DEMING – After winning just three games last season, the Mountaineers are on the right track this fall as they won their second game in row to start the season by defeating Hockinson 27-7 at Bob Tisdale Field on Friday night.
The Hawks turned the ball over on downs on their first possession, and Mount Baker quickly turned it into six points three plays later when a counter run by senior running Brady Bruland covered 26 yards before crossing the goal line.
After forcing a Hockinson punt, the Mountaineers put together a long drive that bled into the second quarter. However, they weren’t able to punctuate the drive with any points as their 22-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
After trading possessions in the second quarter, junior safety Jet Ross picked off a pass over the middle of the field, which set Mount Baker with great field position. Seven plays later, senior running back Dylan Moa powered his way into the end zone from two yards out, and the Mountaineers led 13-0 at the half.
The Mountaineers received the second half kickoff, and promptly moved the ball down the field. The opening drive of the third quarter featured a 50-yard bomb from junior quarterback Luke Smith to senior wingback Shaun Dugger, which brought Baker to the 3-yard line. On the following play, junior guards Jeremiah Sheridan and Noah Ilichev each made impact blocks which allowed Moa to dance into the end zone with relative ease, which put the Mountaineers up 20-0.
The Hawks countered with an 8-play 54-yard drive which culminated in their only touchdown of the evening.
Mount Baker quickly grabbed back any momentum that Hockinson may have had at that point by marching down the field on its next drive, and scoring another rushing touchdown as Bruland once again found the end zone on the famed Baker counter run to the right.
Moa finished with a team-high 121 yards on 18 carries, while Bruland racked up 97 yards on 12 carries.
Sheridan led the defensive charge with 6.5 tackles, including two tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
The Mountaineers (2-0) will be at home once again on Friday as they will take on Centennial Secondary, BC at 7:00.
Mount Baker 27 Hockinson 7 HOC 0 0 7 0 - 7 MB 6 7 14 0 - 27 MB - Bruland 26 run (kick failed) MB - D. Moa 2 run (E. Smith kick) MB - D. Moa 3 run (E. Smith kick) HOC - 12 yard touchdown pass (kick good) MB - Bruland 8 run (E. Smith kick) HOC MB 27-109 Rush Att-Yards 44-291 8-20-1 Comp-Att-Int 6-10-1 52 Passing Yards 109 Individual Leaders RUSHING - HOC: N/A. MB: D. Moa 18-121, Bruland 12-97, Dugger 4-37, L. Smith 4-15, Cooper 4-12, K. Moa 2-9. PASSING - HOC: N/A. MB: L. Smith 6-10-1-109. RECEIVING - HOC: N/A. MB: Dugger 2-58, Ross 1-16, Cooper 1-14, Allred 1-14, Gilstrap 1-7.
