BY JEFF WOOD – For Whatcom Preps
BURLINGTON – It’s never easy in Burlington. And it wasn’t easy for the Sehome Mariners on this night as penalties and turnovers helped the Tigers keep it close.
Junior signal caller Nolan Wright had one of the most challenging games of his career but found a way on an injured leg to lead the Sehome Mariners to a 28-20 victory over Burlington-Edison.
The last three contests at Kirkby Field between Sehome and Burlington-Edison prior to this game were Mariner victories each coming by a margin of one score or less. A comeback aided by an onside kick recovery helped the 2021 Mariners beat Burlington-Edison 28-27. The shoe was on the other foot this time and the Tigers scored 20 points after intermission in an attempt to best Sehome for the first time since 2016.
The first half was dominated by the Mariner defense led by senior linebackers Fisher Hall and Carl Bach. The Tigers managed just 22 yards from scrimmage on 19 plays. However, due to penalties and turnovers, the Sehome offense could not get on the scoreboard until late in the second quarter.
A balanced 79-yard drive was then commenced by the Mariners. Wright hooked up with senior wideout Andre Watson on a 13-yard touchdown strike to put the first points on the board. At halftime, Sehome led 7-0.
Coming out strong in the third quarter, Burlington-Edison kept the ball on the ground and tied the game up on a 43-yard touchdown burst by senior running back Jackson Granger.
Sehome quickly answered the Tiger score and regained the lead at 14-7. On the drive, the Burlington-Edison defense forced a fourth-and-seven, but Andre Watson again was the recipient of a Wright deep ball and he hauled in a 28-yard score. Watson caught nine balls for 166 yards giving him 28 receptions for 335 yards on the season.
On the very next play from scrimmage, Granger found a lane and went 80 yards almost untouched, delighting the Tiger faithful. His second touchdown brought the score to 14-14 with 3:44 remaining in the third quarter.
Back came the Mariners with a short four-play scoring drive. Catches by senior Solomon McAlister and junior Theo Quiggle got Sehome in range and then Watson capped it off with his third touchdown grab of the night.
Going into the 4th quarter, it was 21-14 Mariners.
Burlington-Edison would not go quietly into this Skagit County fall night. Another drive, this one aided by a 28-yard reception on a screen pass, got the Tigers into field goal range. An incompletion on 3rd and 9 forced a field goal try by Burlington-Edison from the 19-yard line. A dropped snap doomed the attempt and junior safety Hudson Neff made sure the holder didn’t advance the ball with a sure tackle.
Looking to take some time off the clock on the next drive, but without having much success in the running game, the Mariners started their drive with a pass. Wright was pressured heavily and tried to get rid of the ball by throwing it while eluding the rush. His arm was hit by a Tiger defender and the ball ended up being caught by another Burlington-Edison player for an interception.
An 8-play drive ending in a Granger 2-yard touchdown run got Tigers within a point. The ensuing PAT was blocked by Sehome sophomore defensive tackle Logan Rogers preserving a 21-20 Mariner lead with 4:35 to play in the game.
With the idea to run some clock, Sehome was not able to get a first down and was forced to punt, giving Burlington-Edison a chance to take the lead if it was able to score.
Watson, playing his fourth varsity game against the Tigers, had other plans. The senior made sure he went 4-0 against the Tigers, snagging a body turning interception on the first play of the drive.
Still needing a first down to bleed the 2:32 off the clock, a limping Nolan Wright emerged from the sideline. He had been injured when he threw the prior interception.
The three-year starter showed moxie and grit as he pulled the ball on a zone read play on 2nd and long and sprinted 50 yards for the game clinching score. Grady Evans kicked his fourth PAT giving the Mariners a 28-20 win in another close and thrilling Sehome win over the Tigers in Burlington.
The Mariners (3-1) will travel to Lynden (3-1) on Friday to take on the Lions at 7:00.
Sehome 28 Burlington-Edison 20 SEH 0 7 14 7 - 28 B-E 0 0 14 6 - 20 SEH - Watson 13 pass from Wright (Evans kick) B-E - Granger 43 run (kick good) SEH - Watson 28 pass from Wright (Evans kick) B-E - Granger 80 run (kick good) SEH - Watson 13 pass from Wright (Evans kick) B-E - Granger 2 run (kick blocked) SEH - Wright 50 run (Evans kick) SEH B-E 27-191 Rush Att-Yards 38-201 13-22-4 Comp-Att-Int 4-11-1 215 Passing Yards 51 Individual Leaders RUSHING - SEH: Wright 11-155, McAlister 11-36, Hall 2-15, Smith 2-0, Watson 1-(-15). B-E: N/A. PASSING - SEH: Wright 13-22-4-215. B-E: N/A. RECEIVING - SEH: Watson 9-166, Quiggle 2-23, McAlister 1-13, Miller 1-13. B-E: N/A.
