BY JEFF WOOD – For Whatcom Preps
BELLINGHAM – It was only a matter of time before the string of perfect weather Friday nights in Whatcom County came to an end. An abrupt conclusion to the halcyon fall days greeted Sehome and Bellingham as both teams survived gale force winds and steady rain on Friday night at Civic Stadium.
The Mariners handled the weather, and the football, better as they came away with a 27-7 victory over the Bayhawks.
Playing for the first time since 2018, it looked like Bellingham might surprise the bundled-up fans as they took an early 7-0 lead when junior defensive back Joe Harward stepped in front of a Nolan Wright pass and returned it 20-yards for a touchdown.
Sehome responded on its second drive by going 65 yards on nine plays into the wind to tie the game. On third-and-15 in the red zone, Wright ripped a pass through the wind and connected with senior wide receiver Andre Watson on a deep out pattern. Senior Grady Evans tied the game at 7-7 halfway through the first quarter with a strong PAT kick that split the uprights.
Bellingham couldn’t get much going on offense on its first two drives of the half as the fast Sehome defense rallied quickly to the Bayhawk ball carriers.
The Mariners kept running the ball with senior Solomon McAlister and sophomore Nicky Smith on their second touchdown drive of the first quarter. Senior Coleby Chambers, who has been a three-year stalwart in the defensive backfield then took a well blocked counter play 15 yards to paydirt as Sehome took a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Bellingham attempted to answer before halftime with its best drive of the game.
Harward, who was plugged into the running back position, did some tough running, and his 11 carries got the Bayhawks to the 8-yard line with only 1 second remaining before halftime. The attempted field goal by sophomore Cameron Boak was pushed by the wind, and caromed off the upright and fell to the rain-soaked turf.
The wind and rain picked up even more in the second half and so did the Sehome defense.
A Hudson Neff interception, Logan Rogers sack, and forced fumble prevented Bellingham from getting their offense on track. Sehome looked to shorten the game by running the ball and no points were scored in the third quarter by either team.
Getting the wind back on their side, the Mariners executed a 38-yard fade pass, Wright to Watson to increase the margin to 20-7. A fake on the point after was stymied by Bellingham’s Bly Henderson.
The Bayhawks looked to get a drive going in the fourth quarter after a Calvin VanHofwegen interception, but it wasn’t to be. A 2-yard Nolan Wright touchdown scamper concluded the scoring and Sehome took a 27-7 wet and windy victory over their rivals.
The Mariners (5-2) will host Squalicum (4-3) on Friday at 7:00, and the Bayhawks (1-6) will host Marysville-Pilchuck (1-6) on Thursday at 7:00.
Sehome 27 Bellingham 7 SEH 14 0 0 13 - 27 BEL 7 0 0 0 - 7 BEL - Harward 20 interception return (Boak kick) SEH - Watson 15 pass from Wright (Evans kick) SEH - Chambers 15 run (Evans kick) SEH - Watson 38 pass from Wright (run failed) SEH - Wright 2 run (Evans kick) SEH BEL 34-163 Rush Att-Yards 31-71 5-15-2 Comp-Att-Int 2-8-1 83 Passing Yards 15 Individual Leaders RUSHING - SEH: Wright 8-74, McAlister 10-60, Smith 10-27, Chambers 6-22. BEL: Harward 21-71, Jackson 5-10, Henderson 1-1, Frost 2-(-3), Leonard 1-(-4), Hanstead 1-(-4). PASSING - SEH: Wright 5-15-2-83. BEL: Leonard 2-7-1-15, Harward 0-1-0-0. RECEIVING - SEH: Watson 3-63, Quiggle 2-20. BEL: Harward 1-13, Henderson 1-2.
