yards on 10 carries, including an early third quarter touchdown, with Nixon spelling him most of the game so he could fulfill double duty at his inside linebacker position.
The Cardinals were able to score twice in a row, including a 4-yard touchdown run 10:45 left in the fourth quarter which tied the game at 21.
Leonard finished with 187 yards passing on 10 completions. Five of his completions went to Sorenson, and the senior wide receiver led his team with 104 yards receiving.
The Storm were led defensively by senior safety Nick Watt who had 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass broken up. Senior defensive lineman Hayden Hollingsworth and junior outside linebacker Chase Nelson each also had a quarterback sack.
Squalicum (1-0) will host Fife next Friday at 7 PM.
Squalicum 28 Orting 21 SQU 7 7 7 7 - 28 ORT 0 7 7 7 - 21 SQU: Egging 37 pass from Leonard (Sonnon kick) ORT: Greenan 15 pass from M. McCall (Gonzalez kick) SQU: Sorenson 35 pass from Leonard (Sonnon kick) SQU: Dunmore 2 run (Sonnon kick) ORT: Peavler 48 pass from M. McCall (Gonzalez kick) ORT: Phelan 4 run (Gonzalez kick) SQU: Nixon 29 pass from Leonard (Sonnon kick) SQU ORT 40-220 Rush Att-Yards 36-155 10-23-0 Comp-Att-Int 13-23-0 187 Passing Yards 192 Individual Leaders RUSHING - SQU: Nixon 28-152, Dunmore 10-66, Sorenson 1-6, Leonard 1-(-4). ORT: N/A. PASSING - SQU: Leonard 10-23-0-187. ORT: N/A. RECEIVING - SQU: Sorenson 5-104, Egging 2-48, Nixon 1-29, Ortiz-McAlister 1-4, Dunmore 1-2. ORT: N/A.
