Mariners Subdue Storm

BY JEFF WOOD – For Whatcom Preps

BELLINGHAM – In the second consecutive crosstown rivalry game between Bellingham teams, Sehome again lit up the scoreboard and stymied the opposing offense.

The Mariners rode a potent balanced attack as well as a swarming defense to a 42-10 win on Friday night over Squalicum at Civic Stadium on their Homecoming.

The Mariners wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, taking an early lead with an 11-play touchdown drive. A key third-down catch on a comeback route by junior receiver Al Miller gave Sehome a first down after it looked like the Storm might get an early stop.

The drive concluded with something Sehome fans have become quite accustomed to the past three seasons, a Nolan Wright to Andre Watson pitch and catch. The touchdown reception covered 10 yards on a slant route over the middle. Grady Evans booted the first of his six extra points on the evening, giving Sehome a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into game.

Squalicum had a tough time getting much going on offense in the first quarter as the aggressive Mariner defense made three consecutive stops.

The Mariners looked to establish the running game on the next two drives with seniors Solomon McAlister and Coleby Chambers. In the red zone, McAlister took a handoff on a counter play from the 18-yard line and burst to the end zone scoring Sehome’s second touchdown. The run was aided by a nice kick-out block from sophomore guard Logan Rogers. The Mariner lead then swelled to 21-0 on a Wright to Watson touchdown pass, this one for 34 yards.

Squalicum, playing without star running back Marcus Nixon, started to battle back in the second quarter putting together its longest drive of the game.

Junior Laki Fagaautau, playing tailback, rushed five times for 50 yards as the Storm marched 89 yards to paydirt. A key screen pass reception, also by Fagaautau, on third-and-10 set up his 4-yard touchdown run. This closed the Sehome lead to 21-7.

Responding with another strong drive, Sehome faced a third-and-10 from the Storm 22-yard line. With the defense spread out, the Mariners dialed up a QB draw play and Wright weaved his way into the end zone. The Sehome crowd was delighted with the Mariner second quarter 28-7 lead.

Both teams traded interceptions late in the quarter, as Squalicum’s Zack Watt stepped in front of a Wright pass followed quickly by a Miller pick on the last play of the half.

The third quarter commenced with the Storm receiving the ball.

Two positive rushes led to a 3rd-and-1 where the Sehome defense made a stop for no gain. A dropped snap doomed Squalicum’s fourth down play and the Mariners responded with a quick 32-yard touchdown drive.

Watson was again the recipient on a 13-yard play where he took a hitch pass and made a nice move to evade the defensive back on his way to the end zone. This extended the Sehome lead to 35-7.

Squalicum kept fighting and responded with a balanced offensive drive that included three completions by junior quarterback Cole Burke. The longest of these was a 15-yard snag by junior receiver Ansen Asbjornsen. The drive stalled in the red zone due to a sack by Sehome junior defensive end Tyson Goodman. Sophomore kicker Slade Kaiser split the uprights and made a 31-yard field goal, making the score 35-10.

The scoring concluded with Wright’s fourth touchdown pass of the night, this one a 4-yard strike to junior receiver Theo Quiggle.

Sehome’s homecoming crowd enjoyed the dry and warm evening as the Mariners took home the city championship with a 42-10 win over the Storm.

Sehome (6-2) will battle Archbishop Murphy (6-1) on Thursday at Civic Stadium at 6:00, and Squalicum (4-4) will host Bellingham (2-6) on Friday at Civic Stadium at 7:00.

Sehome               42
Squalicum            10

SQU     0    7    3    0  -  10
SEH    21    7    7    7  -  42

SEH - Watson 10 pass from Wright (Evans kick)
SEH - McAlister 18 run (Evans kick)
SEH - Watson 34 pass from Wright (Evans kick)
SQU - Fagaautau 4 run (Kaiser kick)
SEH - Wright 22 run (Evans kick)
SEH - Watson 13 pass from Wright (Evans kick)
SQU - Kaiser 31 FG
SEH - Quiggle 4 pass from Wright (Evans kick)

SQU                        SEH
33-138  Rush Att-Yards     23-200
6-11-1  Comp-Att-Int       12-24-1
51      Passing Yards      193

Individual Leaders
   RUSHING - SQU: Fagaautau 12-98, Smith 8-31, Burke 4-20, Huarden-Murillo 2-18, Ortiz 1-12, Weener 3-7, Knowlton 2-2, Feathers 1-(-10). SEH: Chambers 7-72, McAlister 11-66, Wright 5-62.
   PASSING - SQU: Burke 6-11-1-51. SEH: Wright 12-24-1-193.
   RECEIVING - SQU: Fagaautau 2-25, Clark 2-5, Asbjornsen 1-15, Smith 1-6. SEH: Watson 5-84, Quiggle 3-48, McAtee 2-26, Goodman 1-14, Miller 1-11.